Page 16 of Tempting Alec

As she crouched in the shadows, Grier’s mind raced. She had no idea how many FSB agents were out there or what their strategy was. But she knew one thing—they wouldn’t stop until they found her. She had to be ready, had to be smart.

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the tension in the air so thick it was almost suffocating. Grier strained to hear any sign of movement below, her grip on her computer so tight her knuckles were white. She could feel the sweat trickling down her back, the adrenaline coursing through her veins like fire.

And then she heard it—the faint sound of footsteps, cautious and deliberate, moving through the building below. Grier’s heart pounded in her chest as she held her breath, listening intently. The footsteps grew closer, and she knew they were about to find her.

She shifted her position, her muscles tense and ready. The moment of truth was here, and she had no choice but to face it. The door below creaked open, and Grier caught a glimpse of a shadow moving through the room. She couldn’t see the agent’s face, but she could feel the threat, the danger lurking just below the surface.

The agent moved closer, his footsteps slow and measured as he scanned the room. Grier waited, her breath shallow, her mind racing through her options. She couldn’t stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, they would find her. She had to act, had to make a move before it was too late.

With a silent prayer, Grier adjusted her grip on her computer and prepared herself. The agent was directly below her now, his back to the ladder. She had the advantage, the element of surprise. It was now or never.

Grier took a deep breath, then leaped from the loft, her body crashing down on the agent below. They hit the ground with a thud, the force of the impact knocking the wind out of both of them. The agent struggled, but Grier was ready. She swung the knapsack containing her computer into his temple, sending him crumpling to the ground, unconscious.

Grier rolled off him, her breathing ragged as she scrambled to her feet. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, but one thing was clear—she had done it. She had survived. The realization sent a surge of adrenaline through her, a mixture of relief and triumph.

But there was no time to celebrate. She needed to find Alec, to get out of this village before more agents arrived. Grier took a moment to steady herself, picked up the FSB agent’s gun, then turned to bolt out of the building, her instincts guiding her through the maze of alleys and streets.

Chapter 8

Alec

Alec moved through the maze of alleys and streets, his mind laser-focused on one thing: finding Grier. The village was a labyrinth of narrow passageways, the air thick with the tension of the ambush that had erupted around them. He could hear the distant shouts of the FSB agents, the crack of gunfire echoing through the narrow corridors, but all of that faded into the background as he pressed forward, his senses attuned to the slightest sound that might lead him to her.

When he’d noticed she’d become separated from him, he had veered down a small alley, away from their last position, in the hopes of luring their pursuers after him with the idea that once he had led them away, he could double back for her. Alec knew he had to be quick as not all of the FSB agents would follow him, some would try and get Grier.

His breath was steady, his movements precise as he fought his way through the agents blocking his path. Alec had been in countless firefights before, had faced down enemies in the most dangerous corners of the world, but this was different. There was a gnawing fear at the back of his mind, a fear that he might not reach her in time. And that fear fueled him, driving him to move faster, to strike harder.

He rounded a corner and caught a glimpse of Grier, her figure darting through the shadows as she ducked into a dilapidated building. That should keep her safe for a bit. If she’d managed to elude their pursuers, they would regroup and begin searching for her building by building. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to admire her ingenuity and courage. She was holding her own, fighting to stay alive and free with a determination that filled him with both pride and worry.

Alec refocused his mind and his actions. He couldn’t lose her, not now, not after finding her again and feeling as though they were on the cusp of something special and lasting. The thought of her being captured, or worse, was enough to make his blood run cold. But there was also something else—a deep-seated admiration for the way she handled herself. Despite being out of her element, Grier had proven time and again that she was capable of surviving in this deadly game. It was one of the things that made him believe they could have a future, but that also made it difficult to keep his emotions in check.

He fought off another wave of agents, his movements fluid and lethal, every strike aimed to incapacitate quickly. The closer he got to Grier, the more intense his focus became. He could hear the footsteps of more agents approaching, the faint sound of their radios crackling with orders, but he ignored them. Grier was close, and nothing was going to stop him from reaching her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alec turned a corner and saw a lone FSB agent slip into the building in which she’d taken refuge. He made his way into the building from another side, planning to save her. Only Grier had other plans. She crashed down on top of the agent and then used her laptop to incapacitate the man. He didn’t want to be that guy when he had to explain to his superiors that he’d been taken out by an analyst with only her computer as a weapon.

Grier was standing in the middle of the building, her chest heaving with exertion. Even in the grungy thermal shirt in the middle of a firefight and fighting for their lives, he could appreciate the size and the way her breasts moved. She scooped up the FSB agent’s gun—did she even know how to fire one?—as she looked for the best exit, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. Her gaze locked onto his, and for a split second, the chaos around them seemed to fade away.

A wave of relief crashed over Alec, so intense that it nearly took his breath away. He didn’t think—he just acted, closing the distance between them in a few swift strides. Before he knew what he was doing, Alec grabbed her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her fiercely. The world around them melted away as he poured all of his fear, relief, and desire into that kiss, his grip on her tightening as if he could shield her from everything if he just held on tight enough.

Grier responded with equal intensity, her hands fisting in his sweater as she kissed him back. It was raw, desperate, the culmination of everything they’d been through together. For that brief moment, nothing else mattered. It was just them, two people who had fought tooth and nail to survive, finding solace in each other.

But the moment was short-lived. As soon as Alec turned on his satellite phone, it buzzed as the FSB agent began to come around, breaking the spell. Alec gave him a swift kick to his head, putting him down again. He pulled back, breathless and shaken, his forehead resting against hers for a heartbeat before he reluctantly let her go to answer.

“Seth,” Alec muttered, recognizing the secure line as he answered, “what’s the situation?”

“Alec, we’ve got a new problem,” Seth’s voice crackled through the line, tense and urgent. “Intel just came in—there’s another team closing in on your location. It’s not just the FSB. We’re picking up chatter about a third party, possibly mercenaries, who’ve been hired to take you both out.”

Alec’s grip on the phone tightened. “Mercenaries? Who the hell hired them?”

“We don’t know yet,” Seth replied, his voice grim. “But it’s bad. We need to get you out of there ASAP. I’m sending you coordinates for a rendezvous point—one of our operatives will meet you there and get you both out.”

“Who’s the operative?” Alec asked, already memorizing the location Seth was giving him.

“Kane,” Seth said, and Alec felt a twinge of relief.

Kane was a Cerberus operative he knew well from Chicago—reliable, tough, and one of the few people Alec would trust with his life. “He was close by and should be waiting for you at the extraction point. You need to move fast, Alec. We don’t have much time.”

Alec glanced at Grier, who was watching him with concern, clearly sensing the urgency in the conversation. “We’re on our way,” he said, then paused as Seth added something else.

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