Page 16 of Gray

But the nightmares? The feeling of being trapped and helpless, unable to move? Those were tougher to deal with.

Gray didn’t press her for additional details. If he didn’t want to share his own memories of being held in captivity, why the hell would Lena want to tell him more than what she already had? She’d talk about it if she wanted to, and Gray would be here for her if that happened.

Lena sucked in a breath, accidentally dropping the papers she’d been holding, the sheets fluttering to the ground.

Gray crouched down, gathering them up for her. “Is this everything you need to inventory?” he asked, trying to turn her attention to something other than her memories.

She nodded, her expression unreadable. Lena was throwing up her shields again, pulling away. She reached out and took one of the papers from his hand. Sparks shot through him as their fingers accidentally brushed, and he could see her surprised reaction as well. He hesitated, half tempted to pull her close like he had the other night when they were alone in her bedroom. She looked like she was trying to hold herself together right now.

“Let’s get started,” she said, her voice shaky.

Gray tamped down his emotions and nodded before turning away, moving toward the section that housed the items he needed. “I’ll start with everything on this page,” he said, his voice husky. Fuck if he didn’t want to pull her into his arms and wipe that fear off her face. He felt Lena’s eyes on him, but he got to work, burying whatever needed to be said.

After a moment, he heard her movement, Lena checking the supplies on her list as well, making notes for what needed to be ordered.

“Do you really think you’ll be able to find Ivan Rogers?” Lena asked after a few minutes. She’d gone still, and Gray’s head swiveled in her direction.

“Yes.”

“But how can you be sure? I’m constantly afraid he’s out there somewhere, looking for me. I was stalked before by an ex, and it’s a horrible feeling.”

The rage Gray instantly felt burned hot and bright. If her asshole of an ex wasn’t already rotting away in jail, Gray would go find the bastard himself. He tried to rein in his anger, keeping his voice calm as he reassured Lena that she was safe.

“Ivan Rogers doesn’t know we have a lead on his private jet flights. When the Feds raided his properties, they were able to obtain the names of the contacts he used to book planes. Private planes. There are no flight records with his name on commercial airliners because he doesn’t use them. That goes for the men working for him, too. West will hack into the flight records to determine his most frequent destinations. He doesn’t know we’re gathering his flight information,” Gray reiterated, his voice low. “While Ivan Rogers no doubt realizes his homes have been searched, his business dealings have been hidden for a long time. He had a big network of men working for him. The Feds hadn’t been able to get any charges to stick against him in the past. He was careful. Meticulous in his work, letting his men take the fall. It burns me up that he kidnapped you and Kaylee, but now we have solid evidence against him. We’re about to find where his business dealings are and blow that shit wide open. Ivan Rogers’ days are numbered.”

She let out a shaky breath.

“What are you thinking?” Gray asked, trying to keep his voice gentle.

“I just have a bad feeling,” she murmured.

Gray studied her a moment. He knew all too well what it felt like to have his gut instincts telling him something was wrong. They’d been ambushed during their final mission, unable to protect themselves. The entire area of the desert had been too damn quiet. Too still.

And then all hell had broken loose.

Lena and Kaylee had been ambushed in the hall of the coffee shop. It wasn’t the same, yet it was. They hadn’t been able to fight their captors, men bigger and stronger than they were. Lena had a knife held to her throat as she’d been hauled away. She’d had her freedom taken from her, her free will.

“It’s normal to be afraid after going through an ordeal like that,” he said. “It’ll take time. And some things you never recover from,” he added darkly.

Her eyes shone with tears as she looked at him, and then Gray was moving toward her, muttering a curse under his breath as he set the papers on the table. Lena went to him instantly, her arms gentle as she hugged him. He felt his chest clench. She remembered his scars. “It’s okay,” he soothed, feeling her soft curves press against him. “We’re going to find him. I’ll keep you safe.”

She sniffled. “I was so scared the other night—until you came,” she added, making his heart clench. Gray wasn’t normally a soft man, but something about Lena made all his protective instincts roar to life. He wanted to make her feel safe and claim her as hisown. Take her to bed and soothe away all those fears, making her forget everything but him.

“I’ll come stay over again.” It wasn’t a question. Gray would do everything in his power to make her feel comfortable in her home. He was already kicking himself for not adding more security cameras. She had the one on her doorbell, but Lena’s home and fenced-in yard backed up to a wooded lot. She insisted she was okay, and he of all people should’ve seen past that.

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

Gray pulled back, cocking a brow at her. “Why the hell not? Besides, you didn’t ask me. I just offered.”

“Because…just because.”

His lips quirked. Lena looked so damn cute when she was flustered. Normally, she was pulled together and poised. It made his chest fill with male pride at the way she reacted to him. He affected her. And hell if he didn’t love the way she responded to him. Gray brushed back a strand of her silky hair, noting the hint of pink spreading across her cheeks. “That’s not a reason,” he said, his gaze intense as he looked at her.

Lena’s chest rose and fell, her breasts pressing against the silky blouse she wore. Her curves were feminine and gorgeous, and his hands itched to explore all of them. The air seemed to grow thick between them, and he had to force himself to remain in place, to not move in and kiss the hell out of her right now.

“What’s happening?” she asked softly.

Gray turned that thought over in his mind, not sure how much he wanted to reveal. “I haven’t dated a woman since my Army days,” he finally said. “I’ve been dealing with my own troubles, but I’ve noticed you, Lena. Ever since I first joined the guyson the team. And while I’ve kept my distance for a variety of reasons, I’m not sure I can stay away from you anymore.”

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