Page 56 of The Knight

“Anything to make things run smoothly, Leonid.” The way she said his name, her British accent wrapped around Russian vowels, did things to his brain he couldn’t afford right now. “We’re all on the same side, after all—stopping Raptor from doing whatever it pleases, without concern for human life or the law.”

She turned away, and it took all his willpower to not stare at how her dress followed every curve like a second skin. She was all sleek beauty and poised confidence. It was too easy to forget she could kill you in twelve different ways before you hit the ground.

His blood burned hot beneath his skin, reason wrestling with desire. Distance or surrender—it didn’t matter. She’d already breached every defense he had.

He might as well admit it.

He was a fucking mess.

“Leonid?” Zak’s words shook him from his introspection.

“Your point?” Leo’s returning stare was deadpan. No one but their mother called him Leonid. But Kat did, and fuck, he liked it.

Zak shook his head, a grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

A noise from outside the meeting room gave Leo a welcome distraction. He turned as the door opened. Fox entered first, followed by a blonde woman. Abe was right behind her, his body positioned protectively close, his hand resting on the small of her back.

Leo had seen pictures of her from his research, but the woman before him might as well have stepped out of a different file. Next to him, Zak swore under his breath.

So, he wasn’t the only one expecting something else.

Gone was the severe updo from her file photos, replaced by hair that cascaded down her back. Business polish had been traded for faded blue dungarees and a crumpled pink shirt. Despite twenty-four hours on an astute class submarine, her cheeks glowed pink and her eyes were bright.

“Fox. Abe.” Leo rose to greet his men.

They acknowledged him with matching nods, Fox taking position by the door, his attention sweeping the room. Vigilant, as always.

“Leo, this is Dr. Freya Jonsdottir. She’s the lead archivist for the analysis and integration of all the Raptor data.” Abe guided her to a seat, his body angled between her and the door.

Leo knew that protective stance.

Training taught you how to guard an asset—but not with that kind of care.

That was personal.

30

“Dr. Jonsdottir, it’s a pleasure.”Leo’s handshake was firm, his smile welcoming, but there was something in his eyes that made her pulse skip. A flicker of darkness lurked just beneath the surface, like a shadow ready to pounce.

On the drive over she’d skimmed through the profiles of Guardsmen Security, reading between the lines of what little information was available. Leo had been special forces just like Abe, but Leo exuded something far more lethal. A predator in plain sight, restrained by little more than circumstance. This was a man who had walked through the darkness and hadn’t fully come back.

“Just Freya, thank you.”

Leo inclined his head and smiled. “Freya, then. You’ve met my brother Zak Bychkov already.”

“I have.”

Zak flashed a boyish grin. “Good to see you again, Freya.”

The woman in the blue dress with the polite smile stepped forward, extending her hand. “Thank you for coming, Freya. I’m Kat Landon, MI6.” Her words were professional, butthere was a glance exchanged between her and Leo—a quiet acknowledgment. “And of course, you know this gentleman.”

How had she missed him?

“Einar? What are you doing here?”

He clasped her in a hug of cologne. “The team was concerned for your safety. So, I came. Tinna sends her love.”Tinna. Tears pricked her eyes. Had it only been days since she’d last seen her?

“We appreciate the last few days have been challenging.” Kat cleared her throat. “Shall we all sit?”

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