by Trish Loye
He faced the elevator bank and had his gun pointed that way. She continued to watch him. He never looked back. She needed to get to the stairs and he crouched directly in her path.
He crawled forward and so did she, always keeping desks between them. What had happened to Derrick? She prayed he hadn’t been hurt by the explosion.
Lee moved forward. She followed. Ahead, a figure darted toward them. Gunfire erupted.
She dropped flat to the ground and covered her head. She was so not equipped to be in a gunfight. She should go hide in one of the offices.
And what if Lee won this gunfight? He’d just hunt her down again.
And there was no way she wanted that to happen. The water shut off and the gunfire ceased. Water drips and splats embellished the silence. Memories of listening to water dripping into a pail while tied to the bench threatened to overwhelm her. She shuddered and concentrated on Lee. He shifted again. She bit her lip hard—the pain clearing her head—and followed. She needed a weapon.
Two figures moved ahead. Lee stirred and his gun snapped out bullets. The figures dashed to opposite sides of the room, one into an office and one behind the main receptionist’s desk. It had been Derrick who’d dived behind the desk. She couldn’t see him at the moment, but both she and Lee knew he was there. If Lee moved left, he’d have a clear shot at Derrick. She couldn’t let that happen.
She scanned the area.
Two rows over, she could make out a wooden handle on the floor. The bat! She crawled as fast as she could and snagged it. The wood felt good in her hand.
Let’s go hit a home run.
Lee kept moving toward the receptionist’s desk. Any moment now he’d have Derrick cornered. She rose from her hands and knees into a crouch and moved forward with the bat in her hands.
No way was she going to let him shoot Derrick.
Three steps away. She straightened to her full height.
Two steps. She swung back.
Lee moved into position to fire on Derrick. She heard a click and hesitated at the sound. It didn’t matter. She swung hard at Lee’s head.
“No, Cass!” Derrick yelled from her right. Her right, not left. In a blinding flash of clarity, she realized Derrick hadn’t been in danger. He’d crawled away without either her or Lee knowing.
Lee twisted toward her, but he was too late. The bat struck Lee’s head with a satisfying and also sickening crunch. He toppled to the floor and lay still. His hand dropped to the ground and something dark and round rolled out.
A grenade.
Oh. Movement to her right.
My. Derrick flew at her, seized her in his arms.
God. Derrick hurtled them away. Away from Lee’s body. Away from the grenade. His long, powerful legs covered fifteen feet in a second before he threw her down. He landed on her, covering her with his large body.
The concussion of the explosion blew desks over and boomed through her, compressing her, overwhelming her senses, her mind, her thoughts.
Seconds later, Derrick rolled her over. He had blood trickling down the side of his face, his dark gaze focused on her. She was so thankful he was there, in front of her. Alive. Safe. She raised a hand to his face and smiled.
His lips were moving. She blinked and tilted her head.
“Why are you whispering?” She frowned. Her words echoed loudly in her head, but she hadn’t actually heard them. That’s when she noticed the ringing in her ears.
Derrick grinned at her and said something else she didn’t hear. He kissed her hard on the lips.
She couldn’t help but grin back.
27
Cassie sat huddled under a blanket in the back of an ambulance, trying not to shiver. She didn’t feel cold exactly, but the blanket was welcome. She ached from her fall and her arm hurt like a bitch, but at least the ringing had finally left her ears.
After the explosions, it hadn’t taken long for the fire department, the police, and the ambulances to arrive. Derrick and Dante had both laid down their weapons and stepped away before the police had come on the scene. Derrick had gotten on the phone immediately and within a minute, the police had been called by their superiors and told not to question either man.
But they’d informed her of their intent to grill Cassie after she’d been checked out by the medics.
Oh, the fun she was going to have tonight, she thought wearily.
She leaned her head back against the wall of the ambulance and closed her eyes, even as she spoke to Rose on the paramedic’s phone. “I promise I’m okay, Rose,” she said again. “I’m getting checked out and then the police are taking my statement and then I’m coming home. Don’t wait up…. Yes, I’ll wake you when I get home…I love you too, sweetie.”
The paramedic, a woman with skin almost as dark as her hair, put away her equipment in different compartments of the ambulance.
Cassie handed the phone back to her. “Thanks. My kid was worried.”
She smiled. “It sounds like she had something to be worried about.”
And it was true. She’d had too many close calls lately. “I need a new line of work.”
Derrick stepped up to the open doors of the ambulance as she finished speaking. “You wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.”
She gave a half shrug, unexpectedly feeling awkward. “True.” Would their careers always pull them in opposite directions? The thought made her slump under her blanket. “Maybe it’d be better if it didn’t make me happy.”
He frowned at her before he looked at the paramedic. “She good to go?”
“Well, I’d advise her to come to the hospital for a more thorough exam, but her shoulder’s not broken and I’ve bandaged her arm. She never lost consciousness…” The woman shrugged.
It sounded as if a week at the spa was in Cassie’s immediate future. She just needed to find someone to pay for it.
Derrick caught Cassie with an intense gaze that made her stomach tumble.
“Come with me,” he said.
Why did his voice send shivers down her back? Cassie left her blanket in the ambulance and followed Derrick. He had a dirt smudge across his brow and dried blood on the side of his face. He didn’t look fresh, but he also didn’t look tired. And she knew she looked exhausted. So not fair.
“You said your boss is running the story tomorrow?” he asked.
She steeled herself. This wouldn’t be a good conversation. “Yes, I called him already.” She paused. “Don’t wor—”
“I’m not worried.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Scratch that. I am worried, but only about your safety. I trust you with the story. It will be fine.”
He trusted her? “Since when?”
He had the grace to look a little sheepish. “I deserved that.” He sighed. “I’ve spent some time in the last few days reading your stories. You’re good. Really good. I trust your instinct on how to write about your experience.”
His words lit a glow inside her and she started to thaw out. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”
“And about what you said?”
She raised her eyebrows in question.
“In the ambulance,” he said. “You said maybe it would be better if reporting didn’t make you happy.” He frowned and she braced herself, not sure she wanted to hear whatever was coming next.
“I’m too tired to fight,” she said softly.
“Just listen then,” he said. “Your career makes you happy, so you need to do that. I understand that. Being a soldier makes me happy. I need to do it. For me, part of that need, that happiness comes from knowing I help people.” He smiled at her in a rueful manner. “And reporting is a necessary career, something that can help people. That’s something I finally understand now. You’re helping people in a way that I can’t.”
Her mouth dropped open. Had he just said what she thought? “It’s not like I’m a hero or anything…”
“If your story can help those prisoners in North Korea, then you’ll be a hero.”
&
nbsp; She shook her head, whether in denial or disbelief she wasn’t sure.
His hands came up and cradled her face. “Yes, Little Wolf,” he whispered. “You are a hero.” His gaze narrowed and hardened. “But if you ever go off by yourself with a killer again…”
He gave her a hard kiss and her heart skipped and tumbled, her lips going pliant and soft under his. He groaned and she forgot her aches and pains. The sound sent heat surging through her. She gripped his shoulders and held on when he deepened the kiss, not caring that they stood in the middle of the street with flashing lights and uniforms walking all around. This amazing man was here with her and she wasn’t going to let him go.
“I want you in our lives,” she said, when he finally pulled back.
He stood still, his dark gaze so intense and focused solely on her. “I want that too.”
“Do you think a super-secret soldier could handle being with a reporter and her crazy family?” she whispered.
He brushed her curls back from her face and then framed it with his hands. He kissed her and then leaned back, his face serious. “I still go on missions. Not as many as when I was younger. Can you handle not knowing the details?”
She searched her feelings and gave an honest answer. “I will never be happy knowing you’re walking into danger, but…what you’re doing? That’s important. Too important to keep you home just to stop my worries.” She kissed him. “I want you in our lives any way I can have you. We’ve been apart too long.”
His arms surrounded her and pulled her close for a long, drugging kiss. “You forgot one thing.”
She pulled back. “What?”
“That’s super-secret sexy soldier to you.”
Epilogue
Two Months Later…
Snowflakes floated down around Cassie as she opened her front door after a long day at the office. Christmas was just around the corner. It was Friday and Derrick was coming for the weekend. They were going to put up a tree. She wasn’t sure who was more excited, Rose or Derrick.
Inside, three boxes and a suitcase sat stacked in the hallway. She sighed when she saw them. Her mother came out from the kitchen to greet her.
“Are you sure about this, omma?” Cassie waved at the boxes. “You know you don’t have to move out, right?”
Her mother smiled. “It’s time, Cassandra. You and your man need some space. Besides, my new apartment is only a couple of blocks away if you need me.”
“Do you want me to take these to the car?” Cassie asked.
“It’s okay. Derrick said he’d bring the rest when he comes this weekend,” she said. “Will you walk me home?”
She stopped. “Is Rose home?” A shard of fear pricked her at the thought of leaving Rose alone. Something she’d been struggling with her therapist to overcome.
“It’s okay. She’s in her room. I told her I was going to ask you to walk me home.” Her mother gave Cassie’s arm a quick pat before she put on her coat and stepped outside.
Cass dropped off her purse and joined her, locking the door behind them. She breathed deeply like the therapist suggested whenever the fear rose. Rose would be fine. They started toward her mother’s new apartment.
The snow lay in a thin coating on the grass but wasn’t sticking to the roads or sidewalks yet. That would happen in the coming weeks. Toronto usually had a white Christmas.
“I’ve never yet told you how proud I am of what you did,” her mother said. “I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to know about your father and North Korea, until you wrote that news piece and then the documentary.”
Cassie smiled. It had been a short and shocking news segment, so much so that Global News had paid her to make a longer documentary for them. It had aired recently and her boss couldn’t be more pleased with her work. And Cassie had been proud, too. The story had garnered some serious international interest. She just hoped that something would come of it to help the North Korean people.
“It was so very dangerous,” her mother continued, “but so very wonderful of you to have told our people’s story.” She stopped walking and faced Cassie. “Your father would have been proud of you, too.”
Cassie hugged her mother hard. “You know any strength I get, I get from you.”
Her mother wiped at the corners of her eyes. “No more undercover work, okay? My heart can’t take it.”
Cassie bit her lip. It was a promise she couldn’t make.
Her mother laughed. “At least promise you’ll always take Derrick with you.”
Cassie smiled. “I’ll ask.” But a little wiggle of doubt crept around inside her. Would Derrick be there to help? Would he want to?
Stop that. She and Derrick had been seeing each other almost every weekend since the crazy assassin incident. Everything had been wonderful.
If not very permanent.
She waved good-bye to her mom when they got to her building, glad her mother was happy. She’d already made friends in the seniors apartment complex. Cassie walked home, contemplating her own life. She was happy, too; she truly was.
But she wanted it all.
She sighed. If she’d learned anything from her adventures, it was to not take anything for granted. So what if she and Derrick hadn’t formalized their relationship. They were having fun and exploring a new life together. Neither of them mentioned anything more and that was good enough.
Her heart skipped and her stomach twirled when she saw the black SUV parked in front of her house. It was the Edge vehicle Derrick used when he was in town. She hurried up the steps and inside. The boxes had been moved. She bet they were already in Derrick’s SUV. Voices came from the kitchen. She took off her coat and boots and went to see her two favorite people.
Derrick leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Rose pull pots and ingredients from the cupboards.
“Are you making dinner, Rose?” she asked.
Derrick laughed. “No, she’s making sure I don’t screw up dinner.”
Rose grimaced. “Well, cooking in the field and cooking in a kitchen are two different things.”
Cassie frowned. Derrick had cooked for them before. He wasn’t a gourmet chef, but he wasn’t a bad cook. Why was Rose so concerned?
“He’s making one of your favorites, chicken parmesan,” Rose said. “I…I just didn’t want him to screw it up.”
Derrick gave a little cough and raised an eyebrow at Rose, who frowned at him. He laughed. “It’ll be fine.”
Rose bit her lip. “You remembered everything?”
Derrick did an exaggerated eye roll, which made Rose grin.
“Okay,” she said. “I’m heading over to Georgia’s house now. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”
“Wait,” Cassie said. “You’re not staying for dinner?” Rose loved chicken parmesan, and more, she loved spending time with Derrick.
Her daughter beamed and her eyes held a mischievous light. “I’m good. You guys have fun.” Rose paused in the kitchen doorway. “Good luck, Dad.”
Dad. Cassie’s heart expanded and filled her chest with light. Rose had never called Derrick anything but Derrick—until now.
Derrick froze for a moment, his gaze focused on Rose. “Hey,” he said softly when she went to turn away. He held out his arms. Rose stepped into them. Derrick hugged her, his head bowed over hers. He whispered something to her and she nodded, a shy smile on her face.
She stepped back, gave them both a quick wave and left.
Cassie blinked rapidly to stop any tears from falling. Her daughter finally had the father she deserved. It was almost scary how quickly Derrick had entwined himself in their lives. But she trusted him to stay this time.
“She loves you, you know,” she said softly.
He nodded, staring after Rose. “And I love her. More than I thought possible.”
“Kids will turn you inside out.” She sat at the table. “Why’d she wish you good luck?”
He looked at the items Rose had left on the counter. “Probably because I’ve ne
ver made this dish before.”
Cassie leaned back. “So you’re making me dinner? Are we having a romantic evening?”
Derrick’s grin took her breath away, transforming him from a hardened soldier to an incredibly sexy man. A man who wanted her. Her skin tingled in response.
But he didn’t come to kiss her as she expected. Instead, he picked up a bottle of opened wine from the counter and poured two glasses. “Let’s talk.” He went into the living room carrying the wine and she followed, not sure she wanted to “talk”.
He sat on the couch and handed her a glass. He still didn’t speak for a moment and her stomach turned into a nesting ground for butterflies.
She took a fortifying sip. “What’s going on, Derrick?”
He set his wine glass down without tasting it. “I have an early Christmas gift for you.”
“You don’t want to wait for Christmas?” Why was she so nervous? She set her wine down too.
He took a deep breath. “No. I think I should give it to you now.”
In case something happens.
The unsaid words seemed to float on the air between them. Was he going on a mission? “Will you be here for Christmas?”
He smiled. “I asked for the time off. As long as you want me, I’ll be here.” He pulled out a slender rectangular box from a pocket on his cargo pants.
She frowned at his choice of words but took the box he offered. Of course she wanted him to be there. Something was going on. She opened the box.
All her doubts disappeared and her world brightened.
A delicate gold chain lay on a bed of velvet, with a tiny howling wolf pendant attached.
“You needed a replacement since you gave yours to that fisherman,” Derrick said.
“I love it,” she said and hugged him. She held her hair to the side while he put it on her. His fingers trailed over her sensitive skin, sending heat through her. He kissed her neck and she shivered. She turned, expecting more kisses, but again Derrick backed away.
