Sunday. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia.

Vara was about tired of planes, trains, cars. The next place she went she wanted to walk there. But maybe after they got to Alec’s house.

She settled deeper into her middle row seat and closed her eyes, conscious of Alec’s thigh and elbow pressed against her. It was conscious contact. She liked his nearness. The sense of safety. She just liked him. Plus, he was a nice distraction from the turbulence.

Her ears popped as they reached a cruising altitude.

Now for hours of nothing.

Yet another day lost to cross-continent travel.

At least she wasn’t getting shot at. There were worse ways to spend a day.

“What’s your roommate like?” she asked without opening her eyes.

“Which one?” Alec’s hand slid over her knee.

“Wait—there’s more than one?” She turned her head and frowned at him.

“Oh. Yeah. There’s Ryan, Paxton, Silas and Vito. Carson will probably be around. She’s Ryan’s girlfriend.”

“How big is this house?” And how many bathrooms did it have?

“It’s five bedrooms, two living rooms, and three-and-a-half bathrooms. It’s rare we’re all there.”

“And will they be there tonight?” She was curious about his life, the people in it. Meeting his team was as close to family as she was going to get.

“Yeah, I think so... Actually, Carson might have texted me about that.” Alec pulled out his phone and squinted at it. “Looks like they’re having a barbeque tonight and wanted to know if I’d be back. Crap. Well, we’ll surprise them I guess.”

“Great.” Vara blew out a breath.

“They’re good guys. Vito probably won’t say more than five words to anyone. Ryan’s an alright guy. Silas and Paxton act like brothers and are goofballs. The only one who has a girlfriend is Ryan.”

“And it’s Ryan’s girlfriend who is the long, round-a-bout reason we met up?”

“You got it.”

“Awesome.”

Vara swallowed.

She was going to meet Alec’s friends and team mates. This was a normal kind of thing, it just wasn’t something she was used to doing.

“I need to stretch my legs,” she mumbled.

Vara slid out into the aisle and headed for the lavatories. Not because she really needed to go, but because she had to do something.

Alec was folding her into his life. Florida had been a safe enough option. It was neutral ground. They could do whatever because it was a fantasy bubble. But she was about to enter his everyday world and she didn’t know what that might look like or how that would work.

What if he got busy and left her again? What if he woke up and decided this wasn’t what he wanted?

She was in love with him. Again. Despite knowing that was dangerous to her heart, she’d gone and fallen for him.

Then again, what if this worked out? What if when all of this was over, they were in love with each other? What then?

Vara didn’t even know what that life would look like for her. She was as far from normal as a girl could get.

The galley was empty, so she paced the space a few times, touched her toes and reached for the ceiling.

Alec had all but begged her to go to Seattle. She’d assumed that’s where she was headed. It wasn’t until he asked that she’d realized she had a choice in the matter. Sticking with him met both an emotional and physical need. For now.

She tugged at the neckline of her T-shirt and fanned her face.

The bathroom was available and there wasn’t a line. She ducked inside and secured the door, locking out the world for a moment. Vara turned on the tap and splashed her face. The water was nice, but her problems were all in her head.

She wasn’t certain she could throw herself into this relationship with Alec even though that was what she wanted. They had history. And there was so much they’d never talked about.

Did he want a future? With her? Kids? What about his career?

A sharp knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

“One moment.” She turned the tap off and dried her hands.

Maybe she’d ask for a drink then break out a magazine or something to calm her mind.

A familiar tickle in her nose had her snatching at another paper towel. She lifted it to her face.

Once again the sharp knock rang out.

This sneeze was taking its sweet damn time.

She pulled open the lavatory door.

The sound of a spray bottle was out of place. That was the last thought she had before the world’s biggest sneeze caused her to double over.

ALEC TWISTED IN HIS seat to watch Vara walk back to the galley. She’s done this on their other flights. Tight, confined spaces with no way out clearly weren’t her thing. He’d try and distract her when she came back.

“Hey,” Zain mumbled. He shifted to his left but didn’t glance up.

“Yeah?” Alec leaned toward his boss and toyed with Vara’s screen.

“Guy two rows back, aisle seat?”

“You noticed him, too?” Alec had tagged the guy as an odd duck the moment they got on the plane. He’d noticed the looks he tossed Vara’s way enough that Alec had a habit of keeping the guy on the edge of his peripheral vision.

The man was of average build with thick, black-rimmed glasses. He wore a polo shirt, jeans and a sport coat, but his shoes were dirty old sneakers. His sandy colored hair hadn’t been washed lately either.

Vara continued to nervous-pace, stretch and mutter to herself. It was cute. She was a creature of action, always needing an activity. She couldn’t just sit and do nothing.

He’d have to figure out something for her to do while he worked. There were a couple connections through the guys that might land some sort of gig for Vara to keep her busy and entertained.

The odd-duck man released the catch on his seatbelt then dug around in his carry-on bag. He pulled out what looked like some sort of bottle.

Zain glanced at Alec, his mouth set in a thin line.

Yeah, Alec’s gut was screaming at him, too. They’d discussed the possibility of someone trying to kill Vara since the snatch and grab hadn’t worked. Zain had left it up to Alec whether or not they’d tell her. Alec had thought it best to leave her in the dark. She’d be easier to protect.

Vara chose that moment to duck into a lavatory.

Zain leaned across to him and whispered, “I’m going around to the other side.”

Alec jerked his head in a nod and released his seatbelt.

Zain strode toward the nose of the plane, cut through at the front of economy class and circled to the other side of the airbus.

Their target got up and proceeded to stand out of view in the galley.

This was sloppy if it was what they thought it was.

A professional shouldn’t be so easy to identify. But a true assassination might not be their aim. He could only guess and do his best to keep Vara safe.

Alec scooted down to Zain’s seat.

The target rapped on the lavatory door.

There was another, open bathroom, behind him.

Yeah, Alec wasn’t letting this go down.

He slid out into the aisle.

Zain darted through the galley.

The man lifted his hand to knock again.

Alec took two strides.

The bathroom door opened, and the man lifted the canister in his hand.

“No,” Alec snarled.

A loud sneeze sounded from the bathroom.

Zain grabbed the man from behind and threw him to the floor. Alec rushed into the galley.

“Get her clear,” Zain ordered.

“Vara? Vara.” Alec stared down at Vara looking at him over the edge of a paper towel.

“What is this?” Zain roared at the man. He had a tight grip on the guy with his right hand and the canister a few inches from the man’s face.

“Did he get it in your face? Your eyes?” Alec pulled Vara’s hands away from her face.

“What? No. What did he spray on me?” She winced. “Ah, that—that burns.”

“We don’t know.” Alec stared down at Vara’s wide, worried eyes.

“Alec,” Zain snapped.

“Alec, it burns.” Her voice rose and her eyes widened.

Alec twisted to look down at the man lying on the floor. The very dead man.

“We need to land this plane,” Alec snarled.

Vara would not die up here.

SUNDAY. SEATTLE–TACOMA International Airport, Washington.

Wyatt watched the news unfolding on the TV.

The serious news reporter stared into the camera and said, “A flight bound for Seattle was diverted to Denver today. A passenger was restrained and prevented from releasing a chemical weapon on the plane. There were no fatalities.”

“I guess your main failed,” Wyatt drawled.

“Who said he was supposed to kill her?” Ivan gestured for Wyatt to follow.

Interesting.

SUNDAY. ALEC’S HOUSE, Seattle, Washington.

Vara’s impression of Alec’s ranch-style house was that it was large and had some nice trees around it. Anything else was hard to make out in the darkness with the ongoing drizzle.

She was ready to be done with travel.

Her hands burned, and she had a few blisters on her forehead, but other than that she was fine. The topical ointment made them barely noticeable. Still, another close call had her rattled and ready to hide. She wasn’t that strong. She wasn’t that much of a badass. She was just a woman with a big heart.

“Come on, I’ve got you.” Alec wrapped his arm around her, lifting his jacket over her head to shield her.

She wasn’t worried about the rain, but she wanted to stay close to him. They darted up the drive and across the path to the front door.

Music and laughter sounded from inside.

Alec glanced down at her.

“You don’t have to hang out. My room’s down the hall on the left, second door on the right, okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said.

He bent and kissed the top of her head.

That kind gesture calmed her twisted up insides. She opened the glass door, and he pushed the interior door open, sliding in ahead of her.

“Alec!” several people roared.

Vara winced and edged in behind them.

“What the hell happened in Denver?”

“What took you so long?”

“Pick up any beer?”

The questions kept coming.

“What is this? The firing squad?” Alec set the two bags down then stepped aside.

All eyes landed on her.

Two men sat on the sofa, one with tanned skin and sandy blonde hair, the other dark completed with black hair. A giant of a man reclined in an arm chair on the other side of the room, big and brooding were the two words that came to mind. And a man and a woman with their faces in shadow stood in the arch.

“Guys, this is an old friend, Vara. Vara, these are my roommates and Carson.” Alec reached back and pulled her up to stand at his side.

The woman reacted first.

“Vara, it’s so nice to meet you.” Carson took a step toward the entry and held out her hand, coming into the light. She had light brown hair done up in a messy bun and a kind face. “I’m Carson. You need anything, let me know. Oh, and there’s dinner.”

“Thanks. I really just need a shower.” Vara shook the other woman’s soft hand.

“There are clean towels. Laundry got done this morning,” the man in the arch said. He must be Ryan, Carson’s boyfriend.

“Come on.” Alec hefted their bags and guided her through the arch and the second living room with an attached kitchen and dining area, down the hall into his bedroom. “Sorry about that. I meant to tell them we were coming.”

The bags got tossed on the neatly made bed.

“Can you blame them for staring?” She pointed at the blisters on her forehead.

Alec’s face creased, and he cupped her cheeks with both hands, his tough feather light. “I’m so sorry, babe. We should have–”

“You stopped him. That’s what matters.” She leaned into Alec, wrapping herself around him and drew on his strength.

Twice in two days she’d narrowly avoided death. If it weren’t for Alec, she’d have died. It was a fact she was acutely aware of.

“Let’s get you a shower then change your bandages.” Alec gave her another little squeeze then released her.

He remained attentive, gathering her shower things, a change of clothes and getting her situated in the bathroom before leaving her. She almost asked him to stay, but with his housemates on the other side of the door it would have been weird.

The hot shower helped the tightness in her muscles. It felt good to wash the travel and hospital funk off her body. They’d chartered a small, private plane for the remaining leg of the trip which had made for less than relaxing travel. The turbulence had been so much worse than on the large jet. Still, they’d gotten here in one piece with no one dead.

Well, there was one death even if the news wasn’t reporting the man as dead.

Whoever the man on the plane was, he had a toe tag now.

Vara shut the shower off and stood with water running down her body for a few moments. The sound of voices, normalcy, comforted her even if she didn’t know these people.

Someone tapped at the door.

“Vara?” Alec called out.

“Almost done.” She wrung water out of her hair.

The door opened and a burst of cool air made her shiver.

“Hey, want me to do the bandages for you?” he asked.

“How sweet.”

“Towel?”

Vara bit her lip.

What the hell was he doing?

She had a scratch on her leg and a few burns. She wasn’t crippled or incapable of tending to her wounds. And yet, it was nice to have someone there. Someone who wanted to do for her.

Vara inhaled a deep breath then said, “Yes, please.”

Alec pulled the curtain aside and held out a large towel. She let him help her to the fluffy mat and wrap the terry cloth around her.

“How are the blisters?” he asked.

“Tender. The ones on my face obviously hurt the worst. I probably shouldn’t have had the water so warm.”

“No.” Alec scowled at her. “Sit.”

She perched on the vanity and let him examine her calf. He re-bandaged the graze making mumbling noises about her taking it easy. The burns just got cream. She dressed in her last pair of clean shorts and tank top before he slathered the burns in ointment then helped her with her hair, another secret talent of his.

“I had sisters,” was the only reason he supplied why he could manage a comb and simple braid to keep her wet hair out of the way.

Clean, dressed and bandaged, all that was left was to deal with the hunger gnawing at her spleen.

“Remind me again what their names are?” She whispered to Alec.

“Carson’s the girl—”

“Ryan the redhead is her boyfriend.

“Yup. The silent one is Vito. And the yin-yang brothers are Paxton and Silas.”

“Silas is the Hispanic one? Latino?”

“Hispanic.”

“Okay, I think I’ve got this.”

“Call them Bert, Ernie, Big Bird and Elmo for all I care.” Alec grinned and opened the door, letting her out into the hall.

“Twenty-five minutes, dude? Is that a new personal record or something?” Silas stood in the archway, his head cocked, grinning at them.

“I’d call it a warm-up,” Vara said without missing a beat. She had no idea what they were talking about, but it didn’t matter.

Silas’ eyes went round.

“Oh, man.” Paxton appeared behind the other man and slapped his shoulder. Both men howled in laughter.

“Shut up,” Alec growled at them, but he was fighting a grin.

Vara just grinned and ducked into Alec’s room to deposit her things. Playful banter was her comfortable spot. This was what she knew. And if she boosted Alec’s ego while doing it, what was the harm in that?

She braved the main living space. Alec was in the kitchen while the couple lounged on the sofa.

“Hungry?” Alec called out.

“Starving.”

“Sit. I’ll fix you a plate.”

Vara opened her mouth to tell him that wasn’t necessary, then closed it. Alec wasn’t one of her guys. He was her guy. It was nice to let someone else take care of things for once.

“Come sit, Vara.” Carson patted the sectional cushions. It was only now that Vara noticed the sling holding Carson’s left arm to her chest.

“Thanks.” Vara stepped around the sofa.

“You two could compare battle wounds.” Ryan chuckled, but the sound was strained. He pulled Carson closer and kissed her cheek.

“I understand we owe you one.” Carson kept her focus on Vara.

“No need to keep score.” Vara eased back, sinking into the very comfortable sofa. “We helped each other.”

“What exactly happened over there?” Carson glanced up at Ryan.

“You don’t need to know.” He took her free hand and gave it a kiss.

“This whole thing, everything that happened to them, it’s my fault,” Carson said.

“I wouldn’t say that.” Vara glanced from Ryan to Carson. “I had things go sideways on my end that probably put us in more danger. If it wasn’t for your team, I’d have been toast.”

Carson’s face creased and Ryan looked like he’d tasted something sour.

“We all came home okay. That’s what matters.” Vara mustered a smile for them.

“You call that okay?” Carson eyed Vara’s leg pointedly.

Vara shrugged, unsure what to say. She felt like she’d thrown a worm grenade on the couple just by being in the same room.

“We talked about this, remember?” Ryan turned toward Carson, his voice pitched lower. “My work is dangerous. We don’t take unnecessary risks. This last week was not a normal job, okay?”

“I know. I’m just... I’m going to worry. You’re going to have to deal with that.” Carson tipped her chin up, and from the light in her eyes it was clear the only person she saw was Ryan.

Those two loved each other.

It was like a cloud surrounding them. It took Vara’s breath away.

Alec caught her eye and nodded at the kitchen table. She pushed to her feet and padded away from the couple whispering quiet promises back and forth.

Vara slid into a chair at the table next to Alec with a bit too much sideways momentum. The legs slid across the floor a few inches. She didn’t correct herself, part of her needing to brush against him and feel his nearness.

She didn’t know what they were doing, but she knew she needed him. Not just for safety, but because Alec had always been part of her. How could she keep living without that piece?

“There wasn’t much sausage left, but the chopped brisket makes good sandwiches. Ryan made the sauce from scratch. Some kind of family recipe.” Alec offered her a glass bowl of reddish brown liquid.

“I think I put my foot in my mouth,” she whispered and nodded at the other couple.

“Don’t worry about it.” Alec rubbed a circle on her back. “This was his first op since they got together. Either she’ll figure out how to deal with our lifestyle or she won’t. That’s not on you.”

“You don’t like her?”

Alec paused with his sandwich halfway to his mouth. “That’s not what I said.”

“That’s what I’m getting from you.”

He glanced at the couple then leaned closer to whisper, “I like her just fine. We had a rocky start. She’s good people. But not everyone is cut out to deal with our lifestyle.”

Vara hoped Carson and Ryan made it on principal. She didn’t know their story or what happened to bring them together and how it set Alec on a path that intersected with hers, but she had a feeling she owed Carson.

Vara drizzled the sauce on her sandwich then sank her teeth into it. She groaned as the smoky flavors hit her tongue with just a bit of sweetness under the spice.

“Oh my God,” she said, which came out completely intelligible.

Alec chuckled and glanced sideways at her.

“Good, isn’t it?” he asked between bites.

“So good.” Vara stuffed more food in her face.

Neither of them spoke, too wrapped up in the meal.

She watched Carson and Ryan, noting the return to relaxed posture, the casual touches. Whatever had ruffled their feathers earlier was in the past.

Paxton ambled through the arch and into the kitchen.

“Did they tell you there’s banana pudding?” he called over his shoulder.

“No one wants that box crap you like,” Alec said.

“Carson made it.” Paxton turned toward them, a big bowl in hand.

“I’d try some.” Vara’s stomach was waking up with a vengeance.

Paxton brought the serving bowl to the table along with a couple of bowls.

“Keep making noises like that and Alec’s going to get jealous of a sandwich.” Paxton grinned at her.

“No he’s not.” Vara daubed at her mouth with a napkin.

Paxton’s grin grew wider.

“If you want to keep all your teeth, shut the hell up.” Alec glared across the table and slung his arm around her shoulders.

“You can start shit but you can’t take it?” Paxton took another bite of pudding.

“Is he still a shit stirrer?” Vara turned, her knee pressing into Alec’s thigh and smiled at the side of his head.

“He’s the worst.” Paxton’s brows rose.

“You make it easy.” Alec pushed his plate away.

Paxton ducked his head, not denying the fact.

“Some things never change.” She sighed then took her last bite.

“Why aren’t you losing to Silas? Tired of getting the shit knocked out of you?” Alec spooned pudding into two bowls.

“There was pudding.” Paxton shrugged. “You make up your mind on the Africa trip yet?”

“Africa?” Vara glanced at Alec.

“One of the Alpha Team guys is getting married in South Africa. Some kind of wild life preserve. The whole thing is a circus,” Alec explained.

“I’m going. I wanna bag me a poacher.” Paxton set his bowl down and licked the spoon clean.

“Poacher?” Vara looked from man to man, waiting for an explanation.

“What Alec left out is that after the wedding we’re going to help with migrating the animals. I don’t exactly understand the logistics, but anyone going is volunteering to help with scaring off poachers.”

“That sounds amazing and kind of scary. I’ve never been south of the Sahara before.” Vara propped her hand on her chin. There were parts of Africa that fascinated her and she’d always wanted to visit. Explore.

“You should convince Alec to go. You could be his plus one.” Paxton wagged his spoon at Vara.

“Maybe I will.” She turned and studied Alec’s profile.

It sounded like an adventure of a lifetime. It would also mean being together. She had no idea when this would happen, but probably sometime in the future.

She took a bite of the pudding to distract her mind. What she wanted was a lot more than staying here or a fun trip. How that would work out, what she’d do with her life, those were a mystery. For now, she had to focus on surviving.

“What’s your story, Paxton? It is Paxton, right?” She needed to talk about something that wasn’t Alec or her.

Paxton’s easy cheer seemed to dull and his smile grew forced.

“Nothing to tell,” he said.

“How’d you get hired here?”

“Silas. He got a call. Suggested me. Here we are.” Paxton pointed at their plates. “You both done? I can clear these out.”

“Sure.”

Vara looked up at Alec.

What the hell had she said that made Paxton look for a reason to leave?

“I’ll tell you later,” he whispered.

“I’m just going to stop talking to your housemates before I start a fight. That’s usually your thing.” She jabbed her spoon at him.

“Don’t worry about it.” Alec stroked his hand down her back.

The doorbell pealed, drawing their attention to the front of the house.

“I got it,” Paxton called out.

Vara scooped up a big bite of pudding, ready to drown her concerns in food. The dessert was creamy, flavorful and just cold enough.

“Boss is here,” Paxton yelled.

Vara and Alec both froze, watching as Zain stalked through the house straight for them.

That did not look like good news.

ALEC CURSED UNDER HIS breath. He’d hoped for a phone call, an easy explanation for the assassination attempt. If Zain was showing up in person, this wasn’t good news.

“Have a seat?” Alec toed a chair away from the table.

“Thanks.” Zain said and laid his tablet on the table.

Paxton followed, but remained standing. Ryan stood at the end of the table, hands braced on the corners.

“Our dead guy from the plane is Russian. No surprise there.” Zain brought up a New York driver’s license, naming Vara’s attacker as Igor Somethingshecouldntpronounce. “He was a chemist. Got bounced from several jobs due to a number of violations. He was on a couple watch lists and a suspected supplier. He wasn’t an assassin. This was a lab rat.”

“But we know who he is and that he’s connected to the Russian mob?” Alec reached over and placed his hand on Vara’s knee. He wanted to hold her hands, but the chemical burns were still fresh.

“We do.” Zain’s frown deepened.

“What?” Alec didn’t like that frown.

“There’s chatter on the dark web about a package stolen from Russian intelligence referencing capabilities on par with the NSA.”

“That’s not exactly news.” Vara placed her hands on the table and leaned forward. “I mean, I’ve told my team for a while now that our phones were more than likely being monitored.”

“We don’t know what we’re dealing with.” Zain glanced around the room. “Everyone who went on the last op is getting a new phone tomorrow morning. I recommend destroying yours tonight. Don’t use it. And if you’ve connected to any other devices hold off using them until our tech team can verify they’re clean.”

Alec grit his teeth. This didn’t sound good, and Zain wasn’t done.

“What else? Get to the end of it,” Alec said.

A muscle in Zain’s jaw twitched. “Vara’s picture has been circulated as the identity of Djinn. People are saying she’s got the package, and she’s going to sell it.”

“But—no.” Vara gaped across the table.

“Clearly this is cause for concern. It won’t take long before people in Syria link Vara to Alec and us. I want to be proactive in dealing with this.” Zain glanced around the table.

Vito, Silas and Carson had joined them during the conversation.

“Who would put this out there?” Vara licked her lips. “Who stands to gain if all eyes are focused on me?”

“What are you thinking?” Alec got the suspicion that Vara had ideas.

Zain said nothing.

“It’s Chad, isn’t it? My handler? He wanted me to stay in Damascus. He’s have let me die there. He’d be willing to use me as bait.” Vara leaned back, arms crossed over her chest.

“I don’t know anything for sure,” Zain said slowly.

“Fucking Chad.” Vara shook her head.

“The language, the pictures, the timing.” Zain’s mouth screwed up. “It’s not the mob’s style. Syria isn’t exactly known for their dark web traffic. The CIA dangles this carrot out there they get the hit of a lifetime.”

“Is anyone honest anymore?” Ryan shoved off the table and took a few steps away, Carson following him.

“I need to hide, don’t I?” Vara said.

“No.” Alec wrapped his arms around her shoulder.

“Probably. Just until we figure this out.” Zain nodded. “I think you’re fine here for tonight, but don’t call anyone. Don’t make contact with friends, family, the pizza joint. Give me tonight to figure this out. We’ve got a friend in the CIA who will probably help us out.”

Vara reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone and pried the back off. Alec followed suit and soon six phones lay in pieces on the dining table.

Someone had pinned a target on Vara’s back. She was the prize and soon people would begin hunting her. Alec wasn’t about to let anyone take her from him, not when he finally had her back in his life again. When Zain figured out who was behind this, Alec was going to make them pay.