Page 143 of Caught in the Crossfire

“You have too much on your plate already,” Wynn said softly. “You can’t do everything, Ciel.”

Wynn was still struggling to forgive himself for what had happened with the kidnapping, but I’d seen him grow closer to Ciel. They were a good pair if Wynn could work through his guilt. Now that Ryuji had cleared the air with Leona, I hoped it would be easier for Wynn to realize that he was the only one who blamed him for what happened.

Samuel smiled. “Let my team handle the upfront work. If we’re having any trouble doing this our way, then we’ll bring you in.”

Ciel nodded and resumed his fingers tapping on his knee. Beside him, Wynn pressed his knee into Ciel’s.

“So you’ll help us?” Leona asked, hopeful.

Samuel’s eyes crinkled with warmth. “I would do anything for Obi, and it is clear, beauty, he would do anything for you.”

Her hand lay on top of mine on her hip. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. I would go to the ends of the earth and farther for her.

“Besides,” Samuel continued while he leaned back and braced an ankle on his knee. “It’s been a while since I’ve faced off against the FBI. It sounds like a fun challenge.”

Ryu grinned. “I like the sound of that.”

Leona rolled her eyes. “No, Ryu. Let Samuel do the fighting.Youneed to keep yourself in check.”

“Uh, I think we’ve already established from recent events that I am quickly becoming the most careful and controlled of the Shadows. You’ve got nothing to worry about from me,hanii, unless it’s about that promise I made you earlier.”

“What promise?” Cas asked. The whole table turned to her.

Leona’s eyes darkened with heat, and I smirked. “We can discuss that once Samuel has returned to his home for the evening.”

My friend laughed, clearly taking that as his cue to leave, and stood. “Keep me posted, Obi. I will be in contact with the field office about this interview. I’ll let you know when we have it scheduled.”

Leona and I walked him back to the front door, and we shook hands. “Thank you, Samuel.”

Once we had said our goodbyes, I turned to Leona and brushed my fingers through her hair. She leaned her cheek against my palm.

I would do everything I could to keep those I loved safe, even if that meant taking on the United States government. I had prepared for this. It was inevitable we would clash with them,which is why I kept Samuel on retainer. He’d helped us out of more than one unfavorable scenario in the past, and this would be no different.

“Did you and Ryuji work things out?” I asked, crowding her against the door.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me. “Yeah. He needs to talk to Wynn again, but we’re good.”

Ryuji already seemed lighter. Leona had that effect on all of us: healing us of our wounds.

I sealed my lips against hers for a quick yet firm kiss. “Good. Now what’s this I hear about a promise?”

She laughed. “He told me he was going to make me faint from ‘orgasm overload.’”

A smile spread across my lips. “Well, a promise is a promise.”

“Fuck, yes!” I heard from the kitchen. Ryuji. “Get in here, then!”

Her palms pressed against my chest, and she lifted onto her tiptoes. I had to bend to reach her lips, but my arms curled around her back and lifted her so we were level. Her breath was ragged when our kiss broke.

“Obi?” she whispered, searching my face. The question in her eyes was clear.

My cock stiffened in my pants, and I wanted so badly to be buried inside her. The thin tether of control inside my chest was seconds from snapping.

“The first time I take you,obi’m, we will be alone so I can have every single piece of you to myself. I am a jealous and possessive man, and I want all of your attention.” She deflated partially, but Itsk’dmy tongue and drew her gaze back to mine. “Give yourself to me. Give me control of your pleasure. I will use it well.”

“You have it, Obi. Always.”

“Mmm.” My chest rumbled as I palmed her ass and carried her back to my waiting brothers.