Tuesday. Alec’s House, Seattle, Washington.

Alec crossed his arms over his chest and watched Paxton lace up his shoes.

“I’m leaving, dad. No need to make sure I get out in time.” He pushed to his feet and flipped the hood of his sweatshirt up over his ball cap.

“And you’re going to—”

“Dude, we all agreed to give you the run of the house today, get off my case, okay?” He grabbed the bag of workout gear and ambled toward the front door. “Have fun with your girlfriend.”

Alec remained standing in the arch until Paxton had locked the door from outside.

Finally.

Alec turned and strained to hear any movement from the bedroom. Carson had kept Vara up later than he’d realized chitchatting otherwise there was no way he’d have pulled this off. The guys were going to bust his nuts, but he didn’t care.

They had time to kill while waiting for the bad guys to take the bait and nowhere to go.

He grabbed the plates from the oven, inhaling the aroma of the hot breakfast he’d made. It was a wonder Paxton or Silas hadn’t stolen some.

Alec set the table with coffee and tea. It wasn’t fancy, but it was home cooked and they had the house to themselves.

It was time to wake the sleeping beauty.

He strode down the hall and pushed the bedroom door open. Vara was burrowed down in the blankets, forming a lump of fluff. The feeling in his chest swelled, and he grinned. He crawled onto the bed and pulled the comforter down. The smell of mint and tea tickled his nose.

“Wake up,” he whispered.

A groan answered him.

Alec tugged the blankets down farther, revealing her bare shoulder and tightly shut eyes. He bent his head and kissed her cheek.

“I made breakfast. If you don’t want it someone else is going to eat it.”

One eye popped open, and she glared up at him.

It had taken her one meal to realize how fast food went here. Meals were first come first serve most of the time.

“Come on.” Alec grasped her by the hand and tugged.

This was a little cruel. With the guys out of the house for the day he and Vara had the run of the place. He’d expected her to rise with the sun like she did on any other day. Except when he got up to make her breakfast.

“I need pants.” She tugged on his hand.

“No, you don’t.” He kept a firm grip and steered her out into the living room.

“Alec.” She dragged her feet and tugged the long T-shirt down lower on her legs.

“It’s just us. Promise.”

Her frown deepened but she let him lead her out into the living room and to the dining table.

“If I’d known you were going to sleep in today, I would have waited.” He pulled her chair out.

“Where is everyone?” She frowned and looked around.

“The office or the gym, I think. I told them if they’d clear out for the day I’d buy beer and pizza.” Alec shrugged.

“That’s all it took?” Vara glanced behind Alec to the arch to where the video game setup held court.

“I’ll do some dishes and other shit. Eat up.” He nudged the hot cup of tea toward her.

“You didn’t have to do all this, Alec.” She eyed the plate of pancakes, eggs and sausage.

“I know.” He grinned at her.

The wall he’d run up against in Florida wasn’t there anymore. He wished it had taken something that didn’t involve a brush with death for her to really open up to him, but he wasn’t going to waste this opportunity. Yesterday had been hard, but good for them. She’d finally heard him when he said he’d work with her, not against her.

Vara tucked into her food, eating with all the sounds of pleasure he’d come to enjoy.

“I’m really going to have to make an effort to work out if you keep cooking for me,” she said halfway through her stack of pancakes.

“I’d hold your punching bag for you.”

“What did you do that got you on Carson’s shit list?”

“Shit list?” Alec blinked at Vara.

“Yeah.”

“I thought we were past that.” He frowned

“Well, if she’s serious about learning self defense I’ve volunteered you to play along.”

“You’re going to teach Carson self defense?” Now that was an intriguing idea.

“Yeah. I mean, as friends.” Vara shrugged. “I doubt I could do a real class or anything.”

“I bet you could teach a great class. Is that something you’d be interested in doing?” Alec would hunt down jobs for her if that’s what she was into.

“I don’t think so. I mean, I like working out and I honestly believe women need to know how to protect themselves, I just don’t think I’m patient enough to be a teacher. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to do next. That kind of scares me.”

“One thing at a time, babe.”

“That’s easy for you to say. People aren’t claiming you’re a famous hacker with government secrets to sell.” She pushed the last few bites of food around on her plate.

“This’ll pass. We’ll fix it.” More importantly, she was thinking about the next chapter when he was still trying to write this one. He twirled his fork, nerves twisting into knots. “You’re thinking about what comes next?”

“I have to.” She shrugged. “I don’t have a home. I mean, Mom would like for me to visit, but we do better with distance between us. Pretty sure I need to lie low for a while.”

“And you’re considering staying around here?”

“I don’t know,” she said without looking up.

If he didn’t speak up Vara would come up with her own solutions. He wanted to be part of that, and if she was already thinking he needed to catch up.

He got up, grabbed the chair at the head of the table and sat down close enough his knees bumped her hip and thigh.

“What’s up with you?” She turned her head and frowned at him.

He took her hand, stared into her eyes and said, “Stay here.”

“What?”

“I’ve thought about this, and I want you to stay in Seattle. You probably need your own space. That’s fine. But—I want you to stay.”

“Alec, I couldn’t...”

“I love you.” That was the heart of it. The thing he needed to have out there, so she understood. “Like I said, losing you was the biggest mistake of my life. Running into you, all of this, it’s crazy, but it brought us back together. This is probably too soon and too much, but if you’re starting to decide what you do next, I want you to know where I stand.”

Vara continued to stare at him with wide eyes he couldn’t read.

“I—uh—Alec. I...”

“You don’t have to say anything to that.” He placed his hand on her bare thigh. “Maybe it’s best if you don’t? Just—think about it—”

The front door crashed open.

“Sorry,” Paxton called out.

Vara yelped, yanking the T-shirt down to her knees.

“Pax,” Alec snarled.

Vara jumped to her feet and rushed down the hall.

“I know. I know, but this isn’t my bag.” Paxton braved the living room, his forearm thrown across his face.

“Get your shit and get out.” Alec pushed to his feet and flexed his hands.

This wasn’t going as planned. None of it was. And now he had this fuck up to contend with.

Shit.

With the way his luck was going Vara was going to leave. He couldn’t handle that right now.

VARA PACED THE WIDTH of Alec’s room while the two men yelled at each other.

Her insides were molten hot, and it felt as though a swarm of hornets were stinging her nerves. Her chest was hot. Her legs were cold. Her head pounded. The smell of soap from the basket of clean laundry was nearly overpowering.

He said he loved her.

Alec loved her.

She hadn’t expected that.

Stay in Seattle, do the relationship thing. Those she’d been expecting. But love?

It wasn’t just her. She wasn’t the only one in love.

They loved each other. What did that mean? What could it mean? How did this change their lives? What were they going to do with this knowledge? Why did she love him? Why this man?

A dozen memories flitted through his brain.

That laugh. The way he cared for her. His protective nature, not just for her but others. The way he threw himself into things. He’d sacrifice himself for others. He was selfless that way. Deep down, under that bravado, he was a decent, good man. When they were together, he made her happy. He paid attention to her. Listened to her. And he was willing to change. To work with her and not just protect her.

He was the team member, the partner, she’d always wanted but never found.

The front door slammed shut.

Vara stopped pacing, her eyes locked on the opposite wall, straining to hear anything.

Silence.

A truck door shut. The engine revved.

Paxton was gone.

She stroked her hands down her arms, willing the goose flesh to go away.

A tremor shook her body, emanating from deep inside of her.

She’d loved him at twenty and losing him had shattered her. How was it she could still love him? Did she get a choice in this? Or was he it for her? Did it matter?

Alec loved her.

She loved him.

Wasn’t this what she wanted? To love and be loved? Then why were her insides knotting up to the point she could taste bile on the back of her throat?

Vara turned toward the window, staring into the back yard, and sucked down a deep breath.

This was a lot to take in.

Two weeks ago she’d had her life figured out. She had a mission that was bigger than herself and was content focused on that. She might not have always been happy, but she had purpose. Now she didn’t have purpose, but there was a man who loved her and wanted to share his life with her.

Vara had lived flying by the seat of her pants. She took whatever opportunity came her way and made the best out of it. Now life was throwing Alec back at her, and maybe they could have something lasting. Maybe there was more for her here. Once they helped the FBI and CIA arrest Kolya Sokolov, she’d be free. And perhaps find more reason to stay here. With Alec.

Maybe she could teach self defense or something. Maybe Aegis Group needed a translator. Maybe she would finally go to college like Mom had been harping on her to do. Maybe a dozen different things, but all of them she could do while exploring a future with Alec.

Because deep down that was what she wanted.

She turned back to the door. He hadn’t yet come searching for her. Had he left? Or was he giving her space?

Vara replayed breakfast in her mind. She’d talked about after Kolya, what came next. Was that what brought his confession on?

The answers she wanted she couldn’t find by herself. She needed Alec.

She padded to the door and leaned out.

More silence.

She crept out into the living room, but Paxton was gone.

The dishes from breakfast were cleared away.

The French doors leading to the sunroom off the back of the house stood open. Alec sat on a worn wicker chair staring out at the neatly trimmed yard.

He’d laid his heart out and she’d run off, only partially because of Paxton’s untimely arrival.

Like it or not, Alec had taken up a large part of her heart since the moment they met. She knew now that the pain he’d caused her wasn’t out of cruelty. He’d been a young man making the best decisions he could at the time. He’d been wrong, but his heart was in the right place. Now they could do better. Be better. Together.

Her eyes prickled, and she blinked rapidly, a surge of emotion knotting in her throat.

Damn it. She needed to talk to him and she could barely breathe.

Vara crossed the living room and into the sunroom. A few tables were set up with gear items laid out. Two rubber mats had boots lined up, still drying from a thorough wash.

She laid her hands on Alec’s shoulders then leaned into him and kissed the top of his head. He lifted her knuckles to his lips and kissed them before covering his heart with her palm.

“That first night, in Damascus, when I looked into that truck and saw you, I was so scared and angry. How could you just show up like that? How was I going to protect you? What if you got caught? It feels like ever since that night we broke up, every time we’ve run into each other, it’s been the worst possible moment. I guess...I’ve been waiting for something to happen. Something bad that’s going to take you away from me again.”

His hold on her wrist tightened. She bent her head forward and kissed his hair again then laid her cheek against him, drawing in the spicy scent of his aftershave mixed with soap and the lingering smell of bacon.

“I keep waiting for you to leave, telling myself this won’t last. You can’t stay. I’m afraid to lose you again, Alec.”

“Babe.” He twisted in her hold, looking up at her with tortured eyes. “I never wanted to leave you.”

“But you did, even if you had good intentions. I’m not mad. I understand the way our lives were we probably wouldn’t have worked. I’m not holding that against you. I’m...” Vara searched for words. This was important. They couldn’t move forward without getting over the past and she wanted to.

“Come here.” Alec tugged her around the chair and scooped her into his lap, cradling her to his chest. He buried his face in the crook of her neck muttering, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “What I’m trying to say is, I’ve been scared. I’m still scared. I don’t think I ever stopped loving you. I picked up where we left off, but I can’t forget how we ended last time.”

He dug his hand into her hair, bringing their faces closer together. “No one is going to come between us again. Understand me?”

“I need to see it. I need you to show me, and you have been. I’ve just been too scared to see it. And that means I need to be where you are if we’re going to give this a real chance. I need to be here. I don’t know what that means or looks like or how it happens, but I’ve done okay figuring it out as I go. So, that’s where I’m at.”

The knots inside of her eased and her limbs felt heavy, her body liquid.

It was out there.

He loved her. She loved him. And what happened next was an unknown, but something they’d face together. She lowered her face to his shoulder and breathed him in.

Vara had never relied on someone as fully as she did Alec. No one knew her secrets like he did. She’d never allowed anyone past that wall.

“That sounds pretty damn good to me.” Alec’s voice was rough and deep, stirring emotion inside of her. His arms tightened around her. “Babe, I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry—”

“Stop.” She lifted her head and cupped his cheek. “I don’t want to rehash the past. I’ve spent too long living in it. That’s the point. I want to focus on now. Us.”

“I like the sound of that.” A slow grin spread across his face. She could almost make out a dimple on one cheek. His hand slid up her thigh until his fingers brushed the edge of her panties.

“Us?”

“And right now.” His gaze warmed, and he glanced down to her mouth.

A new kind of warmth unfurled low in her belly. Her nipples tightened and her body tingled, keenly aware of the gentle way he traced the fabric at her thigh.

“How long did you say the guys were going to be gone for?” she asked.

“Till five.” His voice really was a growl.

“And what time is it?” She bent her head, nuzzling his cheek.

“Not close to five.”

“Maybe we should put the couch in front of the door?” She chuckled and kissed the corner of his mouth.

“I told Pax if he showed back up I’m gonna kill him.” Alec’s other hand skimmed up her back and into her hair.

She needed more freedom to touch him. Feel him. Look at him.

Vara braced her hands on the arm rests and swung her leg across his lap until she straddled his thighs. He leaned back in the chair, his hands clenching the hem of his shirt she wore and looked at her. His gaze was warm with a touch of mischief in them. The rest of the world got the hard-ass who asked too many questions and picked too many fights. She got this man. The one who cooked her dinner and washed her hair.

“I love you,” she whispered. Her hands trembled and her insides quaked. She hadn’t yet said it quite so plainly.

“I love you, too.” Alec sat up, pressing their bodies together, and slid his hands up under her shirt.

His mouth sealed over hers, the warm press of his lips stirring the desire simmering inside of her. His hands stroked her back, mapping her with his fingers. She shifted and felt his strong thighs flex against her ass.

The shirt had to go. She wanted to feel him.

She reached down, grabbed his T-shirt she’d worn to bed and broke the kiss long enough to send the shirt sailing to the floor.

“Fuck, babe.” Alec covered her breasts with his hands and kissed her collarbone.

Vara shifted her hips, grinding her center against his erection.

“I’m not giving the neighbors a God damn show.” His voice was even more of a growl than before.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and rose, carrying her wrapped around him. She laughed and clung to his shoulders, more than a little giddy.

Ever since the moment they’d crossed the line between harmless flirting she’d wanted him. Only him. And now she had him. This wasn’t something she was going to give up. She was going to figure out how to make this work. Because Alec was worth it.

He kicked his bedroom door shut, his mouth never leaving her skin. She curled her toes on nothing and let her eyes drift shut.

“Alec?” She groaned his name.

“Hm?”

“I want on top.”

He grunted and sat on the edge of the bed, her still wrapped around him. She yanked at his shirt, wanting to fee him against her. He obliged, helping her get the clothing off. She smoothed her hands down his pecs to his stomach and back up, letting her nails rake over his skin.

“I want you naked.” He kissed her shoulder then her neck.

“I can do that.”

Vara wiggled off his lap and grinned. Alec hooked his fingers in the waistband of her panties and tugged them down her legs. He pulled her to stand between his knees and cupped her mound. She braced her hands against his shoulders and let her head drop back, enjoying the way he stroked her folds. His mouth dropped kisses along her ribs before finding her breast. He nuzzled one before licking her nipple and worrying the nub with his teeth. When he switched to the other her knees went weak.

“Oh—Alec.” She dug her nails into his shoulders.

He thrust his fingers inside her at last. His free arm held her close to him, supporting her weight while he stroked her, the pleasure coiling tight.

“I want you inside of me.” She leaned down and found the hard line of his erection under his jeans.

Alec’s gasp turned into a groan and his fingers faltered.

She pulled away, making quick work of his belt and the button on his pants. He laid back and helped her remove his jeans and underwear until they were both naked. She yanked open the nightstand and pulled out a condom from his stash with a grin.

Thank goodness for men who were always prepared.

He took the condom from her and rolled it on, lying back on the bed. He gripped his cock with one hand and looked up at her, so much emotion shining back at her.

This was her man. And he loved her. They’d figure the rest out in time.

Vara climbed over him and lowered herself onto his cock, her eyes drifting shut at the feel of his hot, hard length sliding into her. Where he belonged.

She leaned forward, taking his hands and locking their fingers together. She slid forward, his cock easing from her body, and kissed his lips.

“I love you,” he whispered as she sank down on him again.

She dropped her head to his chest, kissing him. “I love you, too.”

Her body wanted her to go faster, to sink into the pleasure, but her heart needed to savor this. They’d only have this moment one time. She didn’t plan on falling in love with anyone else and she wanted to savor it.

His chest hair tickled her nipples. Her thighs ached. But her heart was full of him. He held her gaze, kissing her cheek, her mouth, her forehead with every pass.

“Fuck, Vara. Babe.” He tossed his head back.

She sat up, letting go of his hands. Her body pulsed with need.

“I need—I need...” He sucked down air and sat up.

She braced a hand on his shoulder and lifted. He gripped her hips and shoved her back down, joining their bodies in a hard thrust. She shifted her hips, grinding against him.

“Yeah,” he groaned.

“Like that?” She rose again.

“Yes.” He pulled her back down.

Tendrils of pleasure snaked through her.

“Harder,” she whispered.

He braced a hand on the bed and thrust up to meet her.

“Yes,” she hissed.

They groaned and gave themselves over to the pleasure. Her orgasm tightened her body, and he drew it out, thrusting up into her until he joined her, crying out her name.

They collapsed onto the bed, wrapped around each other.

This was her future, and she loved it.

TUESDAY. MARRIOT HOTEL, Seattle, Washington.

Wyatt stared out the window at the city skyline. The weather had finally cleared. Water droplets traveled down the glass directed by gravity.

Something was happening, and he didn’t know what. He didn’t like not knowing.

Voices grew louder in the hall then faded. A door opened and shut. Someone turned on a TV and he could almost make out the lines.

He lifted his phone and looked down at the texts from his mother and sisters.

Damn the rest of his team.

Why had they reached out to Wyatt’s family? He didn’t need his mother asking him where he was or worrying about him. This business would be over soon enough.

More footsteps.

Wyatt sat in the armchair, the lights off and listened.

Find Vara. Kill Vara. Don’t kill Vara.

He was getting whiplash from the orders.

Two shadows interrupted the line of light under his door. The lock beeped, and the door opened.

Ivan’s gaze found him immediately.

“Come on,” he said.

Wyatt didn’t bother asking questions. It wasn’t like they were going to answer him. He pushed to his feet and ambled after the man.

They proceeded to a corner suite where a half-dozen men waited for them. Their tattoos indicated yet more enforcers for the mob.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Wyatt asked, keeping his voice a touch on the bored side.

“Your friend has offered to sell us what she stole. We’re going to take it back.” Ivan shrugged out of his coat, never glancing away from Wyatt. “You’re going to tell us how to do it.”

“Gladly.” Wyatt rolled his shoulders. Finally something he could do.

He grabbed a chair at the table and pulled it back, glancing down at the map drawn on a large piece of paper.

“Is this the exchange site?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Wyatt studied the blocking, the building layout and the streets. “You can’t wait for her to come to you. You do that and the FBI or CIA or whoever she’s working with will spring a trap. You’ve got to get her before she makes it here.”

WEDNESDAY. FBI MOBILE Staging Unit, Seattle, Washington.

Alec slid his hand up the back of Vara’s shirt. He wished they weren’t in a room full of people and that his intentions weren’t her safety. He pressed the adhesive tracker to the skin between her shoulder blades.

“Zain’s trying out these new trackers. They stick to the skin and are almost invisible once applied.” He managed to keep the strain out of his voice. They’d had to go to this kind of device after what happened with Carson.

“You’ll be able to keep a good lock on me?” Vara asked.

“They should be reading you loud and clear.” Alec glanced at the tech sitting with a tablet in hand.

“And what would disable it?”

Alec stared at her.

“So I know what to avoid.” She took his hand.

“Impact to the tracker. Any kind of electric charge. Probably want to keep it out of water.”

“Well, I avoid those things then.” She squeezed his hand.

“How’s she reading?” Alec asked a tech without looking at the man.

“Loud and clear,” the tech responded from where he sat at his terminal mounted against the side of the space.

Zain, the two FBI agents and their new CIA friend stood at the other end of the mobile command center on loan from the local FBI offices. Rusty and Owen were technically leading this sting, which meant Alec was here as a courtesy. He wouldn’t be allowed in the field to watch Vara’s back during the exchange.

“Relax. Or at least pretend to.” Vara turned and squeezed his hand.

“I don’t have to like sending you out there without me,” he said.

“I’ll have three FBI agents with me. That means you’ll be safe and I can focus on the exchange without worrying about you.” Vara leaned against him and kissed his cheek.

“I don’t have to like this.” He grabbed the Kevlar vest and held it out for her.

Vara slid her head and arm into place. Once she was satisfied with how it sat on her torso, another tech moved in and they got a microphone situated. Only once that was done did she allow him to secure the side straps.

“How’s the signal?” she asked, looking over Alec’s shoulder.

“Good,” the tech replied.

“You’re going to have a holster at your ankle and hip. There’s two knives, here and here, concealed in the vest.” He tugged at the handles.

“Are you going to give me an exploding lipstick, too?” Vara chuckled.

“I’m serious.”

“This isn’t my first time.” Vara covered his hand with hers. “I’ve done this thing before.”

“Kolya is dangerous. He and his men are trained.” Alec willed her to take this more seriously.

“It’s time,” Zain called out.

Vara snatched up the button-down shirt and hastily threw it on over the vest. The loose fabric covered the vest and disguised the hard lines. Alec strapped the holster to her ankle, then let her secure the second to her hip. At the last moment she wrapped a scarf around her head and neck, covering her beautiful hair. She almost looked like the badass he’d run into in Damascus.

“Alec, you, too,” Zain said.

“Me?” Alec planted his hand in the small of Vara’s back and propelled her out of the truck. Last they’d talked Alec wasn’t going to be included in the team exchanging the goods.

“You’re going to be less of a headache if you stay close to her.” Zain’s gaze bored into Alec’s head. “You stay in the van, understand?”

“You got it.” He jerked his head in a nod.

Vara’s hand clutched his as they climbed into the nondescript van. Three FBI agents he’d never seen before loaded in after them, no one speaking. He was rather surprised the FBI was working with them with such ease after what happed a few weeks ago. Whatever the reason, he was grateful.

Brett braced his hands on the back of the van and leaned in. “Remember, we need to see Kolya and get visual confirmation he’s present to make the exchange before we move. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” the agents responded.

“Vara, just play it cool. You’ve got this.” Brett pushed off the back of the van.

Alec squeezed her hand a little tighter.

A few moments later Zain delivered a heavy bag to her. It wasn’t the same tech they’d traveled back with. He had no idea what this did, but it was disposable and that mattered. The van rolled away from the command center. Despite having a small federal army nearby, Alec still didn’t like this. The plan had come together too fast and too easily for his tastes.

Logically, why would Vara sell what she stole to the people she’d taken it from? Why this game? And what was so important about the piece they’d brought back to the states?

He kept his questions to himself and focused on the feel of her hand in his.

Everything would go according to plan. He was worrying needlessly. Tonight they’d check into a hotel and enjoy a little time to themselves. Tomorrow they’d figure out what the future looked like for them.

This was going to work.

He lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

Tires squealed on pavement.

“What was that?” Alec’s head whipped around in time to catch the flash of headlights shining through the driver’s window.

The van lurched, throwing him, Vara and the other FBI agent across the aisle into the other two men.

The sick sound of crunching metal and glass along with a scream rent the air.

Alec wrapped himself around Vara, her head tucked in close to his chest.

The van teetered before coming to a stop right side up.

The agents groaned. One yelled. The driver groaned.

This was a trap.

The knowledge had him moving before he knew what to do.

Alec shoved Vara toward the front of the van. He grabbed a dropped firearm and shook his head, trying to orient himself.

They would not take Vara. Not if he could stop them.

Voices yelled something incoherent.

He aimed the weapon at the back doors.

“Alec!” he heard as though from a great distance.

A hand yanked at his shoulder.

He whirled in time to see a masked figure dragging Vara between the two front seats, a gun to her temple. Her lips moved but he couldn’t hear her. He hadn’t heard the door open.

“Vara,” he bellowed.

The man leaned in and threw something that thudded on the floor. He felt the vibrations more than he heard it. A moment later light so bright it blinded him filled the van along with smoke.

Flash grenade.

Alec clawed his way over the seat, coughing, his eyes burning, and leapt out into the street.

A truck sat perpendicular to the van, the radiator smoking.

No one else was on the city street. Just them.

And Vara was gone.

They’d hit them en route to the exchange.

This couldn’t be happening.

Alec whirled back the way they’d come. The team would track her. They’d know where she was.

He sprinted, arms pumping, and ran. First responder vehicles breezed past him headed to the crash. He made it to the staging truck in a matter of minutes.

“Zain,” Alec bellowed.

“Dude.” Paxton skidded to a stop in front of Alec, eyes wide.

“Where’s Zain?” Alec grabbed the front of Paxton’s shirt.

“You’re bleeding.”

“What the hell happened out there?” Brett stopped just behind Paxton.

“They were waiting for us. They ambushed the van. Are they tracking Vara?” Alec pushed past them and into the waiting truck.

“I’ve got the signal headed south,” Zain called out.

“Get units on that vehicle,” Owen ordered across the van.

“What the hell, Zain?” Alec stopped next to his boss and watched the blue dot moving across the screen at a fast clip.

“Units are closing in,” a tech said.

The dot passed through an intersection then disappeared.

“What just happened?” Alec snatched the tablet from Zain.

“Where’s that signal?” Zain demanded.

“Someone answer him,” Owen said.

A tech twisted in her seat to stare back at them. “It—it’s gone. Sir.”

Alec glanced from the tech to Owen then Zain.

“She’s gone?” Alec said. “Gone?”

“Get that signal back up. It’s not gone. I don’t believe that.” Zain shoved the tech out of her seat and began to pound keys.

Alec wheeled around and caught sight of Brett standing in the doorway.

The fucking CIA.

This was their fault.

Alec stalked across the truck and drew his sidearm, keeping it close to his body. Brett was too focused on the screens to pay attention to him. Alec shoved the weapon against Brett’s ribs.

“Outside, buddy. We’re going to have a talk about what you aren’t sharing with us,” Alec snarled.

Brett didn’t flinch or blink. He backed down the stairs then turned, stepping into the shadow of the truck.

“Alec, man.” Paxton jogged up with a first aid kit in hand. He skidded to a stop a few feet away. “Dude.”

“We need to pay Chad a visit,” Brett said before Alec could ask a single question. “This is his mess.”

“You’re going to put this all on your buddy?” But Alec knew the person they needed, the one who’d orchestrated all of this, was Vara’s piece of shit handler.

“I told you, Chad fucked up. He got good men killed and now Vara is his bait. I don’t know what Chad’s really up to, but if we want answers, we’re going to have to go to him.”

“Where is he?” Alec snarled.

“Portland, last I heard.” Brett stared right back at Alec.

Everything in Alec wanted to go north. That was the direction they’d last known Vara was headed. But to get answers he needed to go south.

I’m coming for you, babe.