Page 34 of Rogue Mission

Ryker’s adjusts his Agile baseball cap, movements tense. “You two good to transit to the safe house without me?”

We answer in unison. “Yes.”

Beast adds, “Marshall’s two minutes behind. We’re covered.”

Ryker’s eyes stay locked on the shop, something shifting behind them.

“I’m staying. She can’t leave right now—not without losing her job. She’s the only one working.”

Beast gives a slow nod, circles his finger in the air.

“We’ll roll. Like I said, Marshall’s on our six. We’ve got it.”

“Copy,” Ryker replies, hand tapping on his thigh. “This isn’t my style to leave my team high and dry.”

When I look at Ryker again, I see the shadow of something dark.

“You good, man?” I ask Ryker, as Beast walks away.

“I’ll let you know.”

He’s already in motion, striding through the shop’s door, filling the doorframe almost completely with his hulking shoulders.

It’s not easy to shake the interaction.

If anything, it makes me feel more protective of Rosalie.

She just faced down unimaginable threats. I won’t let her face another. Not on my watch.

Turning on my heel, I stride back to the SUV.

The smell of sugar and dough rushes out when I open the door.

Rosalie lifts a chocolate donut with sprinkles, a bright grin on her face that makes my foot miss the footwell when I try to get in.

Jesus.

If it’s not the vulnerability, the resilience… it’s all that fucking adorableness.

It’s too much for a man like me.

I exhale, falling back into the seat, wedging my boots into the floorboard.

“Let’s roll,” I tell Beast, my head reeling from Rosalie’s proximity.

“Ryker’s going to deal with that situation. Said he’s going to catch up later,” I tell Rosalie, purposefully omitting the darker details.

Rosalie offers me a bite of pastry, and I shake my head.

“No thanks. At this rate, I’m not sure when my stomach will be right again.”

With a little frown, she leans in and kisses my cheek. “Sorry.”

Her breath whispers across my skin. Everything inside me hurts.

Fuck. Pull it together.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” she says, just for my ears. “I know it’s been hard on you.”