Page 26 of Sam's Salvation

“Point taken.”

“So, distract me.”

“No.” He stood. “Scoot over.”

She did, and he climbed up on the bed next to her. Audra tried not to notice the clean scent of his soap as he leaned in to see the screen.

“What all is in the files?”

“I’m not entirely sure. I didn’t have a chance to go over everything. I found the pictures of myself when I was looking through his computer to make sure I copied the right things. I got interrupted before I could look further, so I just copied the entire hard drive. At home, I only looked at the pictures before I copied the drive’s contents and turned the USB stick over to Theo.”

“Who else knew Theo had the drive?”

“Probably our boss. Maybe an analyst, if she gave it to one. Possibly the feds here. We were working with the Violent Crimes division of the Vegas FBI branch. Chicago’s field office played a role too. This operation was a big deal. Planting me was an opportunity to take down a significant chunk of the Irish mob in the U.S. and in Europe. Liam’s a big fish. If this is an inside job, it could be in either agency. Theo and Dee might have nothing to do with it.” A thought struck her. “It’s possible she suspected a mole and was trying to protect me by recalling me.”

Sam’s hand landed on hers. He curled his fingers around her hand. “You did the right thing by listening to your instincts. If she’s not involved and was trying to protect you, she’ll understand when this is all over. It’s your life on the line, not hers.”

Audra studied his eyes, thinking about his words. She pressed her lips together and inhaled a breath. “Yeah. I know you’re right, but part of me feels like I’ve let her down. And the relationship between us will never be the same. Even if she’s innocent, she knows now that I don’t trust her.” Any way this situation shook out, Audra had a feeling she would be looking for a new job. Or at least end up transferred to a different division.

“It’s better than dead.”

That still didn’t make her feel any better.

She pushed those thoughts away and focused on the files. There had to be an answer somewhere in all this stuff.

An hour later, she handed him the phone. “I need a break. We need a bigger screen. That one’s killing my head.” Leaning forward, she leaned her elbows on her crossed legs and pressed her fingers to her tired eyes.

“I didn’t bring my laptop. I just threw some clothes in a bag and got on a plane.”

A lump of emotion formed in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. She swallowed hard and blinked back the sudden moisture in her eyes. “I appreciate that.” More than he’d ever know. When she’d called him, she’d half-expected him to say he was too busy. But he hadn’t. He’d dropped everything to come help her.

He sat up beside her on the bed; his hand glided down the back of her head to weave through her hair. “Anytime, Aud.” Tenderness colored his voice.

She looked at him.

“I never forgot you, you know,” he said, his voice quiet.

“Me either,” she admitted. Their time together had been a highlight of her life. It had ended much too soon. But back then, neither of them had been ready for a commitment. Hadn’t been able to commit. Their jobs were too demanding, and neither wanted to give that up. She didn’t regret walking away from him, just as she was sure he didn’t regret walking away from her. They’d been in a different place then. They still were.

That didn’t stop the emotions from rushing back, though. Finally. She’d wondered when it would happen. Wondered when all the hunger and need she’d felt for him so long ago would come flooding in. It had, and now it was like it had only been days since they’d been together and not a decade.

His hand spread over the back of her head under her hair, holding her steady as he leaned closer.

“Aud.”

She laid a hand on the side of his neck and traced her fingers over his jaw. “We shouldn’t get involved, Sam.”

“Probably not.” His head dipped lower. “But like the last time, you’re irresistible.”

The low rumble of his voice washed over her. Her scalp pricked as her nerve-endings came alive. Why was it that this man had such an effect on her? From the moment they’d met, he’d made her body wake up and take notice. Ten years apart hadn’t done anything to change that. If anything, she wanted him more now than she did then.

She shifted, leaning in to align her lips with his. Pain shot through her injured hip. She hissed and pulled back.

Sam kept his hand on the top of her shoulders. “Are you all right? Is it your hip?”

Audra nodded and shifted again, putting her weight on her other side. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“Don’t be. You probably just kept us from getting royally frustrated. I don’t want to stop at a kiss, and you’re not well enough for more.”