Page 49 of Storm Warning

“I wasn’t just an analyst at the CIA. I was also a field agent. While I enjoyed working with computers, I loved the thrill and danger of fieldwork. I didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk all the time.”

“So you joined Artemis.”

“They’ve become my family, Andre. I would do anything for them, and they would do the same for me.”

“You’re worried about their safety.”

Thank goodness. He understood her fear. The ball of ice in her stomach melted. “We have to find out who is targeting me so I can protect my teammates.”

“We’re working on it, Riley. Zane and Brent are working behind the scenes to figure out who wants you badly enough to resort to kidnapping. Having a place to start would cut the time involved in the search.”

“I’ve been wracking my brain for names. I have only a couple, and I think one of them is dead.”

“Let’s find out.” He stood and tugged Riley to her feet. “Do whatever magic you do and find these people online. Let’s see what’s going on in their lives.”

She dropped into her seat and glanced at Andre. “I was looking into the ambassador and his former wife. I don’t want to stop searching for information about them.”

“Can you set your bots to run down the information?”

“Perhaps.” She would have to set the right parameters for that to work. “I hate to do that, though. This search is important.”

“So is the search for a potential threat coming back to exact revenge. I don’t want to lose you, Riley. Not now when I’ve just captured your interest and started a campaign to convince you I’m the right man for you.”

Riley stared. “The right man?”

“That’s right. Got a problem with that goal?”

“Andre, that sounds like you plan to keep me permanently.”

“I do.”

Too stunned to say anything in response, Riley kissed Andre, deep, hot, and long. The fire between them rose by the minute until finally she had to back off or they would have burned to ash. She eased back and drew in a ragged breath.

Andre’s eyes glittered with lingering heat as he stared at Riley. “Now you’ve done it, babe.”

“What?”

“No way I’m letting you go after that kiss. You’ll have to fall in line with my cunning plan now. Otherwise, you’ll shatter my poor heart.”

She laughed. “Can’t have that.”

“No, ma’am.”

Riley sobered. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Hearing my sorry past and accepting me exactly as I am.”

“Who doesn’t have crazy stuff in their past they’d like to forget? You have nothing but my admiration, Riley. I don’t know anyone else who ended up in a homeless camp through no fault of her own and fought her way out to become a skilled black ops warrior. You beat all the odds, and you did it by yourself. Sweetheart, all I have to say is you’re amazing.”

Her eyes misted. No, no, no. Crying was not on the list of things to do tonight. She blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling and turned back to her computer. “Ready to go back to work?”

“I’m ready. Let me know if you find anything.”

Riley set her bots to scour the Internet for any mention of injuries suffered by Britta Wright, her husband Aidan, and Christopher. She didn’t know what she would get. Hopefully, something to help Zane in his search for information.

Although she hated to let go of that search, Andre was right. Finding out who was angry enough to send kidnappers after her trumped other priorities. Her safety was at stake, and so was that of her teammates. No one would hurt Artemis on her watch, not if she could stop it.