Page 109 of Every Last Breath

She cupped his cheeks. Their gazes held, with tears in her eyes. “I pushed you away because I was scared. I was hurting and lashed out. I’m sorry for not making you feel like I wanted you to stay last night. I did, but I was a coward.”

“Honey, you are the bravest, strongest person I know.” Her courage and persistence put him to shame. He was staggered by her. “I gave you cause to be guarded, to be scared. But I swear, I’ll never give you another reason to doubt me.”

Every day, he’d prove his love, if she gave him the chance.

He gathered her in his arms again, for just another moment, allowing them both to appreciate the contact and the comfort. With Gideon watching and the wind whipping up nearby from the rotating helicopter blades, it put tangible pressure on them to get moving.

Breaking the intimate hold he craved, he put an arm around her shoulders.

She took a step and tried to mask a wince. He looked down at her bare feet, bloody and blackened. His heart gave a soft thump.

He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the helicopter.

“How did you escape? Novak called the DNI, said you were buried up to your neck somewhere along the river and we had until high tide to find you.”

Sheer horror gripped her face. “He wanted to mess with you. Get into your heads so that the only thing you guys could think about was saving me instead of finding him.”

“Well, it worked. I’ve finally decided how I’m going to kill him. It’s pretty gruesome, so I’ll spare you the details.”

“You can’t kill him. We need him alive. He might have information about the mole.”

There was more than one way to catch a mole. Novak was as good as dead. And it wasn’t up for debate. “Let’s get you home and cleaned up.”

“I can’t go home.” She shook her head. “Besides, there’s no time. I have clothes at my office. We should go there.”

They hopped into the back of the helicopter, and Gideon cracked the first smile Cole had seen. Sheesh, the guy really was far too pretty. Redefined the meaning of fair.

“You done messing around? Can we go catch a ghost?” Gideon asked, his severe hardness falling back into place.

“Absolutely.” She flashed a fatigued grin.

Cole sat beside her, his arm draped around her and her head resting on his chest. Gideon radioed the Gray Box, giving them an update. Over the headset, Maddox filled everyone in on the true details of her abduction and confinement.

Her tone, the way she spoke about the Ghost had changed, fucking softened. Compassion resonated in her voice.

Didn’t she understand? One couldn’t have sympathy for a rabid dog.

You just had to put the beast down.

She guzzled two bottles of water, and he wished he’d brought more.

Gideon set the helicopter down in front of the Gray Box so Maddox wouldn’t have to walk from the hangar, but Cole had no intention of letting her walk at all. He helped her from the chopper and lifted her into his arms, carrying her to the entrance.

“When we get inside, you have to put me down. I can walk.”

“I know you’re a badass secret agent, but your feet are pretty cut up.”

“Badass operations officer.”

“My point is I get that you’re capable, but think about the mess you’d make in that glossy polished lobby. If not for your own sake, then spare someone else from cleaning up your blood.”

She sighed. “All right, but just to the elevator.”

They entered the building, and the metal detector blared.

One of the guards hustled to their sides. “Officer Kinkade, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She motioned to get down.