Page 41 of Dangerous Mission
I try to look over my shoulder, but he blocks my view with his height as he whisks me through the living room, into the kitchen, and out the back door.
I’m a little winded and a lot shocked. “You’re not kidding, that was crazy.”
“Let’s get some fresh air while they take care of that situation.”
Wow.Just wow.I wheeze when I speak. “Scout is an animal. I mean I knew he was. I saw him last night, but this was like watching a snake strike.”
“Yeah, he’s like that. Silent, but very deadly.”
Inside my head there’s a raving crazy woman trying to make sense of this strange reality that I’ve fallen into.
I blow out a breath and take a few unsteady steps across the patio. Justice stands nearby, his compassionate gaze following me. “You want to talk about that?”
Rubbing my arms, I shiver. “My coworker’s reaction was alarming. But truthfully, finding out my brother wants me to be the team leader is a shock to me as well.”
“You’ve worked with them for a while?”
My legs are shaky, so I take a seat in one of the patio chairs. “On a few dives. I just joined my brother’s company a few months ago.”
Justice looks at me for a beat as he rubs along his jaw. He’s usually smiling, but not now. “Scout’s wired tight today.”
“Camile said he always is.”
“True that.” He grins. “But this was extra special.”
My heart thumps a little harder. I’ve never had a man go caveman for me. It was equal parts alarming and thrilling.
Still clutching my chest, I fight to get my racing heart under control. “He was kind of protective,huh?”
Justice looks away, but his grin deepens. “Kind of, sweetheart, that man was ready to kill your teammate for disrespecting you.”
For me.
I laugh harshly. “Is it sick that I really like that?”
Justice pulls out a chair and sits down. He doesn’t say anything, but there’s a look in his eyes. A humorous knowing.
It drives my curiosity crazy. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m not going to ruin the fun.”
I widen my eyes and throw up my hands. “How can you call this fun? Things are in chaos. Everything!”
As he leans back, he turns thoughtful. “I’m beginning to realize that’s when it happens.”
Oh my god.
“Can you please not be cryptic right now? I was in a plane crash. Someone tried to kidnap me. I had to stop a man from running Scout over by sacrificing one of your trucks.” I bury my face in my hands and peek at him between my fingers. “I got left behind at the airport. I had to break into a building that got hit by lightning. There was a fire. I tried to put it out, but failed. And then your coworker collapsed and I had to lie next to him all night long because I was afraid he wasn’t breathing?—”
He hinges forward, all humor gone “You didwhat?”
Exhaling tiredly, I drop my hands and lean back in the chair. After rubbing my face too hard, I groan. “Even telling you all of that is tiring. It sounds like I’ve been starring in an action movie gone wrong.”
“No, back up. What was that last part?”
I frown at him. “The lightning and the fire?”
His eyes are dancing as heleans close. “No, the part about you lying next to Scout all night long. Does he know that?”