Page 130 of Left in the Dark

“It’s fine. I understand.” Delaney pats his hand, her voice carrying through the coffee shop.

“Zayne, quit growling,” Ryker and Luca hiss in unison.

“I didn’t even realize I was,” I snap, noting the smirk on Jaxson’s face and the way Delaney is staring out the window, her shoulders shaking from laughter.

I grab my cell phone and send her a text.

ME: You’ll pay for laughing at that, minx.

She glances at her phone, then quickly texts back.

MINX: I look forward to your punishment, my future hubby.

Damn, I love her.

I speakinto the device that looks like a watch on my wrist. “Everyone in position?”

The special team responds with a chorus of “affirmatives” in my earpiece.

I switch to the other channel. “You guys good?”

Ryker, Luca, and Stryker affirm they’re ready.

My muscles are tense, coiled for action, as I spot the figure slipping through the woods. I squint, my gaze laser-focused.

“You’ve got eyes on him, Zayne?” Stryker says in my ear.

“Affirmative. It’s Richard Warner. He’ll have others trailing him. You know what to do.” I change the channel so everyone can hear me, including Jaxson and Delaney. “He’s packing.”

“So am I.” Jaxson’s voice is smug. “Plenty of weapons and ammo.”

My eyes never leave Richard. “He’s heading for the front door. Prepare to give him access so he doesn’t know we changed anything.”

“On it.” Stryker’s fingers furiously type commands into the computer. “It’ll sound like the alarm typically does.”

I watch as he presses buttons and opens the door. “He’s inside the cabin.”

“We’ve taken out two of his men,” one of my special team guys says in my earpiece.

I don’t say anything, focused on Jaxson’s car as he navigates the road to Delaney’s cabin.

Jaxson reviews the plan with her, finishing with, “Pretend I’m Zayne, and you’re inviting him inside after a date.”

“Pretend he’s Jaxson, not me. You’d be naked and spread wide on the counter after inviting me inside.”

There’s a chorus of snickers as Delaney hisses, “Zayne. Stop it.”

I smirk. “It’s the truth.”

“Such a pervert.” She rolls her eyes, and my smile widens.

“I saw that. You’ll pay for that later.”

The grin on her face makes me hard, even as I focus on her safety.

“Richard hid inside the hallway closet.” Stryker’s calm voice says. “I’m switching to night vision… Okay, he’s sweating as he pulls his gun out.”

Delaney and Jaxson get out of the car, which is my cue. I step forward, hearing Stryker’s gasp as I press the barrel of my gun against Richard’s head, snatching the weapon from his hand.

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