Page 99 of Ruthless Commander

Lights of a service center in the distance drew my gaze. “Maybe we should pull over there. Refuel, hit the restroom, grab a bite, and check out where we’re headed.”

“Do you really think he’s there?”

I focused on those lights. It was the same question I’d been asking myself from the moment I saw that red light extinguish on the monitor. Was Edon still there? What exactly was I walking into? The fact he’d said this was personal sent an icy chill racing along my spine. “I don’t know.” I answered. “I wish I did.”

I turned to her as she slowed the car and pulled over into the service center.

I might have little idea about what we were about to walk into, but I knew one thing.

The one thing that was hitting me with blinding clarity.

That I couldn’t have a better partner by my side.

She might not be a highly trained mercenary. But she was exactly who I needed.

39

Mateo

I got out of the car, walked around, opened the driver’s door for her, and held out my hand. She took it, too tired to do anything but give me a sad smile. Together, we headed inside. The last twenty-four hours had been a goddamn blur. In my head, I was still at home, still trying to work out why my wife was acting strange.

Not here, across the damn country and about to walk into a war zone. I followed Xael into the store and headed for the restroom as she disappeared. But the moment I found myself alone, my thoughts were all about her. I just couldn’t shake that nagging feeling that there was something bigger happening here, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

I used the facilities and washed my hands, staring at my dark eyes in the mirror, eyes that looked so much like my brother’s. “Where the fuck are you, Edon?”

The words haunted me as I walked out, finding Xael waiting for me. We ordered food, Xael taking a fruit smoothie instead of a meal, and headed out to the car. The morning sun glinted off the windows of the diner as I ate, leaning against the car and enjoying straightening my legs. But Xael tried to not look at me. Instead, she stood away, focusing on the road that led into the next town.

“So, what’s the plan?” She drank and glanced my way.

I gave a shrug. “We drive past his last location, then I’ll go back.”

She shook her head. “Uh-uh.We’llgo back.”

“Xael.

“If youthinkfor one moment, I’m letting my husband walk into whatever this is alone, then you’re mistaken, Mateo. We have no idea what we’re walking into.”

“Exactly.” I stared at her. “That’s exactly my point.”

“So we face whatever it is together. I can shoot as well as anyone. You alone should know that, you’ve been the one training me for the last year.”

“I know you can. You’re one of the finest marksmen I know.”

She took a step closer. “Then what’s the problem?”

I wiped my mouth, scrunched up the rest of the sandwich, tossed it in the nearby trash barrel, and stepped closer, grabbing her by the shoulders. “You are my wife, my fucking heart, myeverything.I should be the one protecting you, not the other way around.”

“We are a team, Mateo. If we’re nothing else, then we are that. We were a team before, and we’ll be one now.”

We were…and I’d almost lost her then.

I sure as hell wasn’t losing her now.

So I had no choice. I had to be the man I’d tried to leave behind.

I had to be ruthless…dangerous.

I had to be the one in first to take out the threat and make sure that threat never reached her.