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C hase wasn’t one for dramatics, but now he understood why people kissed the ground when they touched down on American soil.

He also wanted to grab Alyssa and kiss the hell out of her. Throughout their long flight, they shared tender looks, gentle touches. But both of them kept a wall between them, as if now that the op was over, they couldn’t break the rules they’d already shattered in all ways.

Now they were back on Charlie base. The ladies in residence, Sophie and May, rushed Alyssa off to get cleaned up and rest, while he paced his private quarters, feeling more fucked up by the passing minute.

A heavy bootstep at the door made him look up. Denver stood there.

“You did it, didn’t you?”

“Did what?” Chase asked.

“You fell for the ambassador.”

He sliced his fingers through his hair. “Did you need something?”

Denver smirked. “Yeah. Con wants to see you.”

He let a breath trickle out of him and strode out of his room. Denver fell in step with him as they navigated the maze of hallways to reach Con’s office.

As soon as he stepped over the threshold, he stopped in his tracks, looking around. “Do I have the right room?”

Con turned from the window, his arms folded. “Yes. Sophie went on a decorating spree.”

The space had once been stark and cold, the floor-to-ceiling bookcases empty except for a volume or two Con had placed there. Now the shelves were stuffed with books arranged by color in a rainbow that arched from shelf to shelf all around the room.

Heavy curtains flanked the windows, and a masculine leather sofa took up one wall.

“Now that I can get behind.” He started toward the brown leather but stopped when he spotted a fluffy-looking pillow. “On second thought.”

Con grunted. “It makes her happy.”

At one time, Chase wouldn’t have understood such a statement. Now, he not only saw the reason behind Con wanting his woman to be happy, he could list things that would make Alyssa happy.

Such as sharing morning coffee like a normal couple.

The weight he’d been carrying on his shoulders all this time slipped downward to his chest.

Con waved at a seat. As Chase took one, and Denver the other, Dante entered the room.

Chase clenched a fist on his thigh. “I see we’re debriefing.”

Con arched a brow. “Why wouldn’t we? We debrief after every op.”

“Because Dante was listening the whole damn time. Our every move was on record.”

Dante snorted. When Chase glanced over at him, the asshole had a fist pressed to his lips and his shoulders shook with laughter.

Chase leaned forward, elbows planted on his knees. “I want to start by saying that Alyssa’s not dirty. I’m confident of that even if there’s no actual proof.”

Con drifted to his desk chair and sat, eyeing Chase across the desk. “Actually, there is proof.”

He tensed, that weight in his chest turning into a block of ice.

“We found something on Kennedy’s computer. After we found it, we knew what to look for and found the spyware on her phone.”

The ice melted, chipping off in huge chunks like a glacier breaking apart in the sea. He sagged forward and scrubbed his hands over his face, trying to get a grip on the massive relief he felt upon learning Alyssa wasn’t a suspect.

Because he had feelings for her. Strong ones. Ones that wouldn’t go away anytime soon after this was all said and done.

“You look relieved, Cobra.” Denver’s voice oozed with a silent I-told-you-so.

He pushed back in his seat and scrubbed his hands over his face again, shedding the fear that he’d been carrying since the moment Alyssa disappeared.

“Tell me about Kennedy,” he grated out to take the heat off him and Alyssa.

Con waved a hand at Dante. “After a deep dive, Dante found the source of her wealth. It seems she has investments.”

He nodded. “Alyssa told me the same.”

“There are substantial cash deposits that were made six years ago.”

His mind worked over the timeline. “Echo team was killed two years ago. And Alyssa freed those hostages three years ago.”

“Exactly, it doesn’t line up at all. Totally unrelated. But that doesn’t mean she wasn’t a plant.”

Silence screamed through the room as they all processed what Con was insinuating—that Kennedy was deliberately planted as Alyssa’s assistant for some nefarious purpose.

Such as two kidnappings.

Still, the pieces weren’t coming together.

“I’m guessing that you questioned her.”

Con nodded. “Gave her a lie detector too.”

“And?”

“If she’s lying, she’s the best we’ve ever seen.”

“Her spyware is a direct link to the dark web, but Kennedy claims she doesn’t even have a clue how to get on the dark web.” Dante’s lips twisted as if he wasn’t buying it, but he didn’t expand further.

Chase shifted. “Have Alyssa try. She’s the best I’ve ever seen, and Kennedy trusts her.”

Again, that massive tide of relief rolled through him, that he hadn’t misread Alyssa, that she was genuine…

“But she’s a diplomat.”

He didn’t realize he’d spoken aloud until Denver issued a huffing noise.

“I warned you. This one’s gonna hurt, brother.” Denver lifted a finger and massaged a spot above his brow, something Chase had seen him do many times over the past few months. Ever since Italy, when Denver took that blow that they thought would take him out of Blackout forever. Yet he’d come back in a short time, stunning them all.

Now Chase studied him closer but said nothing in front of their leader.

Con looked to Dante. “Get Kennedy into the interrogation room again. We’ll have Ambassador Vargas question her.”

Chase pushed to his feet. “I’ll find her.”

Denver was at his side again, pacing his steps to match Chase’s as if he was the one who couldn’t be trusted. And maybe he was right—Chase had gone and done exactly what Denver warned him not to do.

He fell in love.

After they were a good distance from the office, he threw a glance at Denver.

“That injury in Italy…it’s still bothering you.”

Denver stopped walking, giving him a long, long look.

Chase went on high alert. “How many head injuries have you had in your military career?”

“Four.”

Shit.

“And your childhood?”

“Two.”

“You need to see a medical professional.”

Denver waved a hand. “I’m good. So what if my ears ring sometimes? We all have that from shooting and bombs exploding beside us.”

Chase gave Denver a nod as they reached the base of the stairs leading to their sleeping quarters, his mind already checked out of the debriefing. His focus was split between worry for Denver—whose cocky deflection didn’t fool him for a second—and a pulsing need to find Alyssa.

As he mounted the stairs, he ran over what he’d seen. Denver might be good at hiding things, but Chase saw the flicker in his eyes, the way his balance was off just slightly.

That head injury was a ticking bomb, and it worried the hell out of him.

But right now, Alyssa was about to walk into an interrogation to face her assistant, who had been one message away from delivering her directly into the hands of Cypher.

She’d do it with the cool poise she did everything with, but he knew her. And it would shatter her if they found out that Kennedy betrayed her.

He rounded the corner and spotted Sophie exiting a room. She saw him and paused before pulling the door completely shut.

Slowing his steps, he approached Sophie. “How is she?” he asked quietly.

“A rock.”

He nodded, expecting nothing less from his ambassador. The love of his goddamn life.

Sophie’s eyes warmed as she stepped aside to give him access to the room. “Take care of her.”

The breath in his lungs heated another degree. “I intend to.”

The words were out there, hovering in the air, before he could pull them back.

Hell, he didn’t even want to.

Sophie started to turn away, but he caught her arm. “Sophie…”

“Yes, Chase?” A small smile played around her lips and made her eyes twinkle.

“I love her.”

Her smile widened, and her eyes lit up with joy. For him. For them.

“I know.”

He nodded and drew in a deep breath before he opened the door. When he saw Alyssa standing across the expansive room, his heart flexed. In a few steps, he pulled her into his arms, yanking her flush against him and claiming her mouth all in one move.

A soft noise broke from her. She threw her arms around his neck, dragging him down, heightening the kiss. The swirl of their tongues increased in fervor until they were both gasping.

His hands were all over her. She ripped open his fly and wrapped her fingers around his cock, already stiffened to its full length the instant he set eyes on her.

In quick moves, he whirled her to face the wall. “Plant your hands over your head.”

“Oh my god! Julian!”

“Remember my promise to show you how it goes up against a wall? Do it!”

She did his bidding, and he reached around her body, navigating the loose bottoms she wore and tugging down her panties with them. With the ripe curves of her ass exposed, he let out a growl.

Gripping his cock hard at the base, he fought to stave off a swift release. Then it hit him.

“Condom.”

She twisted her head to pierce him in her gaze, chest heaving. “I don’t care. Julian, I need you. Now.”

He didn’t wait another heartbeat. He drove his cock deep inside her pussy.

She went on tiptoe to give him better access, and they shared a muffled cry. The instant her hot, tight walls clamped down on him, he knew this was going to end faster than he wanted.

He rocked his hips, withdrawing and slamming back inside her pussy instantly.

“I can’t stay away from you, baby.”

“Me neither!”

“I want you.”

“I want you!”

“I want you forever.”

She stilled. Forehead dropping against the wall, her chest heaved once more, this time with emotion that he felt to his core.

Lashing his arm around her middle, he pulled her body to his, taking her in slow glides that soon had them both crazed with lust.

She came around him, hard and fast, pulsating, squeezing…

And he let go with a silent quake, pounding inside her over and over. The hot spurts of cum filling her without barriers stole the last grip he had on his heart.

She owned it—every inch of it.

She dropped her arms from the position he ordered her to take in the heat of the moment. Slowly, reluctantly, he withdrew from her and turned her into his arms.

“You’re shaking.” He brushed his lips over her forehead.

“Julian…I want you forever too. I don’t have any logical answer for how it happened so fast but…I love you.” She searched his eyes, hers gleaming with the love she just confessed to.

“Fuck. I love you too. So damn much.” He clasped her tight against him, letting the sound of their shared confession echo in his mind until he remembered his reason for coming here in the first place.

“Alyssa. We have things to figure out.”

She nodded, nuzzling him.

“Later. Right now, we need to get dressed.”

They righted their clothing quickly, darting looks at each other as they did.

She slipped her fingers through her thick hair. “What’s the urgency?”

“You’re meeting with Con…but we need you to talk to Kennedy for us.”

Her mouth popped open, pain rippling across her beautiful face. “It has to be me?”

He nodded.

“It has to be me,” she said firmly with a nod. “Okay, when?”

“Now.”

He watched her transform from the sensual minx that rivaled him in the bedroom to the fearless ambassador.

She beat him to the door. As they descended the grand staircase of the mansion that housed Blackout Charlie team, she held her head high and thrust her shoulders back in a regal pose.

Things flashed through Chase’s head. Things like white dresses and veils.

Fuck. Denver warned him.

He was really screwed. Their feelings for each other were out, but they were light-years away from figuring out how—or if—they could make it work.

* * * * *

“I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.” Julian’s gaze burned into Alyssa.

She nodded but didn’t immediately open the door of the debriefing room, her fingers curled into a tight fist at her side. The sharp scent of floor cleaner lingered in the hallway, but it was the silence that made her skin crawl. Inside, Con sat waiting—which promised her nothing but more questions.

She stepped inside alone, without Julian.

“Have a seat.” He motioned toward the chair across from him. His tone was deceptively calm, but she knew how to read the shadows in people’s voices.

She sat, shoulders squared, chin lifted. She wouldn’t show him weakness—not now.

“You did good,” he started, tapping a pen against a file folder. “But we’re still missing pieces. The man we have—Kareem—gave us nothing we didn’t already suspect. He’s a pawn, not a player. And Cypher? Still a ghost.”

Her stomach tightened. “Then what’s next?”

“Sheen’s son,” Con said, leaning forward. “We need to find out more about the son and all his connections. What we find out could sway the entire op.”

She nodded slowly. “And me?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he closed the file and folded his hands over it. “Until we find Cypher, you’re still in danger. We believe he’s done with this particular game, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the board. You should stay here. In hiding.”

Alyssa hesitated. A week ago, she would’ve refused. But now? After the warehouse, after the gun at her temple, after Julian’s face smudged with ash and blood as he dragged her out of hell—she wasn’t so sure.

She swallowed. “If you think it’s best…”

Con’s mouth twitched into something like a smirk. “You saying that without argument seems…out of character.”

“Maybe I’m different these days.”

The sharp look he gave her made her believe he understood more than he was letting on.

She pushed to her feet. “I need to make some calls. Personal ones. Can you tell Dante not to listen in?”

“I’ll text him,” Con said with a nod, already pulling out his phone. When he exited the room too, she heard a low rumble of voices as Con and Julian exchanged a few words. When the voices cut off, she walked over to the tall window, staring at the phone in her hand.

A moment later, her own screen lit up with a message from Dante.

Okay. No bugs. You have fifteen minutes.

Her pulse steadied as she took a measured breath and dialed the number.

The line connected.

“Alyssa?” a warm voice greeted. The secretary-general at the United Nations. Her mentor. Her anchor from another life. “Is everything all right? We were told something came up.”

“Yes, I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

“No trouble at all. But you had us worried.”

She took another breath. “Thank you. I just wanted to ask a question.”

“I’m listening.”

“One time you mentioned that if I ever get tired of jetting around the globe saving people, that I have a place with you at the UN.”

A beat of silenced passed. Then, her director spoke with a note of surprise in his tone. “Consider it a standing job offer.”

Her eyes stung unexpectedly. “Thank you. I mean it.”

They said their goodbyes, and she ended the call, hand trembling slightly as she dialed the next.

This one connected more quickly.

“Alyssa?” The voice of the secretary of state she directly reported to.

“Madam Secretary. I…I have to step down.”

There was a pause.

“You’re certain?”

“Yes. This is too much. I’m still in danger, and I can’t risk anyone else. I need to disappear for a while. I can’t say more.”

The secretary of state was silent for a long moment. “You’ve given more than enough. Take the time you need. Stay safe.”

“Thank you. And one more thing. I’d like to request a favor.”

“Name it.”

“There’s a man named Mahmoud…”

When Alyssa ended the call, she dropped the phone from her ear and let her head fall back, her stare fixed on the ceiling. Everything she’d worked for—diplomatic missions, speeches at the UN, peace negotiations—all of it was now behind her.

And what was ahead?

Julian. Maybe.

But first, there was Kennedy.

She smoothed her top with trembling hands and made her way out of the office. Julian was there waiting. He took one look at her face and closed his mouth on whatever he was about to say. For that, she was thankful—and for the fact that he could read her so well.

Every step they took toward the interrogation room where Kennedy was waiting felt like walking a tightrope across a chasm. Kennedy—her assistant, her shadow, her friend, the one person she had trusted with everything.

The one who might’ve leaked her movements to Cypher.

The door was cracked open. Alyssa pushed it the rest of the way.

Kennedy looked up from the table where she was seated. Her face was pale and her hands knotted.

“Hey,” Alyssa said quietly as she crossed the room and took a seat.

Kennedy didn’t smile. Just stared at her.

Alyssa’s heart thundered. She wasn’t sure if she was walking into closure—or betrayal.

“You look like hell,” Kennedy muttered.

“So do you,” Alyssa replied, managing a faint smile.

They sat in silence for a moment.

Finally, Kennedy asked, “Do you think I did it?”

Alyssa met her gaze. “I don’t know what to think.”

That was the truth. She didn’t know. And the worst part was, a piece of her wanted to believe in Kennedy no matter what.

Kennedy’s eyes glistened. “I’d never hurt you. You know that.”

“Do I?”

The question sat like stone between them.

Alyssa swallowed. “The investigation will find the truth. I just needed to say that to your face. And to tell you…I’m stepping down.”

Kennedy’s eyes widened. “You’re serious?”

“Completely. I’m going dark.”

“Does this have anything to do with Special Operative Chase?”

The name hit her like a punch.

“I’m still a target. I need to stay off the grid. As for Special Operative Chase… Julian…I don’t know yet. But I want to see where it leads.”

Kennedy gave a shaky nod and shakier smile. “Then go find out. And Alyssa? If they find I had anything to do with this…you do what you have to do.”

Alyssa sat frozen. Because that sounded too much like goodbye.

But she stood and walked out.

She had a future to face.

And a man she wasn’t done fighting for.

And dammit if that wasn’t the scariest—and most exhilarating—thing of all.