MONDAY. BASU RESIDENCE, Mumbai, India.

Adam paced the room, from one side to the next.

He wished they were at a hotel, for no better reason than private bathrooms. With the whole team, the clients and their hosts on the same floor, they had to share and be mindful of time. He couldn’t follow Heidi into the bathroom and monopolize it for a few hours.

There’d been a period after her parents had killed themselves and before he’d concocted the crazy plan to get married where they’d been attached at the hip. There was a whole weekend they’d spent at her house he could recall in near perfect detail. Especially the shower show. Heidi was nothing but trouble, and he liked her that way.

His stomach growled and his mouth watered. The food sitting at the table smelled divine. It was also a painful reminder that the last meal he ate fit in the palm of his hand. Plane food really needed to reevaluate what they called a portion size.

He needed this time with Heidi. After the talk they had a lot of things to get straight. He’d missed out on so much of her life. He’d never make up those lost years, but he could get the highlights.

Did she still prefer soda without ice?

Was her favorite scent still lavender?

What about lemon drops?

He dug into his toiletry bag. In the side pocket, still in the same black velvet jewelers bag, his wedding band waited for him. He rolled the gold band out into the palm of his hand. The exterior was dented and cut clean through on one side. He’d meant to get it fixed, but it had become something of a symbol of the way their relationship had broken.

Did she wear her wedding band?

The bedroom door opened. He turned and sucked in a deep breath.

Heidi had a towel in one hand and was going to town on her hair. Her clothes were still the yoga pants and t-shirts he’d brought her, but even that looked good on her. Over the years, friends like Kyle had tried to talk him into going out with other women. Adam had tried once or twice, but he’d never made it through the encounter. He loved Heidi, and he intended to remain faithful to that promise, no matter what.

“That was glorious.” Heidi dropped her arms her short hair sticking out every which way. “They really did bring diner down here? Aren’t we special?”

She draped the towel over the hamper and crossed the room. She stopped next to him and glanced at his hands.

“What’s wrong?” Her gaze narrowed.

“Hungry?” He nodded at the table and tucked his hand behind his leg.

“What are you hiding?” She grasped his wrist and tugged on his arm.

He should have had the ring repaired. He didn’t want her to see it broken and battered.

She pulled again and this time he let her cradle his fist in her hands and pull his fingers back.

“What happened?” She picked up the ring, rolling it between her fingers and lifted it for a better look.

“They cut it off.”

“They who? Why?” Heidi glared up at him.

“Broke my arm. It swelled. Couldn’t get the ring off.”

“You broke your arm?” The tones of alarm placated his nerves.

“Yeah.” Please don’t ask...

“How? When?”

“Being stupid.” That was an understatement.

Heidi glared at him.

He’d caused her pain by trying to spare her, set her free, and mind his own business. The truth was a small thing in the scope of their past.

“After I came to see you and left, I went to a buddy’s place. We went out drinking. Don’t remember the details, but there was a bar fight...”

Heidi stared at him for a couple moments, rolling his ring between her fingers. He couldn’t figure her out any better now than he could back then.

“That sucks. My wedding band was stolen when I was in college. I didn’t wear it to the lab, and the ring was the only thing the thief took. I always figured someone I knew did it.” She handed his ring back to him. “I found a cubic zirconia ring that looks almost identical to it that I wear. It’s not the same though.”

Adam blinked at her. That tidbit meant something.

She still wore a ring, just not the one he’d given her.

That was important, wasn’t it?

“Hungry?” He nodded at the table.

“Starving. Is everyone eating in their room?” Heidi crossed to the table and lifted the silver dome off the plate.

“I asked Aanya if she would mind.” Adam followed Heidi and pulled out a chair.

“What’s the story with them?” Heidi sat and pulled the napkin from where it was folded into the shape of a bird of some sort.

“Same story as the rest. Someone wanted to ransom them. We brought them home.” Adam took the seat across from her and wiped his hands on his jeans. They’d shared hundreds of meals and yet he couldn’t shake the nerves.

“That is not the whole story. I met Tommy.”

“It’s their story.”

“You’re no fun.” Heidi glared at him.

Adam picked up the water and poured them both a glass. If Aanya and Dev wanted to share Tommy’s story, that was up to them.

“Why are we special?” Heidi picked up her glass, but kept her gaze on him.

“We haven’t had a lot of time to catch up.” And he was jealous of the time he got to spend with her. Now that he knew there was a chance, he was going to take whatever he could get and push for more.

“Oh? So this is where you’re going to tell me how you went from being a SEAL to a—what do you call this? You don’t call yourself a bodyguard.”

“More or less. Alpha Team specializes in rescuing people.”

“How’d you make the switch?”

“Kyle. He told me about the company and the opportunities. I’ve been with them around four years now.”

“Do you miss being in the SEALs?”

“Still a SEAL, just retired. I don’t miss active duty.”

“I always thought that’s what you’d do for the rest of your life. It was who you were.”

Adam shrugged.

Back when they’d gotten married, he’d thought that would be his life. That he’d make a career out of it. Then they’d lost a lot of men and he’d realized the reality of his situation, that not a lot of people got to climb the ladder. The way things were going, his options were to stay in until he was forced out either through retirement, injury or death.

Heidi kept staring at him that little wrinkle developing on her brow.

“I’m not good at talking,” he said.

“You think?”

He leaned forward and scrubbed a hand through his hair. They’d never excelled at talking, which was his fault. Heidi would talk all night if they had the time.

“I wanted to leave with all my limbs. Kyle had a good opportunity, lower risk, higher pay. Seemed like a smart move.” He shrugged.

“Seems smart to me, too. Do you like it?”

“Sure.”

“Where do you live now?”

“Seattle. You?”

“Atlanta, for now. Next year, who knows?” She shrugged. “I’ve been taking whatever opportunity comes my way. I have done more field work the last few years, getting out of the lab, but I think I do my best work there. You came to find me once why not again?”

Adam stared at his half-eaten plate.

He had the skills to find her. Hell, Zain would likely help him if he asked.

“I was afraid of what I’d find. What if you were with someone? What if you were happy and didn’t want to see me? What then?” It was his every fear laid bare. The truth of why he’d held back. Why he hadn’t pushed harder to have time with her.

“You think I’d do that?” Heidi sat back in her chair, eyes wide, mouth open.

“I don’t...”

“I know I’m pretty messed up, but I’ve never done that.”

Adam blinked at her. He found it hard to believe in the almost ten years they’d been apart she hadn’t entertained the idea at the very least. He had thought about it, but that was as far as he’d gone. It was the way he was wired.

“You don’t believe me.” Heidi crossed her arms over her chest.

“If you did, it’s okay.”

“I didn’t. Why don’t you believe me?”

Adam swallowed and shrugged, well aware of the trap he’d fallen into. Both telling the truth and lying weren’t going to improve this situation.

“What about you? No girlfriend? Ever? Never go on a date?”

“Kyle set me up twice. I never stayed through dinner. Heidi, look, all I’m saying is—I didn’t know what I’d find out. If you’d have moved on with your life, you deserved it.”

“You know, besides Curtis in high school, you are the only man I’ve ever dated?” Heidi leveled a glare at him.

Adam winced and averted his gaze, staring out the windows. He didn’t like thinking about Curtis, the asshole from high school, or that he’d pushed her to that dick head with his fall-on-a-sword goodbye spiel. He’d been leaving for boot camp and thought the best thing to do was cut her lose. She’d written him letters, and he’d seen a difference in the mood of them, her word choice. It wasn’t until he got back, full of regret, that he’d met Curtis and seen the damage heartbreak had done to her. After that, they were more or less stuck with each other. It didn’t change their tendency to break up and get back together, but they accepted that like seasons changing, they’d come back around.

He was the only man she’d ever dated.

She was the only woman he’d ever loved.

Was it possible they were made for each other? That they’d been a package deal since the beginning?

So many years lost. “Where do we go from here?” Heidi pushed the food around on her plate, picking at what was left.

“Where do you want to go?” Adam knew what he wanted to at least try. They’d never given themselves a fair shot.

She shrugged, her gaze still on the table.

“Neither of us want a divorce. That narrows our options.” His mind whirled, creating lists, grasping at ideas. He was developing a plan.

“How would that work? What if we aren’t happy?”

“One problem at a time.”

He’d need to split his time between Seattle and Atlanta. There were a couple of guys who flew in for jobs, but they were the solo types. Once the rest of his team was back on their feet, he’d talk to Kyle, Zain and the big boss about cutting his time. Ease someone else onto the team. They always needed guys who could rotate on and off Alpha and Lepta Teams. If things worked out with Heidi, he’d eventually want to make the move permanent and find something else. Something that let him be home when she got there. Something that allowed them to spend weekends, holidays and all the other hours together. The path was clear for him in a way it hadn’t been in a long time.

Adam reached across the table and took Heidi’s hand. He could see the hesitation in her frown, the worried crease of her brow. In her eyes, he’d failed her time and time again. He understood that now, but he’d show her they could be different.

“Dinner was good.” Heidi slid her plate away.

They’d inhaled the food so fast he couldn’t remember what it tasted like. All he knew was that he was no longer hungry, and he had hope.

Heidi pushed to her feet and took a couple of steps out onto the balcony. He followed her, leaning on the rail and staring out at the city of Mumbai.

“Have I said thank you for rescuing me yet?” Heidi asked.

“No idea.”

“Thank you for coming.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Cindy and John are getting worried about how this is going to play out.”

“Oh?”

“Based on the kinds of samples that have been used, it has to be someone with management clearance who also works in John’s lab. That’s a very short list of people. I haven’t told them that I think we have at least two moles if not more. No way one person is doing this alone.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because...it’s just not that easy to sneak in, steal something and get out. Whoever is doing this has to have help covering their tracks, distracting others, accessing restricted areas. I find it hard to believe the person who is doing this has management oversight, access to the samples, the ability to modify reports, and moves freely from site to site. It’s just not logical.”

“You have a list? An idea?”

“One. We agreed earlier that at least one person doing this has to work in John’s lab. That’s where they’d be able to access the smallpox.”

“Why not go public with this?”

“No.” Heidi shook her head. “Look, the CDC isn’t perfect. It—we—make mistakes, but we fix them. Quietly. Going public with something like this would undermine the entire organization. People all over the world would lose faith in us, and then where would we be? No. This needs to be done quietly, and right.”

“Good to know.”

“What do you think we’ll find out tomorrow?” Heidi turned to face him. The breeze stirred the drying bits of her hair, making the auburn tendrils dance.

“Kyle isn’t going to tell you this. Tomorrow’s meeting with the CEO is a distraction. If we get something out of him, good. If not, we just need to tie him up. Zain will be set up to hack the company tomorrow morning while we’re there.”

“Then what?”

“No clue.”

“This isn’t much of a plan. Is this what you do?”

“Not always this complicated.”

“This doesn’t faze you at all though.”

“It’s part of the job.”

“How dangerous is this?”

“There’s risk involved.”

Heidi glared at him. He knew what she was asking, and he didn’t want to alarm her. They’d lost men on jobs. None in a while, but they’d had some close calls on the last op.

“The guys Aanya was asking about, where are they?” Heidi was sharp.

He glanced away.

“Adam.”

“Shane, Isaac and Felix are at home.”

“Did they get hurt?”

“There are risks. You think we were going to stroll into that warehouse you were at and ask them to let you go?”

“A little honesty would be nice. I know your job is dangerous. Don’t lie to me and tell me it isn’t. You know I hate pretending everything is okay when it isn’t. We aren’t okay. This situation isn’t okay. We can say that.”

“Sorry.” He winced. He’d sat on the sidelines, calming clients for so long he’d slid back into that mode. Heidi needed the truth. Pretending it was okay wouldn’t work with her.

He turned and crossed to his luggage. Tucked inside, just out of sight was a yellow box. He turned toward Heidi, who watched him with that deep, worried wrinkle on her forehead.

“Peace offering?” He shook the box of lemon drops and prayed she still liked them.

Heidi laughed and strolled toward him. The worry eased, and she smiled. He ripped the box open and offered her some.

“God, I almost made myself sick on these things.” She popped one of the candies in her mouth and tipped her chin up.

“I’m used to making clients at ease. Sometimes we fudge the truth.”

“You lie to make them feel safe.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not a client. At least, not like that. I want to know the risk you’re taking. It’s not like we’re paying you a lot for this.” Heidi frowned. “What’s that look for?”

“I don’t think anyone is paying for this.”

“Then...”

“The company is doing well. We can afford to do some things that need doing pro bono.”

“Then I for sure want to know the risk before we do anything. I’m not going to ask your people to put themselves in danger.” She took the candy and set it on his bag, then wrapped her arms around his waist.

He blew out a breath and embraced her, soaking up the warmth of her body, the scent of soap and shampoo. He couldn’t promise to play it safe. That wasn’t who he was, but he could be honest with her about what they were doing and the danger involved.

Heidi lifted up on tip toe and kissed him.

God, after all these years, he still loved this woman. He grasped her by the hips and pulled her in closer, tilting his head to deepen the kiss.

She pushed her hands up under his shirt, stroking his skin. He let go of her long enough to pull his shirt off. He was starving for her touch, these private moments. He’d thrown himself into work and other things to distract himself from the yawning chasm left where Heidi—his heart—should be.

Heidi stared at him, his chest, her hands roving over him, this little, teasing smile on her lips. That smile did things to him. Trying his restraint. He cupped the back of her head, grasping the strands of her hair and tightening his grip. Not too hard, but just enough.

Her smile spread into a grin and she leaned into him, her body going soft.

Adam kissed her mouth and walked her back against the dresser situated against the outside wall. She laughed and gave in when he lifted her onto it.

“Was this your real plan all along?” she asked.

“It was a possibility.” He wasn’t completely stupid. He knew they had a lot to come to terms with, but time hadn’t changed the way he felt about her or how much he wanted her.

Adam grasped the hem of her shirt and tugged it up, over her head. She released the catch on her bra and both garments got lost on the floor. He bent over her, kissing her shoulder, her collar bone. She grasped him by the hair and her other hand slid over his shoulders. She sucked in a breath, her breasts beckoning him lower.

Time hadn’t changed the fact that, when it came to Heidi, he was an expert. The swift intake of breath, how she touched him it was a language he spoke. She was the same girl who would make herself sick on lemon drops, and her breasts were every bit as sensitive as they used to be.

He wrapped his lips around a nipple and she gasped, arching her back. He toyed with the other stiff peak, enjoying the whimpers. How she didn’t hold back. The nails digging into his skin drove him on, lavishing love on her skin.

Adam needed her. Now, in his life, in every possible way.

He straightened, taking in the sight of her leaned back against the wall, chest heaving, the way she looked at him.

After all the time apart, she deserved slow and soft, tenderness and all the love he could dish out. But the need was sharper, insistent.

Heidi leaned forward and grasped the tail of his belt. She tugged him closer, between her knees, and undid the buckle. He took that as a sign of permission. He grasped the waistband of her yoga pants and her panties, yanking them down, almost dragging her off the dresser. She laughed and kicked her pants off, leaving her in nothing but creamy, freckled skin and a smile so beautiful it made him ache.

When this was over, he’d go slow, torture her with desire. For now, they had a lot of time to make up for.

He shoved his jeans down his thighs and freed his cock. She grasped his length and leaned forward, kissing his lips. She guided him to her entrance, sliding the head of him through her folds.

Fuck, how had he ever been this lucky? Meeting her, having her in his life, it changed him. Made him want to be better.

Adam bent his head closer and thrust. Heidi gasped. He pulled her to the edge of the dresser and thrust again, sliding into her. They both groaned. Heat and pleasure rolled through him.

There was no one for him, except Heidi.

Her calves wrapped around his hips, her heels driving into his thighs. He rocked forward, finding her lips with his. Her nails scraped his arms and shoulders. Her breasts slid against his chest with each thrust.

How many times had he wanted this? Fantasized about having her back?

And here they were.

The only problem was, reality was a whole lot sweeter than what went on in his head.

Warmth spread along the base of his spine.

No, he couldn’t come yet.

She dropped one of her legs from around him, and the next moment she lifted her hips off the dresser, meeting his thrust.

Fuck.

Adam dropped his head to her shoulder and slid his hand between them. He’d be damned if, after all this time, she didn’t come, too.

He found her clit by feel.

Heidi’s body shuddered, and she whimpered unintelligible words. Her pussy tightened, and he closed his eyes, grit his teeth and thrust. All at once the world seemed to come apart at the edges. Pleasure rolled up through him, so good it hurt. He clutched Heidi closer.

Next time, he’d do better. Or try to.

He kissed her cheek and her brow. Her eyes were closed and her cheek rest against his chest. Her smile was still in place. Was that what contentment looked like? Did they have the chance for more of this?

God, he hoped so.

Adam wrapped his arms around her and prayed his jellied legs could hold out a few moments longer. He picked her up off the dresser and she wrapped her limbs around him. He carried her the few feet to the bed and crawled onto it, cradling her close. For all their shortcomings, they still had this. Could this be proof they had a shot?

They lay on the bed for several moments, neither speaking. This time Heidi didn’t immediately run away. There were no tears.

He kissed her again, wanting to revel in these moments for as long as he could before the real world called them back with pesky tasks like clean up...

Fuck.

Adam’s eyes popped open, and he swallowed.

They hadn’t used a condom. Granted, they hadn’t since they were seventeen, but that was because...

“Heidi? I didn’t ask, but—condoms?”

“What about them? They exist?” Heidi pried one eye open and looked at him. She snorted a laugh and stroked his cheek. “I still have an IUD to help control my cramps. They’re worse now than in high school, so fair warning.”

“Oh. Good. Not—fuck.”

“Gee, thanks.” Heidi laughed again and kissed him.

“Is—are you okay though?” He’d taken her home a few times from school over the year. Being with her had desensitized him pretty fast to feminine needs.

“Yeah. Just part of being a girl.” She laid her head against his shoulder and snuggled closer.

For the first time since he had to leave his new wife, and everything was right with his world.

WEDNESDAY. CHHATRAPATI Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, India.

Léo’s whole body ached. The travel, cramped conditions, the old wounds, they didn’t make for comfortable international experiences. Still, he was alive and breathing thanks to the boss. If it weren’t for that, Léo might have died. He owed the boss his life, a fact he was painfully aware of.

There were times Léo thought about leaving this behind. He didn’t have to manage the business, but he chose to do it. Out of love or loyalty, it was hard to say, but he’d begun down this path and hadn’t ventured from it.

Crane took their bags while Léo checked his phone. He saw the dozen or so messages waiting for him and sat down on a bench, the weight of it all dragging at him. What now?

We have a problem.

Really? The boss was just now figuring that out?

They know about Sorkin.

That message stopped Léo in his tracks.

If they knew about Sorkin, how long until they knew about Laranya? The boss still believed he could save that woman, too.

Léo scrubbed a hand across his face.

He could get on a plane, go somewhere right now, be done with all this.

And trust the boss’ welfare to someone like Julie? Someone who’d take chances, risk it all, and get them all killed? Was that any way to treat the person who had saved Léo’s life?

No, he had to see this through which meant he’d handle this new hiccup as well.

Everything that should never have happened was tied to Sorkin Pharmaceuticals. While the vaccine line of business was a nice stream of income, it came at a high risk. The moment they’d partnered with that company marked the turn into something worse. Something Léo didn’t know if they could handle.

He blew out a breath and tapped out a message since that was the way the boss was communicating.

Just landed in Mumbai. What do you want me to do?

Léo pressed send and glanced up. Crane was still finding a taxi at this late hour. They’d need to hire a car and get resources up and running.

His phone vibrated again.

Call Julie.

Léo shook his head and tapped his phone against his hand. If the boss wanted Julie, who Léo had brought with him, it meant they were ready to accept a certain amount of loss. Léo wasn’t going to get his hopes up that the boss was ready to put a bullet in Heidi Novak. He just wasn’t that lucky. So what was the boss up to?