Page 45 of Every Last Breath

Inside was a hidden camera, giving the team real-time eyes and ears. Faux diamond earrings housed a one-way communication device, so she could hear them in return.

She and Cole hadn’t exchanged a word since she told him the team could hear a pin drop.

Silence was good.

She didn’t have to look at Cole to know he was staring. His gaze was heavy as a physical touch, stripping her bare, tangling her belly into knots. Pressing a hand to her midsection, she prayed the sensation subsided. If only he’d take his eyes off her for five minutes.

He wanted her—the dark desire in the air between them was thick as honey—but he didn’t want to be with her.

And that stung. It cut her to the quick. She wished he was interested in starting over, that this was a date to explore possibilities instead of a mission. Which was as juvenile as the stutter of her heartbeat every time his gaze slid over her.

She fiddled with the belt hanging loose around her waist to give her hands something to do. She must’ve lost a few pounds over the last couple of days.

The belt was designed to go with a variety of outfits, including the fancy full-length dress she wore. Castle and Noah, another battle brother of hers out on assignment, worked with a talented weapons expert to get them their gear. The chunky buckle on this one contained a mini flashbang grenade and had gotten her out of more than one jam.

“Helicopter inbound from the east,” Reece said in her ear. He and Gideon had crashed on the sofas in the break room that afternoon, snatching a few winks, but she’d been too wired to contemplate a catnap.

The sound of rotor blades thwopping through air grew louder until a helo came into sight.

Nausea nipped her stomach. Preop jitters she’d learned to compartmentalize. “Ready?”

Cole clicked a pen and shoved it in his suit jacket. “Always.”

The sleek white helicopter touched down near the SUV and they climbed out of the car.

Time to earn her paycheck. If only it came remotely close to compensating for the danger.

The spinning rotor blades whipped dust into the air. She wobbled as they walked to the chopper, the dirt ground throwing off her balance. The dress shoes had literal titanium spikes in the high, narrow heels, covered with material to match the uppers, and the flat, finished tips popped off to reveal lethal points. Their weapons expert was an innovative woman.

The chopper pilot approached them. “Good evening. May I see your invitation?”

Cole withdrew the invite from his inner jacket pocket and held it up. “I’m Reznikov. This is my wife.” He wrapped an arm around Maddox, cupping her waist.

The pilot’s face was hard, his eyes shielded behind shades, but he waved for them to get in.

Cole patted her ass as if she belonged to him. “Let’s go.”

She bit the inside of her cheek, offsetting the sharp pleasure of his touch. “Careful,” she warned.

“With you?” A sly grin curled his mouth, a wildness burning in his eyes. “Never.”

The man was insufferable. Eager to sleep with her but entirely prepared to walk away once this was done. Made her want to slap him and kiss him and crawl all over him like a cat against a scratching post.

With a deep inhale, she packed away her emotional baggage and climbed into the helicopter. Cole hopped in, closing the door. The uber-luxury helicopter screamed money with the quietest cabin and no need to wear noise-reduction headsets.

Cole wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders and moved in, pressing his leg against hers. “Stay close, darling.”

First time he had ever called her darling. Under different circumstances, she would’ve laughed, but it was better than baby.

“You two okay?” asked the pilot. “Long ride ahead.”

“We’re great.” Cole tightened his grip on her. “Happy newlyweds. Inseparable.”

Her insides clenched. She shut her mind to the memories rippling the surface. “How long of a ride?”

“Orders not to say. Settle in, get comfortable.”

They lifted into the air. Heading east, they flew over the narrow strip of the Patapsco River.