It’s amazing what a man can get used to.

Matteo had been sharing a room with Grace for a solid week now and had fallen into a routine that left his body aching for her every night.

He would go to bed before her, lying in the darkness and waiting for her to come in with the baby. She would sit in the chair on the other side of the room in varying degrees of undress, nursing the baby while he watched.

His original suspicion that she knew he was watching was now a virtual certainty. At least once every night, she would meet his stare in the mirror.

It was all he could do not to confront her, not to stroke himself as he watched her, not to step out of the shadows and reveal himself to her, all wanting and lust. His desire was getting more intense, more complex the better he knew her, and the strength of it forced him to find some release in early morning showers.

His dreams had taken on a vivid, erotic quality that always involved Grace and her glorious milky breasts. He was becoming obsessed, even as they maintained basic pleasantries during the day. But he’d made a promise not to pursue her, and if one of them was going to cross the line, it had to be her first.

Then there was the baby. What had started out as Matteo wanting to give Grace a reprieve from her screaming child had turned into something he truly enjoyed—spending time with Nico. He never would have thought a baby could be so full of personality, or that the warmth of the baby’s sweet little body would feel so good against his chest.

There was a closeness that came from sharing sleeping space with Grace and the baby, from waking up to Nico’s little whimpers and hearing him drinking his mother’s milk. It was a type of intimacy Matteo had never experienced with a woman, and this time he couldn’t run away from it.

He awoke to insistent knocking on the bedroom door.

His training had him on his feet, instantly on high alert. He went to the door. “Who is it?”

“Talia.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Grace.

“Nothing, honey. Go back to sleep.” He stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him. The look on Talia’s face clearly spoke of trouble. “What is it?”

“A man broke into Nico’s room, but we caught him.”

Matteo was used to danger, not unaccustomed to a steady threat. But this was different. This was his son they were talking about.

Grace’s son. Not yours.

The muscles of his arms flexed, ready to battle and defend. “Take me to him.”

The general shook his head. “He’s dead. He killed himself. My men brought him in alive, but they missed the suicide capsule when they patted him down.”

“Thank God the baby was with us.”

“Agreed. The intruder killed one of our men on the ground and made it to the room undetected. It was the guard in Nico’s room who got him.”

Matteo rubbed his forehead. His heart was racing. Someone had gotten inside with trained guards posted at every turn. Not just anyone could do that.

HERO Force could.

“The suicide capsule is a hallmark of Ten Komanda,” said Talia. “If they are after Nico…”

The shadow team.

Fuck.

“I want twice as many men on Nico’s room,” said Matteo. “The same on ours. If they came for him once, they’ll be back.”

Talia nodded. “There’s something else. I went and spoke with President Vasile before coming to you. He is not well. He tells me you are aware of his… condition?”

“Yes.”

“He’d like to speak with you.”

Matteo made his way down the hall to Vasile’s room, quietly knocking.

“Come in.”

A single light was on beside the bed. Vasile looked older and sicker than Matteo had ever seen him.

“Talia told you about Ten Komanda?”

“He did.”

“They are like your HERO Force. Covert operations. The difference as I understand it is that your organization operates with some sort of moral compass. Ten Komanda does not. I’ve known for some time they are working for Victor Trane. The fact that they are now after my grandson…”

Vasile shook his head slowly. “They will do anything. I am concerned for my daughter’s safety, too. Her and the baby. I need you to keep them safe.”

“I will. To the best of my ability.”

“Even if I’m no longer here. I need your word you will protect Grace until she is completely safe from harm.”

“I will.”

Vasile nodded. “I have a speaking engagement a few hours away tomorrow evening. I’m not well enough to make it. I want you to take Grace there in my stead.”

“Grace?”

“You don’t know.” Vasile smiled. “She is a charismatic speaker with a highly political mind. We share similar political views and at one time she considered running for public office, though it infuriated her to think how alike we are. I believe she’ll do it, if not for me then for the people.”

“We’ll be more vulnerable on the road than we would be here at home.”

“It’s only a few hours away and it is necessary to the campaign. This is a mountain I’m willing to die on, Matteo.”

“But is Grace?”

“I believe so, yes. But she can tell you her own mind.”

He nodded. “I’d feel better if the baby stayed here. If we have any trouble, he would make everything more difficult.”

“Fine. I will talk to her.”

Matteo shook his head. “No. Let me do it.”

It was Vasile’s turn to focus the questioning stare on Matteo.

“She’ll listen to me.”