Page 37 of Relentless

Liam threaded his fingers through hers. “I keep a bag packed in my SUV at all times.”

“What’s in the bag?”

“Enough supplies to keep us comfortable for a couple days and basic camping gear.”

“That’s part of expecting the best but being prepared for the worst?”

He nodded as Simon stopped and looked back at them.

“The path forks. Which way, Piper?”

“Left toward the rock face.”

The other operative surged ahead.

Liam pulled a sleek black phone with a metallic pink cover from his pocket. He handed it to Piper. “Your new phone. It’s encrypted. No one will intercept your calls or texts. I’ll also be able to talk to you while I’m deployed now.”

She took the phone from him and grinned in delight at the cover. “Thank you, Liam. I miss hearing your voice while you and your teammates are gone.”

“I planned to give you the phone before we deployed last month but Fortress only gave us an hour’s notice at two in the morning. I didn’t have the heart to wake you to deliver the phone.”

Piper gave him a sideways glance. “I wouldn’t have minded. I hated that I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye.”

“Me, too. I missed you like crazy.”

“Same here. You were gone a long time.”

“Longer than we anticipated. We had to assist another team.” He was silent a moment. “There will be times I’ll be gone for several weeks. It’s part of my job, Piper.”

“I understand.”

“I don’t have control over when the deployments occur. We go when and where we’re needed. That means I will miss some birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries.”

Anniversaries? “I’ll handle the absences like the other women involved with Fortress operatives. I’ll stay busy until you return.” She nudged his shoulder with her own. “I expect you to spoil me when you return from deployment.”

“I’ll do my best to make up for my absences. Most women can’t handle what we do and the unpredictable schedule.”

“I’m not most women. Give me a chance to prove I can handle it, Liam. You’re worth the learning curve.”

The subtle tension in his body eased. “I’ll do anything I can to help you adjust. I don’t want to lose you.”

She squeezed his hand.

They walked in silence until Piper recognized a large split rock. “Simon, head for that rock formation to the left.”

With a wave to acknowledge her instructions, he veered to the left. Ten minutes later, Simon stopped at the foot of a mountain with multiple caves dotting the rocky surface. As he waited for them to catch up, he studied the terrain. “I hope you remember which cave your friend referred to, Piper,” he said when she and Liam stopped beside him. “There must be a dozen caves up here.”

Piper studied the hillside. She pointed to one of two caves near the center of the mountain. “I think it’s the one on the right.”

“We’ll find out soon enough.” Liam slid his pack off his shoulders, grabbed a bottle of water, and gave it to Piper. While she drank, he scanned the area.

“I feel it, too,” Simon murmured.

Piper looked from one man to the other. “Feel what?”

“Someone is watching us.” Liam wrapped his arms around Piper and turned so her back was to the mountainside and his body stood between her and the observer.

She pushed at his chest to look for herself.

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