Page 25 of Covert Operation
“Why don’t you have any furniture?” Savannah gives the living room a long look as she turns toward the small kitchen. “I thought all these suites were furnished.”
“Not this one.” I trail behind her as she goes to the fridge and opens it, making a tsking sound as she surveys the empty shelves.
“Not even water?” Savannah looks at me over one shoulder. “What if you get thirsty?”
“Then I go to the big kitchen downstairs. It’s always stocked.” The team I run for Alaskan Security can leave town with zero notice and be gone for weeks at a time. Coming back to a fridge full of science projects isn’t my idea of a good time.
Savannah turns to face me, her eyes skimming down my body. “But then you’d have to get dressed.”
“Not necessarily.” The comment reminds me that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. “There’s not usually anyone around to be offended by my appearance.” I pop the pill she brought me into my mouth and lean into the sink, switching on the water to drink straight from the tap.
“I don’t think offended is the right word,” Savannah mumbles, the words so low I’m pretty sure I didn’t hear them right.
“What?” I swipe a forearm across my mouth, wiping away the water clinging to my upper lip.
“I said, you should probably get dressed so we can go.” She flashes me a smile. “Otherwise Pierce will decide to come get you himself and then I’ll have to clean more blood off of you.”
“I’m flattered you think I would win that fight.” She’s obviously never seen Pierce when he’s truly pissed off. He might look harmless carrying his baby girl around in his fancy suits, but the owner of Alaskan Security has a ruthless streak that would make most men shit their pants.
I leave Savannah in the empty living room area while I retreat to the bedroom and replace my pajama bottoms with the black tactical pants and matching black T-shirt I wear every day. I keep my wardrobe as simple as I keep the rest of my life, so it takes me all of two minutes to get ready and then I’m joining Savannah where she still stands looking thoughtfully around my suite. “Ready?”
She looks me over from head to toe. “Ready.”
I open the door, holding it so she can go first, and we make our way downstairs, through the tunnel connecting the rooming house to the rest of the compound, and into the hall containing the bulk of the offices. Savannah gives me a smile when we reach Pierce’s door. “Good luck.”
I wait, watching as she disappears into my office. For a second, I consider making Pierce wait a little longer so I can go get a whiff of the candle she brought in, but I need to get this over with so I can get back to bed before I collapse.
After taking one more look toward my office, I stride through Pierce’s door. He’s sitting at his desk. His wife, Mona, is perched on the corner, her expression serious as she talks to him in hushed tones.
Based on the frown on Pierce’s face, the conversation isn’t going well.
“Do you want me to come back another time?” I’m not trying to be a dick by interrupting. I just don’t want to stand here waiting if they’re going to be involved in a lover’s quarrel for the next hour.
Mona turns, standing when she sees me. “No. Come in.” She shoots a glare at her husband. “I’d really like to hear about your trip to Nashville.”
ELEVEN
SAVANNAH
I NEARLY JUMP out of the chair when Zeke appears in the doorway of his office. I was expecting him, but the way his presence seems to suck all the air out of the room still has me on my feet. “Hey.”
“Sit.” Zeke motions to his chair—the one I’ve been sitting in all week.
I do, but barely perch my ass on the edge. It’s fitting, since that’s how I feel. On the edge.
Of what, I don’t know, but it’s simmering under my skin, making it difficult to sit still and even harder to stay focused. “How did it go?”
Zeke lowers into one of the chairs on the opposite side of his desk, looking over the changes I made to the surface as he answers, “I’m pretty sure it was Mona who wanted to talk to me so I could confirm her suspicions.” He huffs out a laugh. “Seems like Pierce thought he could keep the errand he sent me on a secret.”
“I didn’t tell anyone.” I defend myself even though Zeke hasn’t accused me of anything. I like that he trusted me enough to tell me where he was. How it was going. And I want him to know I would never betray his confidence.
Zeke looks me over and I fight the urge to shift in my—his—seat. “I know.”
My mouth opens, then closes. Then I ask, “You do?”
The hard line of his lips softens as he leans back, relaxing into the seat. “We’re the keepers of each other’s secrets, aren’t we?”
A slow grin spreads across my face. “We are.”