Rowan sat sipping her mocha in Lachlan’s kitchen. She still wasn’t quite awake.

Maybe it was because Lachlan had woken her up with his mouth just after six a.m. She closed her eyes reveling in the memory. Then, he’d added his hands and cock, and she’d probably disturbed the neighbors again.

She took another big sip of her chocolate-laced coffee. She couldn’t find it in her to be sorry if she disturbed anyone’s sleep, because for the first time in a long time, she felt good.

But that made her think of Lars, lying still and unmoving in a bed, and the others who’d died. Her heart clenched. It had to be a bad thing to feel so good, when everything else around her was so wrong.

She heard footsteps and guessed that Lachlan was out of the shower. She was wearing another one of his T-shirts, and when he appeared, he was wearing no shirt, and only a pair of dark cargo pants riding low on his narrow hips.

She drank him in. Damn, the man was fine. She eyed his tattoos and his bronze skin. That intriguing prosthetic arm that only added to his appeal. Not to mention those abs that she’d worshiped with her mouth earlier.

His golden eyes were on her and he moved straight to her. His kiss was hard and deep.

“Morning,” he murmured.

“Can’t talk. Brain cells have been turned to mush.”

He grinned, and she liked seeing him look so relaxed. Then he reached over, grabbed her mug, and sipped her coffee.

“Hey,” she complained.

He tucked her into his side and sipped again.

She traced a finger over his tattoos. The large one on his shoulder made sense. She saw the elements of the Marine emblem in the intricate design—the eagle, the globe, the anchor, as well as a cross. But the letters down his side, she couldn’t guess.

“When did you get the tattoos?”

“One on my shoulder after I made Force Reconnaissance. I was pretty darn proud.”

She moved lower, her fingers tracing the letters. “And these?”

She felt him tense and she was sad to see the ease go.

“Those are the initials of the buddies I lost in my final mission. When I lost my arm.”

Demons danced in his eyes and Rowan bit her lip. “What were their names?”

“Don’t want to talk about it.”

“Ignoring it won’t help, Lachlan—”

“That fancy PhD of yours in shrinking heads?” he spat.

Rowan felt his words hit her, but she stiffened her spine. “No. I just care about you.”

“Fuck.” He pressed his hands to the back of his neck.

“I’m sorry, I should never have asked—”

“Evans, Johnson, and Simms.”

She stilled. “You marked them on your skin so you’d never forget them.”

“I will never forget. I’ll never forget their screams. Never forget that my reckless mistake got them killed. Never forget that I couldn’t save them.”

His words came at her like bullets. “Lachlan—”

He closed his eyes. “I’ll never forget because I look at this metal arm every day and remember. I’ll never forget because I look in the mirror everyday and see my dad’s eyes.”

She sucked in a breath. “Your father had a drinking problem that he used to try and cope with what was clearly PTSD. You are not him.”

“I could be. I made the decision to head into a cave system in Afghanistan to gather intel on a rumored torture camp. I should have fucking waited for backup. I have to live with that.”

She gripped his hand—his prosthetic one—twining their fingers together. Her hero, still beating himself up, even when he went to work every day to protect others.

“There were more insurgents than we expected. They nabbed Evans and tortured him. We could hear him screaming.”

Rowan held on, forcing herself to listen to every word. She knew now why Lachlan had made the decision to go in.

“But by the time we got in there, Evans was dead. Blair got a knife to the eye, Johnson got a bullet to the head which didn’t kill him but left him a vegetable, and I…”

“Tell me.”

“I’d tossed a few grenades and part of the roof collapsed.” His chest shuddered. “I’d pulled the pin on the next grenade when a rock hit me. I was pinned down, too fucking close to the grenade. Blast mangled my arm.”

She wrapped her arms around him. She couldn’t imagine the agony.

“Blair dragged me out, blood dripping down her face. Together, we got Johnson out.”

They’d survived, but had been battered to hell. She hugged him hard. “You can’t save everyone, Lachlan. All you can do is make the choice to fight, protect, and know that sometimes your best isn’t good enough. Then you get up, and take each day at a time.”

His arms wrapped around her. His embrace was so tight, she could barely breathe, but she didn’t let go. She stroked her hands over the sleek skin of his back, and slowly, she felt his muscles relax.

“Team’ll be here soon,” he murmured.

“What’s the plan for today?” she asked.

“We’re going to link up to base from here.” He finally loosened his arms. His gaze searched her face. “How come you aren’t looking at me with pity, or disgust, or something?”

“Because I don’t feel any of those things. Sorrow you got hurt, sympathy for your friends. But you’re alive, Lachlan, and you’re still being a hero with the work you do.”

He pulled in a breath. “You’re too good for me.”

She leaned in close. “I never want to hear you say that again.” She straightened and stole her coffee back from him. “Now, we have work to do.”

His face turned serious. “We need to find the artifact.”

She nodded. “I guess the best way to do that is to identify the people who took it.”

“True, but they’re proving elusive.”

“You don’t think it’s the Red Wolves.”

“Nope.” His hand cupped her hip and squeezed. “I’d prefer you were dressed when my team arrives.”

She rolled her eyes, but headed for the shower. By the time she’d dressed, she heard voices in the living room.

When she entered, everyone looked up from where they were sitting, giving her a smile or a wave. Smith and Axel were at the counter, while the others were sitting on the couch. Axel gave her a lazy look followed by a wink.

Rowan sighed. Why did she feel like she had a sign saying “I got laid by Lachlan all night long, and thoroughly enjoyed it” hanging over her head?

As she got closer to the couch, Lachlan grabbed her hand and tugged her down beside him. He kept talking to Blair, who was fiddling with a tablet. He slid his hand up Rowan’s arm.

She felt everyone watching, and she knew enough about Lachlan now to know the move was deliberate.

“Got the connection,” Blair said.

Brooks’ good-looking face filled Lachlan’s television screen, his glasses framing deep brown eyes. “Morning.”

“Brooks,” Lachlan said.

Today, the man’s T-shirt had a stormtrooper on it aiming a blaster and said “Stop, or I’ll shoot in your general direction.” Rowan felt a spurt of amusement.

“Rowan, glad you’re okay,” Brooks said.

“Thanks.”

Lachlan folded his arms over his chest. “Okay, update us.”

Brooks’ smile dissolved. “Seth got a few things out of the guys who tried to take Rowan.”

Rowan glanced at Seth, but his face didn’t change. He was sitting on the arm of the couch, looking relaxed, but something about him made her think of a snake, coiled and ready to strike.

“We’ve confirmed the guys in the gray vehicles were part of the Red Wolves,” Brooks said.

“I spoke to Declan Ward at Treasure Hunter Security,” Lachlan said.

“Hate those guys,” Axel muttered.

“He confirmed the Red Wolves like artifacts, generally ones attached to crazy conspiracy theories, and are usually haphazard and messy with their attacks.”

“But they don’t have the artifact,” Seth said.

Everyone froze.

Lachlan leaned forward. “They took Rowan because they’re still trying to find out about the artifact, and don’t know it’s missing.”

Brooks nodded.

“So there’s another player on the board,” Blair said.

Lachlan scowled and glanced at Rowan. “And they might still try to get to Rowan.”

God. She slumped back on the couch. “The most important thing is the artifact.”

Brooks turned to face the screen on his wall. “I’m working hard to follow the money trail of the payment Airman Kowalski received. But these guys are good, and it’s buried deep. I was in contact with Detective MacKade.”

There was a quiet snort, which Rowan thought came from Blair.

“The police searched her house, but didn’t find anything. She’s disappeared, and her husband’s distraught.”

Rowan wrapped her arms around herself. “And she has a sick daughter.”

Brooks nodded. “The police are staking out the hospital where the airman’s daughter is being treated, just in case she tries to see the girl.”

Lachlan ran a hand through his hair. He looked frustrated.

“Wait!” Brooks started tapping his tablet like mad.

“Brooks—” Lachlan began.

The man’s head jerked up. “Reports of a disturbance at the Venetian.”

Around her, the team all tensed.

“Go on,” Lachlan said.

“Nothing concrete yet,” Brooks said, “but some of the reports mention an attack. Involving ice.”

Oh, no. Rowan gasped.

Team 52 all leaped to their feet.

“Let’s go.” Lachlan ordered. “We go in undercover, weapons hidden until we need them.”

Rowan stood. “I’m coming.”

Lachlan scowled.

“You don’t want to leave her here alone,” Blair said quietly.

Lachlan bit off a curse and gripped Rowan’s arm. “You’re coming with us, but you follow my orders.”

* * *

When they pulled up to the Venetian, people were pouring out of the casino. The faint sound of screaming came through the windows.

Lachlan touched his ear. “Comms check.”

All his team and Brooks called in their checks. He pushed open the door, helping Rowan out of the backseat. His team moved in around him, keeping their bodies relaxed and casual.

“Keep a low profile.” They didn’t need the warning. His team knew the drill. They were used to operating under the radar, and in unique circumstances.

He looked down at Rowan who was eyeing the running crowd with concern.

Lachlan looked over at Callie. “Callie, you stay with Rowan. Stay back, and only come in if I call for you.”

The woman looked like she wanted to argue, but then nodded. Lachlan knew all his team preferred action over playing bodyguard, but they also took orders when they heard them.

Lachlan gripped Rowan’s arms. “Stay with Callie. Be safe.”

She nodded. “You, too.”

Fuck. His team was watching him, but he ignored them and leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.

With a smile, Callie took Rowan’s arm. As the rest of the team jogged into the casino, Callie pulled Rowan away from the panicking crowd and toward the restaurants.

When Lachlan turned to the others, Blair, Axel, and Seth were grinning at him, and even Smith looked like he was fighting a smile.

“Not a word.” Lachlan strode forward and out into the replica of Venice’s St. Mark’s Square.

More panicked, fleeing people. The screams grew louder.

Together, his team rushed over the bridge that spanned the artificial lake. Then he glanced down, and his gut tightened.

Half of the lake was frozen solid. A gondola was caught up in the ice, pointing straight up.

Shit. “Fan out.”

They crossed the bridge, and on the other side, still more people were pushing and stumbling as they tried to get away.

That’s when Lachlan saw the figure scaling one of the faux Italian-building façades. A large figure that looked like it was wearing white body armor.

Someone had activated the artifact.

He pulled his SIG, and saw his team do the same. He gave a hand signal, and they moved over another bridge.

The creature spotted them and jumped down. It landed, cracking the travertine tiles, then rose slowly.

Fuck. Lachlan took in the brown hair framing the distorted female features.

“Airman Kowalski,” Blair murmured.

The woman had to be at least a foot taller than usual and far bigger. The artifact rested on her chest.

Lachlan touched his ear. “Callie, we need the tranqs. Get in here.”

“On my way,” Callie responded. “I’m sending Rowan back to the SUVs.”

As they waited for Callie, they moved in slowly, circling Airman Kowalski. Suddenly, the woman let out a growl. Then she charged.

Lachlan dodged. He got a clear view of the artifact on the woman’s chest.

Airman Kowalski swung a clawed hand at Seth. He jumped up and kicked her. She staggered backward, then she bent her knees and jumped up. She leaped over their heads.

“She’s getting away,” Smith barked.

Lachlan sprinted after her, his team right behind him. Airman Kowalski ran through a door, and into the casino.

Inside, there were startled screams as Airman Kowalski crashed through the crowd. Team 52 followed her erratic path, dodging blackjack tables and slot machines. Suddenly, Callie appeared, holding the tranq gun.

“Take her down,” Lachlan ordered.

Callie steadied herself, taking aim at the fleeing woman.

The medic fired, then cursed. “Missed.”

“Take the shot again,” Lachlan said calmly.

He saw Airman Kowalski knock through a group of tourists, sending them toppling. He ran forward, Blair at his elbow.

“She’s going to hurt someone,” Blair yelled.

Lachlan lifted his weapon. Airman Kowalski turned and their gazes met. She let out a wild roar, then crouched and touched the floor.

A web of ice formed at the airman’s feet. It rose up from the floor like some kind of reverse waterfall.

“Callie. Now!”

Callie fired again. “I think I got her.”

But the ice reached the ceiling, looking like a wall of glass, cutting them off.

Lachlan hammered a fist against the ice. It was rock hard. He flipped his SIG around and thumped the butt against the frozen wall.

Too thick. Fuck. “We need to get around. Now!”