Page 61 of Cloak of Red
“No right?”She’s still on this bullshit?
The elevator jerks to a stop and the doors slide open. Sophia exits, glancing both ways, and turns right. I follow. Overhead fluorescent lights shine bright over the quiet hall.
She pushes a door open, and I follow her inside. The heavy door automatically closes behind us with a loud click.
I reach for her arm and turn her to face me. “What’s with this attitude?”
“I can take care of myself. I need you to respect me.”
“Respect you? I think we’re a few steps past that, don’t you?” She stares at me with open defiance. I step forward. She steps back. “Let me tell you something about the way teams work, Sophia. Respect. Communication. Trust.” I let the last word hang between us and step forward. She steps back.
The energy between us surges to a palpable height. My skin tingles. What’s between us might be a game to her. I might be her temporary toy. But none of that matters compared to my need to keep her safe. To protect her. Even if that means protecting her from herself.
“If you go it alone, no one has your six. Do you know what that means?”
She doesn’t have military training, but I expect it’s covered at Quantico. You always want someone to have your back.
“I’m capable.” Those light blue eyes hit me head on, and her tiny hands ball into threatening fists. “I didn’t need backup for a conversation.”
I step forward. Her back hits the wall. “Do you think any one member of a SEAL team isn’t capable?” I can see her thinking it through. Trevor and Ryan trained her. Both former SEALs. “But they don’t tackle a mission alone.”
Her eyes soften, but those fists remain tightly bound. My words register, but she’s still burning with self-righteous anger. I brush my thumb across her cheek and gently lift her chin. Her chest rises as she breathes in heavily.
“The idea of anything happening to you…it scares the hell out of me. You have no idea how hard it was for me to remain calm once I figured it out. All the things that could’ve gone wrong.” My body presses against hers, needing the connection, the confirmation that she’s here.
“How’d you figure it out?”
“Had a hunch.” Her fists release, and she places a palm softly against my chest. Her touch burns through the fabric. “I remembered how you reacted to finding out Killington was released. Figured you were either there, or you wanted to visit Zane without me knowing.” Either way, I needed the truth.
“Zane’s just a friend.”
“He’s also in DC this week.”
“How’d you find that out?”
“The guy posts everything on Twitter and Instagram.” The kid probably has a TikTok account and whatever else media whores do these days. “Why Killington?”
“Like I said.” Her fingers travel up the side of my neck, ratcheting up a different need. “Information. He couldn’t speak when others were listening.”
“Did you learn anything new?”
Anger flashes. “You interrupted.”
“Really?” I question her. “Not sure he was going to tell you much after you knocked him unconscious.”
“That wasn’t supposed to happen.” The rampant defiance dissipates. She wraps her arms around my shoulders and lowers her forehead to the crook of my neck. “He deserved it.”
“He more than deserved it.”
Her shoulders slightly shake, and she lifts her head, a glimmer of a smile across her lips.
“You would’ve helped me bury his body.”
“Without hesitation.” I’d kill him for her too, if that’s what she wants. I brush my lips across her cheek. Her fingers caress my jaw. “Let me in, Sophia. Whatever you’re up to, let me be on your team.”
“As my fake husband?”
“No,” I say softly, bending to breathe her in. “As a partner. In all things.”