Hook filed out of the conference room, feeling a little desperate to find Felicity. He didn’t have much time to talk to her. Reaper had called Dagger and Lacey back to take over keeping Felicity out of trouble. Monica’s “Team Felicity” would be setting up their op in just a few hours.

He hated the thought of leaving her alone and feeling adrift, but he also knew he had to be part of this. For her. To make sure she would never have to face prison time. He wouldn’t let himself look any further into the future than nabbing Burns in the act, because frankly, he didn’t know what came next. He wasn’t sure how Felicity felt about him. For all he knew, she was taking comfort from him but would be eager to resume her old life the second this dark cloud dissipated. Without him.

He glanced around the bullpen, stepped outside to see if she was installing one last camera, but didn’t see her. When he came back inside, Brian tilted his head toward the hallway where the bathrooms were.

He headed down there, hesitating only a second before he raised his fist to knock.

The door opened, and Felicity stepped out. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her face was completely without color. She’d been crying.

Hook felt a pinch in his chest then did the only thing he knew to do and opened his arms. She stepped into them, and he held her, rocking gently side to side as she snuggled so close it felt as though she was trying to crawl inside him.

“You have to go, right?” she said then sniffed.

“Yes. Everyone’s loading up. I just have to grab my go bag.”

“You’ll be careful?”

He grunted. “Burns is sixty pounds overweight. And he’s a burglar. He hasn’t committed any armed robberies. I’m not too worried.”

She looked up at him. “I wish I was going, too.”

“I know,” he said, “but I’d feel better knowing you’re safe.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Thought you said he’s not a threat?”

His mouth curved, happy she was back to giving him lip. “When this over…” He paused, because he hadn’t planned to do this, but he didn’t want to leave her thinking he didn’t care. “When you’re free, I want you to think about staying here in Bear Lodge…with me.”

She blinked, and tears filled her eyes. “You don’t have to say that.”

“Don’t have to, but I want to.”

“You can have any woman you want.”

He sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Funny, only one I want is you.”

“Really?”

He kissed her then held her away. “We’ll talk when I get back. In the meantime, you sit tight.”

She nodded, a smile stretching her mouth. “I’m going to eat pizza and burgers the entire time you’re gone.”

She stood at the window watching as the caravan of cars left the lot. Then she turned back. Her mind wouldn’t stop thinking about Cameron and how he’d tried to lay his crimes at her feet. The last place she wanted to be was here when she wanted to confront him. However stupid that idea was. And it was dumb. She should let the heavy-hitters, the professionals, take care of this.

“You hungry?” Brian called out. “It’s going to be a while before Dagger and Lacey are back. We can order in. Pizza from the Bear Lodge Café, if you like.”

So, he’d heard her conversation with Hook. “Sounds good,” she said.

“I’ll place the order. Need to go grab my wallet from my apartment,” he said then wheeled away. As soon as he left the office, she hurried to a computer.

She typed in the URL for a site she’d been pointed toward by one of her dark web pals, one that tracked any cellphone, whether or not you had permission or were part of a network of family and friends. She typed in Cameron’s telephone and waited for the map to appear. She held her breath until the blinking red dot appeared on the map filling the screen. He was near Flathead Lake. And suddenly, she remembered the installation she’d completed there last month—a log cabin mansion owned by a Silicon Valley millionaire. Made sense. His last heist was her last installation.

She glanced at the door leading to Brian’s apartment and felt regret that she was about to betray him, but she had to be there. Had to see this go down. She rifled through Hook’s desk for his keys, grabbed her backpack with her laptop and cellphone, and headed toward the door.

Once outside, the nervousness that had gripped her upon seeing Monica lessened. She was doing the right thing, for her. She couldn’t “sit tight”. The team had a head start getting there, but she’d be right on their heels. Maybe she could watch from afar. For sure, they’d know in just a little while that she’d ghosted away. Hook would be disappointed. Maybe angry. He’d have to deal with it. This was her life.

Fifteen minutes down the road, her cellphone jangled. She picked it up and read the screen. It was Fetch. They’d called the big dog.

She swiped the screen. “Hi, Fetch.”

“Little girl, what are you doing?”

Oh, did he have to call her ‘little girl’? She melted a little inside. “Fetch, I’m doing what I have to do.”

“You know this isn’t smart. Monica’s hopping mad.”

“Monica’s a hell of a lawyer. She’ll figure out how to keep me out of trouble.”

His sigh was loud in her ear. “Hook’s not happy either.”

“Figured that.”

“There something going on between you two?” he asked, his voice gruff.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because he cursed a blue streak then asked me to call you to order you back. Said he was going to spank your ass. Figured if he was going to do that, then he thought you might let him.”

She couldn’t help it, she grinned. “It’s too soon to say if anything’s going on between us.”

He snorted. “I could see it in that first meeting. Too many sparks. Well, hell. Don’t you get anywhere near that house. Hear me?”

“I hear you.”

“I didn’t hear a ‘yes, sir.’”

“I don’t want to lie to you, Fetch. You’ve done so much for me already. I’ll never be able to pay you back.”

“I’ll figure out something. But I’m happy to help, sweetheart. You stay safe.”

She felt better when she hung up. Fetch wasn’t furious. The fact Hook was kind of excited her. She dialed Brian at the office.

“I ordered pizza,” he said, his voice filled with disgust.

“Save me a slice. I’ll have it for breakfast.” She heard his loud exhale and felt guilty she’d bailed on him. “I’m sorry I left like that, but I couldn’t let you talk me out of it.”

“I understand, Felicity. I really do. I’m just worried about you.”

“I’m worried about me, too. It’s why I couldn’t sit twiddling my thumbs while everyone else is doing the hard work.”

“Just stay out of their way. By the way, Hook’s not too happy.”

She grimaced. “I heard.”

“After all those sweet things he said, you’d think you’d be a little more worried about his reaction.”

“You are not guilting me into turning around. Hook knows I’m a brat. I showed him myself the first time we met.”

He chuckled. “Okay, just know there will likely be consequences.”

She didn’t say she was looking forward to those consequences…

The nearer she drew to Flathead Lake, the more settled she felt. The knot in her stomach that had been her constant companion eased. She felt stronger inside herself. Determined. All she wanted was to look Cameron in the eye and ask him how he lived with himself, whether he’d felt any guilt at all about the hell he’d put her through. She’d trusted him. Liked him. He’d been a great trainer, funny but professional. She knew he had a wife and two kids. How could he have risked all that?

Before she reached the turn that would bring her to the gated community’s gatehouse, she pulled to the side of the road and looked through her notes on her phone for the code to get past the gate.

When she was looking down at the screen, a shadow fell over her. She swung her head to the left and stared up into Hook’s frowning face. He knocked on her window. Er, his window.

She bit her lip and hit the button to lower it. “Hey there,” she said, her cheeks heating because he’d caught her.

He released a deep breath. “Trying to add auto theft to your list of charges?” She opened her mouth to say something smart, but he held up his hand. “Don’t.” He flipped up the door latch then stood to the side. “Get out.”

She reached for her bag, uncertain whether he was going to leave her stranded on the road.

“Leave it.”

As soon as she stepped down from the vehicle, she felt very, very small beside the large angry man. His hands were braced on his hips. His chest was rising and falling very quickly. Had she ruined everything with her rash actions today?

She started to lift her head, when his hands shot out, and he gripped her waist. He turned her and pressed her back against the cab. When he had her pinned, he slid her upwards, and his mouth slammed downward, covering hers.

She didn’t hesitate, lifting her legs to hug his waist and her arms to encircle his shoulders. Try telling me now that we’re through, Hook! She felt his hardness against her, the rigidity of his muscled chest. His mouth remained firm against hers for all of a second, but then eased as he circled his head, tugging her lips around and around.

She raked her fingers against his scalp.

Hook pulled back, breathing hard. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I know.”

He shook his head. “You’re trouble.”

“Goes with the red hair,” she whispered. “Or so my mama always said.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

Her eyes filled. He wasn’t mad enough to dump her.

He leaned her back against the truck and ground his hips against her. “Don’t know what I’m going to do with you,” he growled.

“Fetch said you had at least one idea.”

His eyes narrowed. “Gonna hold still for me to do it?”

She walked her fingers from his chest to his chin. “I might, seeing as how I stole your truck…”

He sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. “Monica’s a little…testy. She sent me to bring you to her.”

“I’ll be good. Promise.”

He shook his head, but then moved back. “Down.”

She lowered her legs, although they were a little shaky.

“Get in the passenger seat.”

As soon as he removed his hands from her waist, she walked away, bemused because she liked the way the terse commands made her feel—naked, needy.

At the gate, he punched the code to get inside then drove to a dark van with a cable company logo on the side parked next to a long driveway that led to a neighboring house. The back door opened, and Monica stood in the opening. She rolled her eyes and waved a hand for Felicity to come to her.

Felicity glanced at Hook.

He shrugged. “She’s the boss. Don’t think she’ll let you out of her sight.”

“Where will you be?”

He lifted his chin to the stand of trees beside the mansion. “We’re just waiting for it to get dark. We figure that’ll be when he strikes.”

Felicity nodded and reached for the door handle, but Hook ringed her wrist with his claw.

She only had to see the heat in his eyes to know what he wanted, and she leaned toward him. The kiss was quick, hard, far from satisfying. But it was a promise.

Inside the van, Monica pointed toward a chair tucked under a long bench that held a row of monitors. The sound of voices, several of them, chattering away, and the perspective of the views, told her what she was looking at were feeds from helmet cameras. Every entrance to the house was covered, as well as the gatehouse. Which meant Monica had likely witnessed her and Hook’s steamy kiss. As well, one monitor had a four-way split-screen view from rooms inside the house.

“I’m online,” Hook’s voice came over the feed, and the one darkened monitor flickered with light. He was looking at the four-car garage door.

“Well, you certainly screwed the pooch,” Monica said, taking a seat beside her.

“Sorry,” Felicity mumbled.

“Don’t want to hear it. You don’t mean it.” Then she gave her a sideways glance. Her mouth was curved. “Hook and I laid bets how long it would take you to come here.”

Felicity raised her eyebrows. “You knew?”

“I would have done the same thing,” she said, her tone dry.

Relieved the other woman wasn’t angry, Felicity looked around at the tech inside the van. “This is some fancy operation.”

“Like it?”

“This your usual gig? You run all this?”

“Sometimes. I’ve learned to be a ‘Jill of All Trades’.”

Felicity blinked. “So, you’re with RIP, too? Not just a lawyer?”

Monica waggled her eyebrows. “That information’s ‘need to know’, sweetie.”

“And I don’t need to know?”

“Not yet, anyway,” Monica murmured, and then turned back to the screens.

Felicity sat for a moment or two pondering the woman’s words. Then she turned her rolling chair in a circle to check out the gear inside the van—the well-stocked weapons rack behind the cab, the two laptops on the bench on the opposite side with their hardened cases, radios in a charging stand, several spaces empty, speakers, night vision gear, tactical helmets, and vests. She blew out a breath that billowed her cheeks. They were as well-equipped as any spec ops outfit—and she’d thought Fetch had hired a lawyer and some random PIs.

When her gaze went back to the monitors, she saw that the sunlight was fading. “Do you really think it’ll be tonight?”

“He told his wife he was going bowling after work. He’s not bowling.”

“You’re not worried the neighbors or the homeowner will spot you?”

Monica grunted. “We’re better than that, but we’ve already been in contact with the owner, who’s in California. He knows we’re here and gave us permission to do whatever is necessary. He’s got insurance.”

As soon as it turned dark, the chatter from the team quieted.

“Did you like installing security systems?” Monica asked, her arms crossed over her chest and her gaze still on the screens in front of them.

“I liked it well enough.” She shrugged. “I was hoping for a lateral transfer to either their support desk or their IT department. Something a little more mentally challenging.”

“Have you thought about what you’ll do when this is over?”

“I was afraid to think that far ahead, but I doubt they’d rehire me, and other than a state job, I don’t know that there’s anything sufficiently techie here in Montana to hold my interest. I had thought about looking for some online work, or maybe something in customer service. I don’t know, really. I like it here, but I might have to look in Seattle for something…challenging.” And although Hook had asked her to consider staying with him, she wasn’t sure they’d last. Proximity and his overprotective instincts might be clouding his mind.

Monica gave her a sideways glance. “After this is over, we should talk.”

Felicity nodded, coming to the realization that Monica was considering offering her a job. She gave the other woman a small smile and turned back to the monitors, wondering where the hell RIP was located, and hoping it wouldn’t be too much of a commute if things did work out between her and Hook.

Hook lay on his belly beside the base of a tall pine tree, his binoculars trained on the driveway. After being still for so long, his body and mood had cooled. Seeing Felicity sitting in his truck, her mouth pouting because she’d been caught, had had him grinding his jaws. Didn’t she know they were doing this for her? That he’d make sure they nailed this bastard? However, he did get why she hadn’t been willing to sit this one out. He wouldn’t have either.

Her quip alluding to the spanking he’d threatened when talking to Fetch on the phone played in his mind. She hadn’t looked especially concerned. Did she have no sense of self-preservation when it came to riling a man? Fact was, there’d been a hint of a sparkle in her eyes. Which intrigued him. He was already very well-pleased with how their lovemaking had gone down the night before, but now, his mind was filled with more possibilities to explore.

“I see an Escalade approaching the gate…” came a voice through his earpiece. “Plate’s a match. Burns is on the way.”

“You heard him, boys,” Monica said. “Get ready.”

Hook turned on his night vision goggles.

Headlights turned into the drive, and he glanced to the side to avoid the intense glare. The vehicle pulled in front of the garage, but the driver didn’t exit.

“He’s logging in—and yeah, it’s Felicity’s login again,” Monica said, steely satisfaction in her tone.

Hook cussed under his breath.

“He’s disabled the alarm system.”

Finally, the driver stepped out, carrying a large duffel. He ambled toward the front door as calm as could be.

Hook watched through his binoculars and noted the holster on the man’s hip. “He’s armed. Holster on his belt.”

“He’s also got a lock pick kit,” Reaper said, his tone amused. “Damn, he’s faster than Carly at picking at lock. And…he’s inside…”

“Team, close in, but don’t let him see you. Let him think he’s still alone. We want him to grab a few things, first.”

Hook pushed up from the ground and drew his weapon. Holding it in front of him, he moved quickly across the drive then crept along the side of the house, meeting Reaper at the porch.

Reaper gave him a nod.

“He’s moved from the living room into the den. He’s unhooking the laptop from the monitor—and it’s in his bag. We’ve got him! Hook, Reaper, you can enter the front. Max, take the rear. And I’m notifying the sheriff’s office, now.”

Reaper jerked his chin, indicating Hook could enter first.

Hook sped up the steps and turned the doorknob. He pushed open the door a few inches, glanced around then slipped inside.

“Den’s behind the staircase, to your left, Hook,” Monica said.

He kept close to the side of the staircase and approached the door to the den. From inside the room, he heard a sound like a hammer.

“Jesus, he’s chiseling the safe out of the wall. Let’s nail this bastard before he does any more damage. Take him.”

Hook stood beside the doorway and called out, “Cameron Burns, we’ve got you surrounded. Raise your hands above your head.” He peeked around the corner to see Burns drop his tools and his hand move toward the holster.

“He’s going for his gun,” Monica bit out.

“Fucker,” Hook said under her breath and launched himself through the doorway, rolling to the side and coming up on one knee with his weapon trained on the man before his gun even cleared its holster. “Don’t, or I will shoot.”

Cameron Burns froze, and his hands went midway up his sides. His wild gaze went from Hook to the door, and then to the window.

“You’re surrounded, dumbass,” Hook ground out. “Get your fucking hands up!”

Cameron’s gaze locked on something behind Hook. Likely Reaper, because his already wide eyes bugged. “You’re not police,” Burns said, frowning now.

“Nope.”

“Then you can’t do this. You got no right.”

“You really gonna argue with us?” Reaper asked, sounding amused.

“You’re trespassing,” Burns said, pointing his finger.

“We’ve got the owner’s permission to be here, and cops are on the way. You can complain to them.”

Hook glanced to the side at Reaper. “Cover me.” Then he stood and holstered his weapon. “Put your hands behind your head and lace your fingers together. I’m going to come closer, and my buddy here is going to keep his weapon trained on you. So, no funny moves.”

Burns slowly raised his hands, but when Hook took a step his way, he suddenly jerked his arm downward.

“I’ve got him!” Hook shouted and dove for Burns.

“Shit!” Reaper’s voice came through the speakers.

But Felicity’s gaze was glued to the jumbled images from Hook’s helmet as he tackled Cameron. Sounds like a mallet beating meat, savage curses, grunts, came as the image changed from Cameron on the floor to Cameron with the ceiling behind him, and then he was back on the floor. More thuds sounded, and Hook’s claw entered the picture clamping on Cameron’s nose.

If she hadn’t been so terrified, she might have laughed.

“Hand off the gun, asshole!”

Cameron made mewling sounds, and blood spurted from his nose, but at last, his hands came into view. He was raising them.

Then Hook shot upwards, and his weapon appeared, pointing downward. “Get on your fucking belly.”

“I’ll cuff him.”

“Reap, get out of my way.”

The weapon disappeared, and Hook lowered. Metal snapped once. Twice.

“He’s secure,” Hook said, his voice tight.

Felicity glanced at Monica.

Monica put her hand over the mike. “Go.”

Felicity burst out of the van and ran toward the house. In the distance, she heard sirens. She slammed inside the house and ran past RIP’s two burly operatives, who stood outside the den. Once inside, she pushed past Reaper, who was holstering his weapon, and approached Hook, who had his hand wrapped around Cameron’s upper arm and was turning him toward the door.

She shot Hook a glance, and he halted. Then she circled around to face Cameron, but the moment she did the questions she’d wanted to ask him didn’t matter anymore. As she looked at his surly expression, the snarl that twisted his mouth, she realized she’d never known him at all, and that the man had no love for his family. No love for anyone but himself. Without saying a word, she stepped back.

Hook led him out the door and out of sight.

Reaper approached her, but she shook her head. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice sounding hoarse to her own ears.

Outside, she watched as sheriff’s deputies took Cameron into custody. Monica stood outside the van, a tablet in her hand, while another deputy looked over her shoulder. No doubt she was showing him the feed from inside the house so there’d be no doubt about what had occurred.

The flashing lights from the deputies’ cars lit up the night. Felicity watched everyone moving around, all with something to do. Someone to talk to. She crossed her arms and realized she was cold and shaking.

It was over. The charges would be dropped against her and lodged against Cameron. She wasn’t going to jail again. She was free. But to do what? She didn’t know what she wanted anymore.

A hand touched her shoulder—large, warm—and turned her. Without looking up, she walked into Hook’s open arms.