Page 56 of Covert Operation

“Maybe he should have come here himself since he wants to be so freaking picky.” My head is spinning from the list of ‘must haves’ we’re going to be searching for.

“Remember what I said about not always doing what Pierce asks?” Zeke gives me a sidelong glance as he hooks on a holster. “This is one of those times.”

I tuck my chin as he starts strapping weapons to his body. “Umm. Are these properties in a war zone?”

Zeke’s gaze levels on me. “Anywhere can be a war zone.” He moves closer, his big body crowding mine. “Going out by myself is one thing.” After slipping a particularly deadly knife into a flapped sheath hidden in the construction of his pants, his hand comes to my face. “Taking you into the world is another.” His fingers slide over my cheek in a gentle caress. “If anyone wants to get to you, they’re going to have to fucking work for it.”

I don’t know how long it takes to fall in love, but I’m guessing it happens pretty fast when a man is ready to kill to keep you safe.

Zeke leans down, pressing a kiss to my mouth. When he pulls back, his eyes stay on mine as he inhales deep and long, blowing it back out through flared nostrils before asking, “What time did Pierce say our first appointment was?”

I’m a little dazed from the way he’s looking at me—like I’m the only thing he’s even remotely interested in—so it takes a second for my brain to output the information he’s requesting. “Eight thirty.”

Zeke checks his watch, irritation making his jaw clench as he sees the time. “Remind me to kick Pierce’s ass when we get back to Fairbanks.”

I nod. “Okay.” I remember him making a similar threat last night. “Do you want me to remind you to kick Isaac’s ass too?”

The hard line of his mouth softens a little, amusement sparking in his dark eyes. “No.” One hand curves along my hip, pulling me closer. “I’m not mad at him anymore.”

“IS THIS THE last one?” I stare up at the industrial building located on the outskirts of Nashville. I can already tell it’s not what Pierce wants. None of them have been. And now I’m thinking I might not remind Zeke to kick his ass. I want to do it myself for sending us on this wild goose chase in the freezing cold.

“Unless he manages to set up another showing, this is it.” Zeke gently grips my elbow, helping keep me steady as we traverse the unshoveled walkway leading to the entrance of the rundown building. “Not that we’d be able to get to it in a decent amount of time.”

We’re an hour outside of Nashville at this point, and Pierce hasn’t been kind enough to schedule our showings in an order that kept us from driving from one side of the city to the other, so we’ve gone back and forth all freaking day. I’m cold. I’m irritated. I’m tired.

And I have way more interesting places to be than this crap heap in front of me.

The realtor holding the listing opens one of the rusty metal doors, smiling wide as he greets us. “You made it.”

He’s not bad looking, but his overdone demeanor has me scooting a little closer to Zeke. All the realtors we’ve dealt with today have been nice enough—probably because they really want to make a crapload of money on a sale—but this guy’s loud voice and dramatic gestures have me gritting my teeth.

“Come inside. Take it all in.” He dramatically waves us deeper into the multilevel space, acting like he’s showing us the Taj Mahal instead of a deteriorating manufacturing plant.

As we cross over the threshold and onto the grubby cement, Zeke releases his hold on my arm. I wobble a little, not because I’m unsteady, but because I feel more grounded when he’s touching me. Especially in a place like this.

As if he can sense my unease, Zeke drapes a heavy arm across my back, one hand gripping my hip to pull me tight into his side. He leans close, lips brushing my ear when he asks, “You okay?”

I tuck my face close to his, keeping my voice low. “I don’t like this guy. He gives me the creeps.”

Not so long ago, I considered a man much like him charming. Outgoing and filled with personality. Open and amusing.

Boy was I wrong.

Zeke’s narrowed gaze moves to the realtor as he continues loudly listing off the property’s positive attributes. After a barely perceptible nod, Zeke straightens, one hand deftly unfastening the snap securing the flap covering the benign looking pocket holding one of the many weapons strapped to his body.

A little of the tension starting to bunch my shoulders eases and a small smile teases my lips. He didn’t even consider dismissingmy concern. Didn’t ask questions or blow me off. He just trusted me.

Zeke continues holding me close as we follow Derek the overeager salesman deeper into the dark, musty building. The place is a wreck. It’s filthy. Windows are broken out. Icy patches are scattered across the cement floor, marking all the leaks in the roof.

But…

I can still somehow see the potential. Pierce wanted something outside the city and this fits that bill. He wanted a place that had an existing structure that could be used immediately, and while this particular building isn’t quite ready for occupancy, there are a handful of smaller ones on the same piece of property that look to be in better shape. The complex is also on a decent plot of land. Room for privacy and expansion—check.

It’s nothing fancy, but it might work.

“And the best part…” Derek strides up to a giant electric panel and grips a large lever, shoving it up.

Nothing happens.

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