“It’s complicated.” He released her hand as the normal, unmistakable coolness attempted to gather inside of him. He lifted his coffee for a chance to gather his thoughts, to fight off the inevitable truth of who he was—needing more time to just be a man, so he could be with someone like her.
“When is anything good in life ever easy?”
The base of his skull met the back of the seat, and he lowered his drink to the table. He shifted uncomfortably, his knees bumping into his tray table, almost spilling his coffee. “Why don’t we save this conversation for another day?”
Her eyes drew tight, her lips flattening. “What if we don’t have another day?”
“You can’t think like that.”
She looked away from him and out the small window. “I thought the fear of tomorrow not being promised helped you survive the day.”
“You also have to be optimistic that tomorrow will come.”
“It sounds like you constantly have to toe the line. Must make for a hard balancing act.”
He stiffened, his fists turning white-knuckled atop the armrests. He had to keep fighting the impulse to spill the truth about why he couldn’t open his heart up to anyone, even to a woman like her.
“I can’t risk your safety, and I also won’t be another widow-maker.” His words left his mouth in a rush. “I need some air.” He unbuckled, held his coffee, and moved the tray table out of his way to stand.
“We’re on a plane.”
He set his drink back on the table then pressed his palms to the overhead compartment, and he followed her gaze to the tattoo he’d gotten when he’d first joined the SEALs—a rookie mistake. A mistake that could ID him as a SEAL, but he couldn’t bring himself to remove it for some reason.
He dropped his arms. “Bathroom,” he said softly and shook his head, hating he was slipping back into his typical, stony façade—a façade she could see right through . . .
Chapter Fourteen
The yellow Lamborghini was like a flash of lightning, roaring down the road along the French Riviera as they headed to Monte Carlo.
Eva kept her gaze cast out the window and on the Mediterranean Sea, even though it was too dark outside to see anything other than blips of lights from the houses that dotted the landscape built up into the craggy hills.
“We’ll be there in ten minutes,” he said and tightened his grip on the wheel.
“Quick drive,” she responded in a soft voice without looking his way.
A weird fluttering sensation rolled around in the pit of his stomach. Nerves?
His cell was mounted on the dashboard, and his gaze flicked to it when Jessica’s number popped on-screen. He decided to put it on speaker, even though he risked Eva hearing something classified. He had to focus on not crashing the sports car his sister had arranged for them to rent. Not that he minded driving the beast, but he was more comfortable in a Humvee—something that could handle a battery of enemy fire.
“Do you like my surprise?” Jessica asked when he answered.
“I know this ride isn’t courtesy of Uncle Sam, which means it’s from our own pocket.” He whistled out a breath.
“You’re going to Hotel de Paris.” She said the name with a French accent. “It’s right alongside the Monte Carlo Casino. You’ll need to look the part since I checked out a few of the largest suites.”
“Are we paying for those, too?”
“We have the cash from the business. Don’t get your tighty-whities in such a twist.”
His sister’s jab induced a small laugh from Eva, and the little sound tapped at his heart. He’d let his sister knock him around any day of the week if it made Eva laugh—even if he shouldn’t be concerning himself with such pleasures.
“So, why are you so damn happy?” he asked. “Tell me we have good news.”
He could almost hear Jessica’s smile through the phone when she said, “I have great news, actually.”
“Finally.” He waited for her to talk, and when she didn’t say anything, he added, “You and the suspense-building. Tell me already. We’re almost there.”
“Our hotel rooms are directly above the two suites Malik checked in to.”
“So, we have him.”
“Yup. Harper found him. She positioned a camera in the hall light outside his room, so we officially have eyes on his door. We’ll know when he comes and goes.”
“You know where he is, and you’re not grabbing him?” Eva asked, her eyes now sharp on Luke.
He looked back at the road, spotting the lights of the Monte Carlo Casino off in the distance. “Doesn’t work that way.”
“Why not?”
“Because this isn’t your TV show. We can’t go busting down a hotel door in the middle of a foreign country and get into a gun battle,” Luke explained, but then wondered if he came across as a dick.
“We’ll talk about this more when you get in,” Jessica said. “And don’t worry, Eva, we have multiple suites. We’ll work out the logistics of your sleepover once you’ve checked in.”
He clutched the wheel and shifted gears a little more forcefully than necessary, the car nearly veering off the road. “See you in five.” He ended the call, his stomach squeezing.
When Eva didn’t say anything else, he realized he probably had been an asshole. And so, when they rolled up to the valet in front of the hotel, Luke turned toward her, his mouth set in a hard line as he thought about what to say.
She cast him a veiled glance before reaching for the handle, even though the hotel staff would open it for her.
“Eva.” He let her name sit between them, baking in the silence that captured the small space.
“Let’s not keep your team waiting,” she said quickly and allowed the valet to help her out before he could apologize—not just for his remark, but for his aloofness on the second half of their flight.
After checking in, he turned to Eva. She was off to the side of the concierge desk, staring up at the ceiling in a daze. “Something wrong? Aside from the obvious, I mean?”
“Remembering my last time in Monte Carlo,” she said softly.
“Good or bad?”
“Good or bad what?”
“Your memories from then.”
“Oh.” A tight smile met her lips. “Still deciding.”
“Hm. Well, you ready?”
“Guess so,” she said, her voice far too grave sounding.
As they started for the elevators, he wondered if the change in her demeanor meant she was attempting the distance dance, the one where you guard your heart like your life depended on it. Perhaps she realized how dangerous it was to even know a man like Luke.
He had hoped for a little more time with her before they had to carve a harsh line in the sand between them. Maybe she was right to pull away? Everything had happened so fast between them; it might as well end fast.
It’s for the better. He’d have to force-feed that line down his throat probably a hundred times before tomorrow, though.
Jessica was in the hall outside the suite when they stepped out of the elevator, the awkward sting of silence still enveloping Eva and Luke.
“Hey.” Jessica flicked her wrist and motioned for them to enter the neighboring suite.
Eva walked past Luke and followed Jessica.
“We didn’t do formal introductions back in the States,” Jessica said once they were in the hotel room. “I’m Jessica.” She extended her palm. Eva forced a small smile, and Luke dropped their bags. “I’m the big guy’s sister.”
He caught sight of Eva’s mouth rounding in surprise when she released Jessica’s hand. “I didn’t see that one coming.”
“Most don’t.” Jessica turned her attention to some of the team crowding the room: Liam, Asher, Owen, and Knox.
Owen was at the desk, and Knox was looking at the screen from over his shoulder.
Asher and Liam were in their civvies, seated on the couch abutting the expansive window. They both wore the same identical amused look o
n their faces. It was as if they could see plain as day that he and Eva had hooked up last night, and they were rearing to give him a hard time.
Luke lifted his chin in their direction, a silent message to back off and focus on the mission.
“These guys”—Jessica jerked a thumb their way—“work with us. I’m sure you gathered as much before we poked you in the neck a couple nights ago.” Jessica shoved her hands in her black jeans pockets. “Sorry about that, by the way.”
“Oh, um, yeah—you all saved me, so . . .” Eva shrugged.
“And we also got you into this mess.” Knox strode across the room and reached for her palm, his eyes pinned to Eva’s mouth. His own lips twitched into a brief smile. “I’m Knox.”
“You uncuffed and drugged me.”
“Mm-hm.” He released her hand and scratched at the back of his head as he eyed Luke.
“Owen over there was the one who was supposed to rescue you in the woods, had you not been captured.” Jessica pointed to him, but when he didn’t look up, Jessica added, “Don’t mind him. He tends to zone everyone out when he’s in the middle of something.”
“I think we can skip the introductions, anyway,” Luke said dryly and crossed the fancy room now littered with duffel bags. He shifted the blinds out of the way and glimpsed out the window at the pool down below and the yacht-lined shore. “Where is Harper and everyone else?” He faced the room and folded his arms, trying not to stare at Eva as she stood close to the door, her gaze darting among everyone in the room.
“Once we arrived, Harper took some of the boys back to the safe house in Nice to load up on artillery and other fun tools,” Knox said, shoving his hands in his jeans pockets.
“I’m surprised Will’s okay with us teaming up with a spook,” Asher said from the couch while looking directly at Jessica, the spook-jab meant for her as well.
Jessica stepped over one of the duffel bags and grabbed a computer off the coffee table. “We didn’t have an option. Harper was the best choice, and she’s worked with Will and me in the past. I trust her.”
“Isn’t Harper a little curious about what you’re doing working this op when you’re supposed to be a civilian now?” Luke shook his head at his own question and dropped his eyes to the floor, avoiding the angry look he’d surely be getting from his sister at his choice of words in front of Eva.
Eva was smart enough to figure out Luke wasn’t some retired government contract employee, though. But, did it really matter at this point?
Protocol was protocol, but she’d either spill the news about him and the team or not.
“Harper’s not going to prod,” Jessica said.
Luke came up next to Jessica to view her computer, which showed the camera feed of Malik’s room. “Has he left his room since you’ve been here?”
“Yeah. He’s at the hotel bar now.” Jessica switched screens. “We hacked into the hotel’s feeds. This is live footage. He’s been there for the last twenty minutes.”
“I still don’t get why you don’t grab him.” Everyone directed their focus to Eva, and it had her signature red creeping up her neck and to her cheeks. “I know you can’t make a scene, but isn’t getting the safe more important? Isn’t it too risky to wait?”
“How much does she know?” Jessica set the computer back on the table, and her hands settled on her hips.
“Enough,” Eva answered for him, a pinch of confidence in her tone. And why did it make him proud—the way her shoulders squared back and she eyed his sister as if she belonged on the op, too? “You guys might have saved me, but you did drag me into this whole thing. So, I know what I know, and you’ll need to trust that your secrets are safe with me.”
Luke noticed Knox fighting a grin, but no one in the room seemed to know what the hell to say. They were probably waiting for guidance on the matter from Luke.
In five years, this had never happened before. A civilian had never been privy to a mission. Civilians had been saved, but they’d never known by whom.
“If a certain someone didn’t drop the ball back in the States, we wouldn’t even be here right now,” Asher said.
Luke noticed Eva staring at Asher’s tatted arms, in sort of a trance.
“He sure as hell didn’t fly commercial.” Jessica’s face tightened, and she edged closer to Asher, ready to spar with him. “Not on my watch.”
“I just thought you were better than that. I mean, you claim to have created the best tracking program in the world. How could you miss Malik leaving the U.S.—even if he flew private?” Asher rose, casually tucking his hands in his jeans pockets, and stood before Jessica with a mocking grin.
Liam’s lips twitched as his gaze snapped back and forth between Asher and Jessica, as if anxious for Luke’s sister to sharpen her nails and defend her cyber skills. “Do I need to stand between you two like always?” His Australian accent, still thick, cut even deeper into his tone, and he winked at Eva as if saying welcome to the club.
Jessica dragged her gaze up Asher’s tall frame. “Blow me.”
Asher cocked his head, his teasing smile deepening, his brown eyes dropping to hers.
Before he made a remark that’d push both Luke and Jessica over the edge, Luke stepped up alongside the two and pressed a hand to Asher’s chest. “Focus, man.” He looked over at his sister. “Keep your head in the game. We don’t have time for your usual bickering.”
“Um, can I say something?” Eva raised her hand, and the room grew silent as they all faced her once again.
Luke dropped his hand and crossed the room to her, sorrow thickening in his throat as he thought about Eva in this situation.
“Malik wanted you to know he’s here, right? Maybe he wants to make a deal?” she asked.
“A deal? Sure, darlin’,” Liam said. “His brother tried that and got his face blown off.” He stood next to Luke now. “Malik’s offered himself as bait, and he’s hoping we’ll come after him.”
“And he’ll be prepared,” Asher added from behind.
“Let me be bait,” Eva announced to the room.
“Hell no,” Luke said before anyone had a chance to entertain the idea. “I’m not putting your life on the line like that.”
He reached for her forearm, but she retracted it and sidestepped him. “Jessica?”
Oh, she was going to try and go around him? Not gonna fly.
“Luke is sufficient bait,” Jessica said, and his heart slowed a bit, thankful his sister was on his side.
Eva removed her jacket and held it tight in her arms. She faced Luke again, her eyes pleading. “Malik thinks I know half the code. He’ll torture Luke to get the five digits, and then he’ll kill him and come after me for the other five.”
Luke’s arms fell at his sides, surprise cracking through his body like a whip. “What do you think he’d do to you?” he asked, his voice deep as he tried to control the slow boil of anger about to erupt at the thought of something happening to her.
He stepped so close to her she had to lift her chin to find his eyes.
And at that moment, it was as if the rest of the room had faded away, and he and Eva were alone.
Her brows lifted slightly and her eyes widened a fraction as if luxuriating in the warmth of his intense stare.
Or maybe he’d officially lost his damn mind.
“We won’t let him take her, but if you two could lure him out of the hotel and somewhere a little less public so we could grab and bag him, that’d be ideal,” Owen suggested, interrupting the thick tension between him and Eva.
He shifted his focus to Owen and arched his shoulders back. “She’s not part of it. I’ll get him to come.”
“Can I ask an obvious question?” Eva asked.
“Yeah?” Owen spoke when Luke couldn’t do anything other than gape at this fiercely strong woman.
Jessica and the team observed Eva as if she held all of the answers. As if she were this bright, shining light. She drew everyone to her, and he couldn’t blame them. He
’d been the cliché moth to the flame in her presence the moment she resisted Ender’s men to strip, standing her ground against eight armed terrorists. She probably even won him over before that, when she’d pointed a hunting rifle at him.
“What is it?” Jessica asked.
Eva took a sobering breath and offered some distance between her and Luke by stepping back a couple of feet. “If you’re able to get both codes, how will you get Malik to tell you where the safe is? Torture?”
“We don’t torture people. Not waterboarding, at least. We have a couple of moral rules we follow,” Owen answered and scratched at his throat as he looked to Luke.
“You’re okay with murder, but you draw the line at torture?” Eva crossed her arms and scrutinized the room of military personnel as if they were students and she was about to lecture them.
The woman had balls.
And God, did she turn him on.
“There’s no guarantee Malik will give us the code or the safe, but we can at least prevent anyone else from getting it,” Jessica said when Luke still couldn’t get his lips to part and speak, too taken aback by Eva to say anything.
“But it’d be better to get the safe so you can stop more terrorists.” Eva edged farther into the room, approaching his teammates. She straightened her shoulders, and any hint of shy red had fled from her skin. She stood in total confidence.
Was she born for this life, and she just didn’t know it?
“Of course,” Jessica said.
Luke lifted his arm, pressing his palm to the wall. “You think we should give him the code and follow him to the safe,” he said, not as a question, more as a statement in line with his own desires.
“We’d love to do that, but orders from above have said no.” Jessica looked over at Asher who stood behind her, and he narrowed his gaze her way, a hardness to his eyes. He’d been a major proponent of that idea from the get-go and had said, Fuck what Will wants.
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