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Tate chuckled, then wiggled around so he was no longer lying on top of her, rolling her with him so she was on her side. His dick was still buried inside her, and the position felt…right. Almost natural.

“This okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“You want to get up and get cleaned up?” he asked.

“I should.”

“But?”

“I don’t want to move. You feel too good.”

“Same.”

Laryn sighed with contentment. The upcoming deployment would mean she and Tate would be extremely busy.

They wouldn’t have time to simply soak each other in like they were doing now.

The Night Stalkers were experts at flying at night, and if they were up, Laryn was up.

She was never able to sleep while Tate was on a mission.

She had a feeling her anxiety would be even worse now.

“Laryn?”

“Yeah?”

“This is gonna work. It won’t be easy, but I’m going to do everything in my power not to screw this up. Because I know when I’ve got something precious and important, and you are all that and more.”

Laryn wasn’t sure how to respond to that, but she couldn’t say anything even if she wanted to because her throat was suddenly tight.

As if he knew how emotional his words had made her, he kissed her on the temple and said, “Sleep. We’ve both got a lot to do tomorrow.”

Her eyes closed and she was asleep in seconds, secure in the arms of the man she’d only ever dreamed of having.

“Yes. Deployed. That’s what I said. But you should be happy. Now you don’t have to send anyone else to convince her she should work for you. You can do it yourself.”

“Why?”

“Because she and the pilots are being deployed to your backyard. The Mediterranean. My friend who works for the colonel in charge of the Night Stalkers said they’ll be flying missions on the border of Syria and your country. In the mountains.”

“When?”

“Not sure of exact dates.”

“Well, get them! I’m not paying you to give me half-ass information.”

“I know they’ll be onboard in a few days. You have someone there who can get you the information you need? Because the Navy isn’t deploying me.”

“Yes, yes. I will talk to them. I need Ms. Hardy. My country needs her. We have the MH-60s, but we don’t have anyone to outfit them like the US helicopters.

We need her to make them just as good or better.

Money is no object. Once she fully comprehends the riches we can give her, she’ll change her mind.

I just need a chance to talk to her in person. ”

“Not sure that’ll work, but whatever. I’ve given you the info I have. It’s up to you to do something with it. I expect my money by tomorrow night.”

“You’ll have it.”

Altan Osman disconnected the phone and sat at his desk, staring at the white wall of his small office.

He needed Laryn Hardy. Badly. By all accounts, she was the best of the best, and his superiors were anxious to get their newly bought MH-60s ready for combat.

They also needed the intel that the US government was keeping to themselves as far as specialized equipment onboard.

He wasn’t thrilled about hiring a woman, as they were clearly inferior to men, but they needed the information she had in her head. Once they had that, they could eliminate the mechanic so she couldn’t cause an international incident, then continue their plans for increasing their military power.

He’d told his contact on the US base that she’d be compensated for her work, but that was a lie, of course.

Once the helicopters were upgraded, she’d be eliminated.

A woman knowing top-secret intel about his government’s military and what the country was capable of simply wasn’t acceptable.

He’d use her to upgrade the choppers, and then she would disappear.

Laryn hadn’t been on his radar until he’d learned she was possibly looking for a job.

It was perfect timing. Altan had hired several mechanics in the recent past who’d each claimed they had the knowledge to outfit the choppers with the same firepower and technology used in the United States, but they were all unsuccessful…

and so they had disappeared as if they’d never existed.

Now the Gendarmerie was getting impatient, and Altan’s time was running out. He either produced someone who could do what they wanted, or he’d pay the price.

And then, miraculously, Altan had gotten wind of Laryn Hardy, who had the experience and skill to do exactly what he needed. Except she’d had the nerve to turn him down.

No one turned down Altan Osman.

He had moles in governments all over the world. Men he paid exceptionally well to leak intel about just about everything having to do with military maneuvers, personnel, and equipment.

And now, instead of paying someone else to bring Laryn Hardy across the world to him , she was doing him the favor of coming most of the way on her own.

He just needed a way to get her off that US naval ship.

Now that he knew which one she’d be on, he could activate his moles who were currently working onboard that very carrier and in the area where the Night Stalkers would be flying.

The latter part would be trickier, because he needed their exact flight plan in order to have an extradition team ready, but money was a good motivator.

He’d get what he wanted—namely, Laryn Hardy—and his country would be one step closer to becoming a superior military force.

Once they possessed some of the US’s secrets, their nearest enemies wouldn’t dare mess with them.

He’d be hailed a hero to his country and could live the life of a millionaire.

Women, fancy clothes, houses, servants…and the respect he’d always yearned for.

Laryn Hardy may have decided not to leave her job in the United States, but too bad.

The moment she’d come onto his radar, her fate was decided.

She’d work for Altan and his country, or not work for anyone ever again.

The choice would be hers. And he’d be sure she made the right decision. One way or another.

Straightening, Altan reached for his phone once again. He had people to contact and plans to make.