Page 26 of Romancing His Heart

Instinctively, my hand reaches out to touch Loki’s shoulder in support. His forehead crinkles, but he doesn’t otherwise respond. We sit in silence for nearly twenty minutes while he works through whatever memories he has—or doesn’t have.

“I woke up in the mud, about thirty yards from the site, and inched my way into an alcove on the Charles River. I don’t know how long I was there, but two men came looking for me. That’s when I sent the first signal and the first memory I have since handing Target C to Jason.”

Ashton appears to know what that means and begins rearranging papers all over the walls. I keep my eyes on Loki. At least for now, it seems his memories are lost to us.

“Loki, Vic is gunning for you. He made it clear. He’ll bring charges on anyone found helping you.”

“Placing an unidentifiable body at the explosion site makes it a lot easier for him to convince people I’m AWOL, though,” Loki comments with no emotion.

I suck in a breath. I don’t know what it all means exactly, but that doesn’t sound good. Will Loki have to figure this out on his own?

Seth glances at me and smiles. “I’ve never been good at following the rules, Sloane. Don’t worry. We don’t leave anyone behind.” Turning to Loki, I see he’s smiling, too. With his hand in the air, he fist bumps Seth, then Preston, and Ash.

“Welcome to the chaos,” Preston says.

They all repeat it like a toast.

“It’s something my dad used to say to us,” Preston informs me. “It’s a battle cry of sorts.”

“You’re preparing for battle?”

Loki angles his body toward me, his massive thigh pressing against mine, causing a flurry of activity low in my belly. Tilting his head, he observes me. The heat through his jeans is making me dizzy. “I always prepare, Red.” His voice rasps as he speaks.

“How will you know when to lay your weapons down?” I ask, though I’m not sure if I’m talking about his situation anymore … or mine.

Leaning in, so we’re inches apart, he levels me with his gaze. “When I win.” He doesn’t look away, and he doesn’t give me space.

We are too close for polite company, and Preston finally clears his throat. In my peripheral vision, I see his sly grin right before giving the goofiest thumbs-up I’ve ever seen.

“What’s that for?”

He doesn’t answer, just walks out of the room. Sometimes I wonder if that man ever grew up. A minute later, he comes back with a giant Nike shoebox and places it in front of Loki.

“What’s this?” he asks.

I’ve rarely seen this playful, boyish side of Preston, but I’ve been told it exists. Whatever the thumbs-up was about is going to cause me nothing but trouble. I can see it in his face.

He looks under the table at Loki’s combat boots before answering. “GG said you were going to need these.”

“Lanie’s grandmother? I’ve never even met her. Why the hell would she leave me these?”

“We don’t question anything that woman does, but she hasn’t been wrong yet,” Ashton says, smiling like a madman.

We all watch as Loki opens the box. On top of a pair of running shoes is a note scribbled in the chicken scratch of an eighty-year-old woman.

Dear Chaser,

You’re gonna need these to get her back. Life’s a marathon, not a sprint.

GG

Chapter 9

Loki

“So, I’m going to go … um, see if I can help with dinner. You said Sylvie is coming soon?” Red asks Preston, already halfway out the door like her ass is on fire.

“She should be here any minute,” Preston replies with a stupid smirk on his face.