Page 47

Kat’s body went cold all at once.

Leonid.

For a breath, the world stopped.

No.

A pained helpless sound tore from her throat.

Then his hand slapped the floor.

Alive .

Her knees buckled. He’s alive.

She dove forward as Leo grappled with the guard, landing a savage fist on his temple. The guard collapsed and Leo shoved him aside, staggering upright.

The ceramic plate on his vest was spider-webbed. The impact had hit dead-center—too high for his heart, but low enough to hit like a sledgehammer. He swayed, clutching his ribs.

Kat punched the fractured plate. “Never. Again.”

“Jesus… Kat.” He laughed, then coughed and folded over.

With a gasp, he straightened and pulled her into a crushing hug.

“I…” She choked on it. “I thought you were dead.” Tears burned her eyes as she held him tight, breathing in the sharp tang of gunpowder embedded in his collar.

Leo’s arms crushed her. “Still here.” He coughed and wheezed. “Shit, that hurts.” He kissed the top of her head. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

“Help me.” She broke free and grabbed the unconscious guard’s arm. Together they half-dragged, half-carried him the last hundred yards.

A minute later, they burst through the primary doors into the cool night air, each stride a silent countdown.

What kind of blast rad ? —

Whomp!

A concussive wall of heat blasted them airborne. Kat hit the dirt hard, her lungs flattening like paper. Secondary bursts stitched the night and debris rained down. Concrete, wood, laced with the acrid scent of melted plastic.

Weight crushed her.

Leonid.

Shielding her with his body. She curled into him, every nerve on fire, ears ringing like sirens. Slowly, the thunder faded.

“Kat?” Leo’s voice, smoke-hoarse. His blackened hand stroked her cheek while behind him, the young guard moaned.

“I’m okay,” she gasped—though her voice sounded warped, as if underwater.

Orange firelight flickered across his soot-streaked face, turning his eyes sea-dark.

He looked wrecked and real and hers.

Just for a moment, the world stopped.

There was just him.

His breath ghosted her lips, smoke and survival. Her hands framed his jaw, shaking.

She kissed him, pouring in everything she didn’t have words for.

His breath hitched against her mouth, as if he hadn’t let himself hope until now. One hand buried in her hair. The other gripped her back like he couldn’t believe she was real.

When she surfaced, she was breathing hard.

Leo pressed his forehead to hers. “No more near misses. We go home. Together.”

Fox’s voice crackled over comms, dry and unmistakably English. “Excellent work, team. All evidence obliterated. Again.”

Kat huffed a laugh as Leo offered her a hand and helped her to her feet.

He pulled her close to his side and kissed her ear. “Ten years late, Agent Landon, but I believe I owe you waffles. And ice cream.”