Page 23 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost (Nightfall Syndicate #1)

I nod slowly, processing his words. Just a job.

As if running covert operations and taking on dangerous contracts is as mundane as filing paperwork.

But I can sense there's more to it than he's letting on.

The way he moves, always alert, always ready—this isn't just a paycheck for him. It's a calling.

As the elevator doors close behind us, I wonder what I've gotten myself into. And more importantly, how deep I'm willing to go to uncover the truth.

The elevator hums as we ascend, my mind still reeling from everything I've seen.

I take a deep breath. "I think," I say slowly, "this is so much more than what I bargained for."

Holy Shit. This is really happening—I'm about to start working with a secret mercenary team. The elevator begins its ascent, and Kade turns to me, holding out a small plastic card.

"This access card will give you entry to most areas of the building," he says, his voice low. "Don't make me regret this."

As I reach for the card, our fingers brush. A crackling current surges up my arm the moment we touch, causing my head to whip upward until I lock eyes with his. For a moment, neither of us moves. I'm acutely aware of how close we're standing in the confined space of the elevator.

"And if I do make you regret it?" I ask, unable to resist challenging him.

His eyes darken. "Then I'll have to teach you a lesson, little hellcat." The words hang in the air between us, heavy with promise .

Clearing my throat, I take the card and breaking contact. "I won't let you down."

The elevator dings, breaking the tension. Kade leads me down a hallway to a large corner office.

"This is Roman's office," he explains, pushing open the heavy wooden door. "It's yours for now."

I step inside, taking in the spacious room with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. A sleek desk dominates one wall, and I spot my personal belongings neatly arranged on a side table.

"You had my things picked up." An unexpected wave of comfort washes through me at seeing my belongings here.

Kade nods. "Jax had them retrieved from your apartment."

I walk over to the table, running my hand over my familiar laptop case. It's a thoughtful gesture, and it helps ground me in this unfamiliar environment.

"Thank you," I say softly.

Kade digs in his pocket and takes out a phone, holding it out to me. "This is yours now. It's got top-level security and can't be traced. Use it to get in touch with me or anyone else on the team if you need something. We're all in your contacts."

He pauses, then adds, "However, there's a specialized tracker in it. Makes it simple for us to find each other if we ever get split up."

I take the phone, our fingers brushing again. This time, I'm better prepared for the spark of awareness, but it still catches me a bit off guard.

"So you can keep tabs on me, you mean," I say, raising an eyebrow .

"That's one way of looking at it," Kade admits, unrepentant. "I like knowing where my assets are."

The way he says "assets" makes it clear he's not talking about equipment.

"I'm meeting with the team now, but we'll all be around if you need us," Kade continues, his expression growing serious. "One more thing—never open a door to anyone you don't recognize. It's just a precaution."

I raise an eyebrow. "Even with the special access needed to get up here?"

"Even then," he says, grimly. "We can't be too careful. If anyone tries to force their way in, use the panic button under the desk. I'll break down the door."

The wink Kade gives me sends heat rushing to my cheeks. My mind flashes back to that night at the first safe house, when he practically tore the door off its hinges to get to me.

The memory of his hands and mouth on my body, making me cry out and tremble with release, burns vividly in my thoughts. My face flushes more, and that smug bastard notices immediately.

His lips curl into that knowing smirk that says he remembers exactly what he did to me that night, how he made me come apart completely under his touch.

With one last hooded glance, Kade leaves me alone in the office. I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. This is it—time to get to work.

I settle behind the massive desk, pulling out my laptop. As it boots up, I feel more than a little overwhelmed. I'm sitting in the office of a missing mercenary leader, about to dive into an investigation that's already cost lives. Including Jenny's.

I start my research, diving into layers and layers of high-end escort services and potential trafficking rings. The access card in my pocket and the new phone beside me serve as constant reminders of the dangerous world I've entered.

And the lingering heat of Kade's touch reminds me of another danger entirely—one I might be more willing to risk.

I blink, realizing my eyes are strained from staring at the computer screen for hours. Stretching, I glance out the window and notice the sky has turned a deep orange. Sunset already? I've completely lost track of time.

My stomach growls, reminding me I haven't eaten all day. I should probably find him, see if there's a plan for dinner.

I step out of the office, looking around the empty hallway. Where is everyone? Then I remember—the phones have trackers. I pull out mine, tapping the screen to bring up the location app. It shows Kade is still in the building, but not on this floor.

Trying to follow the signal, I make my way through the underground level and go up one floor. The elevator doors open, and I hear voices coming from the medical bay. I poke my head in to see Remy carefully unwrapping bandages from Asher's torso.

"Hey," I say, stepping inside. "How are you feeling?"

Asher grunts. "I've had worse. "

Remy rolls his eyes. "He's fine. The staples are holding nicely."

Remy applies some kind of ointment to the angry red line across Asher's ribs. "Have either of you seen Kade? The tracker shows he's still here, but..."

"Check the roof," Remy says, Asher wincing slightly as he starts rewrapping his chest. "He likes to brood up there sometimes."

I raise an eyebrow. "Brood?"

Remy chuckles. "Our fearless leader has a flair for the dramatic. Go to the top floor, turn left and take the stairs at the end of the hall. They'll lead you straight up."

"Thanks," I head for the door. I pause, glancing back at Asher. "I'm glad you're okay."

He nods, a small smile crossing his face.

As I turn to leave, Asher calls out, "Hey, Bennett?"

I pause, looking back at him.

A hint of a smirk plays on his lips. "Be careful up there. It's windy."

I roll my eyes, but a small smile tugs at my mouth. "I'll keep that in mind."

Retracing my steps to the elevator, I use my keycard and hit the button for the top floor. My heart rate picks up a bit as the car ascends.

The elevator doors open, revealing a short hallway leading to a heavy metal door. I push it open, stepping out onto the roof. The wind immediately whips my hair around my face, and I brush it back impatiently.

The view takes my breath away—the entire city spread out before me, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. For a moment, I forget why I came up here .

My eyes scan the rooftop, finally landing on a familiar broad-shouldered silhouette standing at the far edge. He doesn't turn as I approach, but the slight shift in his posture tells me he's aware of my presence.

"Remy said I'd find you up here." I come to a stop beside him. "Apparently, you have a thing for brooding on rooftops."

Kade remains silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The dying sunlight catches the sharp angles of his face, highlighting the stubble along his jaw. Just before I'm about to speak again, he turns to me.

"Find anything useful?" His voice is low, controlled.

I shake my head. "Not yet. But I'm just getting started."

He turns back and I study his profile in the fading light. His jaw is tense, brows furrowed slightly as he stares out at the city. A gentle breeze ruffles his dark hair.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

A quiet sound escapes him, almost a laugh but not quite. "You know, it's been a long time since anyone's asked me that question and actually wanted the real answer."

I turn to face him fully. "Well, I'm asking now."

He's quiet for a moment, calculating. "I'm...processing. This case, bringing you in, it's stirred up memories I've worked hard to bury."

"Like what?"

Kade inhales deeply, his broad chest rising and falling.

His eyes move away for a moment, jaw clenching as if wrestling with his words.

He opens his mouth, then closes it again, hand running through his tousled hair.

The tension radiates from his body as he shifts his weight from one foot to the other .

"My first mission with Nightfall." His voice drops so low I have to lean in to hear him over the wind. "I was cocky, thought I knew everything. I'd been through hell in foster care, survived Special Forces training. But nothing could have prepared me for that night."

His eyes are distant, lost in memory. I resist the urge to touch his arm, to anchor him to the present.

"What happened?" I ask.

"It was supposed to be a simple extraction. Get in, grab the target, get out." His hands grip the railing tighter, knuckles turning white. "Intel was bad. Instead of one hostage, there were twelve. Kids, mostly."

My heart clenches. I think of Jenny, of all the stories she never got to tell.

"We got them out," Kade continues. "But I had to make a choice. Save the kids or save my team." The words hang heavy between us. "I chose the kids."

"If Roman hadn't..." He trails off, swallowing hard.

"Is that why you're so protective of your team now?" I ask.

He gives a single, sharp nod. "Every decision has consequences. Sometimes deadly ones."

The burden of that choice seems to float in the space separating our bodies. I understand now why he carries himself with such careful control. He's been living with impossible choices.

"You can't control everything, Kade."

His intense blue gaze locks with mine. "I can try."

"You did the right thing."

He turns to look at me, his eyes intense in the fading light. "Did I? My men died that night. Good men. And sometimes I wonder... "

I shake my head. "No. Those kids are alive because of you. That matters."

Something shifts in his expression, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through. He steps closer, close enough that I can feel the heat from his body.

"You see the world in black and white, don't you?" His voice is rough around the edges.

"Not always." I hold his gaze. "But some choices... some things... they are clear."

His eyes drop to my lips, then back up to my eyes. The air between us crackles with tension.

"And this?" he asks, his voice dropping to a dangerous rumble. "Is this clear?"

My breath catches in my throat. "Crystal."

Kade moves with the same lethal precision I've seen him use in combat, but there's nothing violent about the way his hand slides to the back of my neck. His fingers thread through my hair, grip tightening just enough to tell me he's still in control.

"Thank you," he murmurs, "for asking. For listening."

I don't get the chance to respond before his mouth claims mine.

The kiss is nothing like I expected. There's no hesitation, no gentleness. It's hungry and demanding from the first touch, as if he's been holding himself back until this exact moment. His lips are firm against mine, his tongue seeking entrance, which I eagerly grant.

I gasp into his mouth, my hands flying up to grip his shoulders for balance as he pushes me back against the wall beside the door. His body presses against mine, solid and unyielding, his thigh sliding between my legs in a move that sends heat pooling low in my belly .

My fingers dig into the hard muscle of his shoulders, feeling the power tightly leashed beneath my hands. When I give his bottom lip a gentle bite, a deep growl rumbles through his chest, vibrating where our bodies connect.

"Fuck," he breathes against my lips. "I've been wanting to do that since I first pinned you to that warehouse floor."

"That long?" I'm breathless, my heart hammering so hard I'm certain he can feel it.

His hands slide down my sides, gripping my hips hard enough to leave marks.

"Every time you challenge me, every time you push back..." His mouth trails along my jaw, teeth grazing the sensitive spot just beneath my ear. "Makes me want to show you exactly who's in control."

My head falls back against the wall, giving him better access to my neck. "You already showed me that at the safe house," I remind him, my voice husky with need.

A dark chuckle vibrates against my skin. "That was just the beginning, little hellcat."

He captures my mouth again, this kiss even more demanding than the last. I meet him with equal fervor, my hands slipping beneath his shirt to feel the hot skin stretched over rippling muscle.

When my nails scrape lightly down his back, he presses himself harder against me, his cock pressing against my stomach.

Just when I think I might combust from the heat between us, Kade pulls back slightly, resting his forehead against mine.

We're both breathing hard, his fingers still tangled in my hair.