Page 38 of Code Name: Grit

“I did.” He moved closer, his presence warm behind me. “I owe you an explanation.”

I turned to face him. “You don’t owe me anything.”

“Yes, I do.” His expression was open, unguarded in a way I hadn’t seen before. “You already know about Kelly. How she was working on the corruption case with the Cascardi family.”

I nodded, remembering what he’d shared earlier.

“What I didn’t tell you was how I found her.” His eyes darkened with the memory. “I came home one night, and the door to our apartment was ajar. I knew something was wrong the moment I saw it.”

My heart ached, knowing where this story was heading.

“There was blood,” he continued, his voice hollow. “A trail of it leading to our bedroom. She was already gone by the time…”

I reached for his hand. “I’m so sorry.”

“I should have protected her.” The raw pain in his voice cut through me. “When I saw you at the terminal, watching Cassio, all I could think was that I wouldn’t let history repeat itself.”

“That’s why you pulled away.”

He nodded. “I told myself it was for your protection, but it was for mine too. The thought of losing you the way I lost her…”

“I understand fear, Grit.” I squeezed his hand. “I’ve lived with it my entire life. But I don’t want to let it control my future.”

He stepped closer. “When Dante suggested reassigning you, sending you to work with someone else?—”

“What?”

“I couldn’t bear the thought.” His free hand moved to cup my face. “Not just because I need your insights for the mission, but because the idea of not being with you…”

I leaned into his touch. “So where does that leave us?”

“I can only speak for myself, and that’s terrified,” he admitted with a small smile. “But I’m more afraid of letting you go than I am of what might happen if I hold on.”

His thumb traced my lower lip. “I can’t promise I won’t try to protect you. It’s instinct at this point.”

“And I can’t promise I won’t challenge you when you’re being overprotective.” I smiled. “But I think we’re stronger together than apart.”

The space between us disappeared as he pulled me against him, his lips finding mine with the same urgency that took my breath away each time he did it. All the fear and frustration of the past few hours melted into hope, desire, and connection.

“We still have a job to do,” he murmured against my mouth.

“I know.” I leaned far enough away to look into his eyes. “The Belcastros first, then us.”

“No.” His gaze held mine, serious and determined. “Us while we take down the Belcastros. I’m done pretending I can compartmentalize how I feel about you.”

A crack of twigs interrupted the moment. We both turned to see Dante watching us from several yards away, his expression unreadable.

“Admiral’s looking for you both,” he said. “New intel on the warehouse.”

Grit nodded, releasing me, but keeping my hand in his. “We’ll be right there.”

As Dante turned back toward the command center, he called over his shoulder, “Just so we’re clear, Harrison—if you hurt my sister, they’ll never find your body.”

“Understood,” Grit replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Was that my brother’s blessing or a death threat?” I asked as we followed the path back.

“Both,” he said, squeezing my hand. “Definitely both.”