Page 39

M addox

The parking lot was clear, zero movement.

Exhaling, I pulled away from the window, unable to get a nagging feeling out of my mind.

“Are you okay?” she asked from behind me.

“I’m fine. I’m going to go take a shower,” I told her as she studied me while still relaxing in bed. Maybe I was a fool for taking my eye off the ball, but the connection had been too tight to break.

Or maybe I should say too fragile.

Slowly she rolled over to look at me, crowding the covers closer to her breasts.

There’d been something magical about being with her even if I’d allowed my guard to fall.

Having her in my arms had felt right, as if she belonged in them.

Neither one of us had played this up as anything but what it was, a desperate need to feel alive, yet the passion had brought us even closer together.

That alone was dangerous and not merely as a distraction. Still, I remained cautious, heading to the single chair in the room and dragging it in front of the door. It was nothing but a mild attempt at keeping unwanted visitors from the room, but at least it gave me enough comfort to take a shower.

“I’m not going to be able to live a normal life. Am I?” she asked. I hated hearing the almost despondent tone in her voice, but at least she’d begun to understand the difficult position she was in.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Charmaine. You’ll always have a target unless every person involved is captured.”

“That won’t happen.”

“No, I don’t think it will.”

“I want you to keep the jump drive. Just in case. I’ll give you the name of my attorney. If something happens and you hear about it, send him a copy. Will you do that for me?”

Turning around, I looked at her. “Yeah, I’ll do that. You need to be careful what you say. There’s a chance no one knows you were provided with the information.”

She sat up, bending her legs and wrapping her arms around both. “I’ve thought of that. The FBI won’t like me stalemating them.”

“Fuck the Feds.”

“I thought you were a Navy man through and through.”

“I am, but that doesn’t mean I like what’s happening or that I believe everyone in the military or government is on the up and up.”

“True. Corruption is everywhere.”

I walked closer, raking my finger across the strand of hair on her face. “Which is why you need to keep yourself safe.”

“Any suggestions on how to do that? I doubt you’d allow me to hire you as my personal twenty-four/seven bodyguard.” While her laugh was strained, her voice lilted.

“You couldn’t pay me enough.” I smiled, teasing her. Money I didn’t need.

When she lowered the sheets, exposing her gorgeous body, I was forced to take a deep breath. “You sure about that, cowboy?”

“Don’t tempt me. Hear what I’m saying. Don’t go near the window.”

She plopped down on the pillows, pursing her lips together as she pouted. “You’re no fun.”

“No, I’m not.” I headed to the small bathroom, stopping before walking into the shower area. “You should consider the option of going into witness protection.”

“I can take care of myself. Don’t worry. I know how to shoot a gun.” Her laugh ceased when she realized I wasn’t laughing. “You’re serious.”

“It’s worth a thought.”

“I can’t just lose my life. I have parents. I have friends. I have a job I love. That’s not fair.”

“I didn’t say it was fair, Charmaine. But it might keep you alive.”

She remained horrified, staring at me unblinking. “Not a chance in hell.”

The woman was exasperating as hell. “Just stay in this room.”

“Where the hell am I going to go?”

“Knowing you, it could be anywhere.”

“Very funny,” she tossed out.

“Very true.”

I exhaled. The truth was that even if she accepted the level of danger, she had no interest in staying in her lane.

While she’d slept, I’d debated contacting Gray.

If there was one person I could trust, it was my old commander.

Sure, I’d thought about contacting Kage, but at this point, what good would it do?

Plus, the people involved would likely erase anyone who stood in their way.

I couldn’t endanger him any further. Charmaine was right.

I also couldn’t be her bodyguard. Not under the best of circumstances.

“I won’t be long.” I told her and grabbed my weapon, placing it on the nightstand next to her. “You really know how to use a weapon?”

“Yeah, I forced myself to take lessons for a story I did a few years ago.”

“Then use it if you need to. Remember, you might only get one shot.” Her eyes narrowed as she peered up at me.

I didn’t wait for her answer, unzipping the bag and selecting a second weapon as provided by Damon. I now regretted being required to give up my assault rifle after we’d landed. She was watching me intently as I grabbed a magazine, slapping it into the chamber.

The door was left ajar and I placed the weapon on the back of the toilet before starting the water. Too many things didn’t feel right. I’d been in enough missions during my career to know when steps were being skipped, or intelligence was bad.

This had a hidden agenda written all over it. What I couldn’t figure out was why Gray had been pulled into the situation in the first place. I knew what he’d told me, but I also knew he didn’t have the liberty to share every detail with me.

I slipped into the shower, immediately stepping under the water and running my fingers through my hair. There were too many possibilities but what I’d told Charmaine was her best chance at living a normal life. I’d mention it to Gray when I brought her safely back to the meeting location.

The fact she wanted to give me the drive meant she knew the odds weren’t favorable.

The water felt good even if my muscles remained tense. As I grabbed the bar of soap, I couldn’t get Charmaine and the look on her face as I’d fucked her out of my mind.

As I rubbed the bar across my arms, I continued to think about her concern of heading into WITSEC. There were definitely several obstacles, including the fact she likely couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Bulldozing her way into every situation was her nature and no one was going to change her.

Including me.

I rubbed the soap in my hair. At this point, I couldn’t care less what I used.

Only a few seconds later, I felt a cold breeze and sensed a presence. My reflexes kicked in and I reached for my weapon without hesitation, immediately yanking the person into the shower, pressing the barrel of the weapon under their throat.

“Jesus. Maddox. It’s me.”

“What the fuck?” I rubbed my eyes, blinking several times as I stared into her eyes. “You almost got yourself killed.”

“I just thought I’d join you.”

Her eyes were open wide. “What part about staying in the room didn’t apply to you?”

“I am in the room.”

“Not where you can see the door.” Furious with her, I returned the weapon to the top of the toilet and crowded her space with my hands on either side of her. “You obviously have no idea what we could be dealing with.”

When she tried to look away, I grabbed her chin, pulling her face so she’d be forced to look me in the eyes. “You have the door blocked, Maddox. Do you really think it would matter if four or five men burst into the room whether I was in this tiny space with you or not?”

“Yeah, I do. You disobeyed me.”

She shook her head several times. Water cascaded down both our heated bodies, drops spilling past her long lashes as she stared up at me. “I’m not under your command.”

“I told you when this thing started that you needed to follow every order I gave you. And you agreed.”

“Reluctantly.”

The woman needed to learn a harsh lesson that might help her remain safe when I wasn’t around. If that was possible.

We were at a strong impasse.

She gently pushed me back, throwing open the curtain. “I’ll be glad when this is over so I’m not such an interruption in your life.”

Hanging my head, I had no clue what to say to her at this point.

She grabbed the single towel hanging on the bar in the room, storming out.

I took a deep breath and rinsed off, turning off the shower and stepping onto the floor while I stared at her standing just outside the door in front of the vanity mirror.

I didn’t need to hear the words she was spouting off to know she was cursing under her breath. No woman in my history had ever driven me this insane before. Not one. And I’d been involved with several who’d rattled me to my core.

My blood was hot, but not from anger. Another wave of desire rolled through my system like jet engine fuel, but I did my best to ignore it as I took two long strides toward her, crowding her space against the vanity.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you busy?” she barked.

“We need to come to an understanding.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“I was hired to do a job and I plan on fulfilling my obligations even if you don’t like the ramifications or my actions. It’s not for you to say how I handle performing my duties.”

“You’re so full of yourself.”

My God. The venomous glare in her eyes was starkly appealing even if her insistence she could take care of herself remained infuriating. The long strides continued as I headed into the bedroom, grabbing my pants off the floor. Without looking in her direction, I whipped the belt from the loops.

When I approached once again, she narrowed those pretty eyes of her. “What do you think you’re doing?” She deftly tucked the towel around her naked body, not bothering to turn around and face me. I could easily read her thoughts.

She hated me.

She craved me.

The confusion was driving her as insane as her actions were doing to me. “I’m teaching you a lesson in responsibility along with providing you an example of what happens when you ignore the rules.”

“Excuse me?”

With one hand, I ripped the towel from her body, forced to inhale from the sight of her. Just a single look could derail any man. “I’m giving you a hell of a spanking.”