Page 45 of Rogue Mission

After a few nods, the team disperses, and that’s when Justice notices me. “Hey, I didn’t know you were there. Are you okay?”

There’s a hardness to his expression that wasn’t there earlier. His tone strikes me as weird, too.

“Uh, yes. I can’t believe I somehow managed to get my dress on inside out, but thankfully, Camile told me.”

He’s busy doing something with his gun, an air of icy proficiency around him. “Guess my brain was scrambled; sorry,I should have caught that. Trust me, that’s not something the men here would notice. They’re in mission mode.”

When he finally meets my gaze, I see it… anger?

Tone clipped, he says, “I’m leaving in a few minutes. Evan is moving you.”

His chilling demeanor makes my body feel cold all over. The heat from earlier extinguished like I’ve been plunged in a dark, Irish lake.

I try to think of something to say, but fail miserably.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Camile approaches, but she must realize something’s up because she keeps a safe distance. “Rosalie, I’ll show you to the truck in a couple of minutes.”

Nodding, I try to look normal and appreciative that she’s graced me with that time.

“What’s going on?” I ask, my fingers kneading the fabric of the dress against my thigh. The very spot his hand was clutching me earlier.

Are his fingerprints still there?

With brutal proficiency, Justice finishes strapping on some kind of thing around his thigh. It looks serious. Like it could hold a weapon and some other things.

“We’re splitting up.”

Were we even together?

“I got that.” There’s an edge to my own tone that surprises me. “I just didn’t expect this to happen so quickly.”

“This is how it works. When the time is right, we strike. They’ll keep you safe.”

“Okay,” I take a step back unintentionally, a subconscious self-protective move. “But it’s you I’m worried about.”

His eyes flash, dark and intense, as they lock onto my face. “There’s no reason for you to worry about me.”

“Can I ask where you’re going?”

“Best not to.” He tightens a strap on a tactical vest he put on while I was in the bathroom. “You won’t like it if I tell you.”

“Why is that?”

He studies me for a second before taking a slow step toward me. When he stops, he’s towering over me, the hardness in his expression so different from anything I’ve seen before.

For a beat, we just look at each other, not blinking, barely breathing.

Is this the battle Camile warned me about? Because suddenly I feel like I’m in the midst of war.

I’m vibrating with a potent mix of emotions. Fear of what has triggered the team to take swift action. On top of that, there’s disappointment that Justice is leaving.

Where do we stand?

But he’s locked down so tight a thief wouldn’t be able to pick his lock.

When he steps in closer, not touching, he whispers darkly, “I can’t touch you right now. Go with the team. Keep your head down, do everything they say to do. I’ll meet you on the other side.”

The other side?