Page 35 of Stains of Desire

"It's okay. Don't beat yourself up."

She shifts on her feet. "What do you think?"

I slowly shrug. "I hope they aren't. Axel said his clearance is only a six. Andre has an eight, so I don't think they would."

"What do you mean?"

"With Interpol. Thirteen is the top clearance level. My gut says they are similar to what we were...unsuspecting pawns doing the work of the Global Leaders, unaware of anything about the cause or that the leaders even exist."

"I... I want to trust them," she quietly admits.

"Me, too. Come on. Let's go face the music."

Red flares on her face.

I ask, "Did you—"

"No. Did you?"

"No."

She raises an eyebrow. "I'm not sure about Zoe, but Vanessa..."

"Yep."

She softly laughs.

I put my arm around her shoulder. "No one is innocent from last night. And these guys are all the epitome of testosterone-filled males. And I doubt any of us have had any good attention in the last few years, so let's just not beat ourselves up. Let's go act normal."

"Okay."

As soon as we round the tent, my body pulses again. We put the bottle of water and toothbrushes inside and go to the firepit.

Stop drooling over him. Focus on your daughter.

We approach them, but they aren't facing us.

Axel snorts. "I bet. All the new recruits?"

Ryker replies, "Yep. A lot of them aren't even ex-military."

Axel's shoulders tense. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I was surprised, too. Still can't believe they kept me away for an entire year."

"Away from what?" Julieta asks.

They spin.

The browns and black in Axel's eyes light up. He scans my body then locks eyes with me. His tongue slides out of his mouth and slowly licks his lips, as if he wants to eat me up. "Rescuing damsels in distress. Here, have a seat."

There is no analyzing anything he says. I don't know if I could disobey him if I tried. When he talks, it's commanding. When he looks at me, I want him to make good on whatever he's holding himself back from doing. And being next to him, in the orbit of his energy, makes me feel alive when I've felt dead since Oliver passed away, then even worse since Santiago took Millie from me. I sit on the stump. His lips twitch in approval.

Julieta and Ryker become nonexistent for a moment.

He reaches to my hair, pushes a lock behind my ear, then drags his finger across my jaw. It's an injection of adrenaline buzzing under his touch. "Good morning."

Pull it together. Don't turn to Jell-O every time he looks at or touches me.