Page 18 of Depths of Destruction

"There's always something politically going on for everything," Malin insists.

Malin has always kept up on politics, more than I have, and likes to dissect things more than anyone in the crew. He does it after our missions and will even come up with conspiracy theories. It's usually a source of entertainment while we're bored waiting for the rescue to start or while we're at the bar celebrating. I've never taken what he's said seriously before, but suddenly, I'm wondering if I should have been paying better attention.

"When are you talking to command?" Malin asks.

"I'm calling them this morning."

"I know it's not our job to question anything..." He glances over at Emilia and continues, "...but I think we've found our exception to the rule. There's nothing ordinary about this rescue. The other guys agree, too."

My pulse quickens. This situation is a new scenario, and I don't want it to get out of control with assumptions before we have all the facts. But my team of men aren’t stupid. "You talked to the team about this?"

"Not everyone. Hunter, Dirk, Ryker, and Axel. We've been up for hours."

My top five, closest, most trusted men are all questioning things.

This isn’t good. Questioning gets people hurt or killed.

But they've never done this before. And I trust them.

I scrub my hands on my face. "Do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Don't discuss this with the others. Tell the guys to keep this quiet right now."

"Done. But you agree something is off?"

"I'm not sure. Let's not jump to conclusions before we know all the facts."

"Okay. But what if we've rescued them to only reposition the danger we thought we removed from them?”

My gut twists as my eyes seek out, then become glued to Naomi, who's approaching us.

"Facts first. Then we figure out what bridge to cross."

"All right." He pats my back and leaves.

"Ready?" I ask Naomi.

She searches my eyes. "Everything okay?"

I force a smile. "Yep." I sniff my armpit. "I think you're going to have to share the soap though."

"Guess it's a good thing I smell so bad, my nostrils can't handle any more."

"Doubt it. Let's go." I put my hand on the small of her back as I lead her to the river.

Her heels get stuck in the ground. "Oh great," she mutters when we're only halfway there.

"Next time you get abducted, can you put on some running shoes?" I tease then pick her up.

She wraps her arms around my shoulders. Her face is next to mine. I remind myself I'm here to help her, and kissing her wouldn't be appropriate.

Her mouth is just sinful.

She licks her lips and my cock throbs.

"I'll remember to be polite, too. 'Excuse me, Mr. Kidnapper, can we stop in my closet first?'" She bats her eyelids.