Page 92 of The Eagle's Vault

“Leigh, I’ve isolated this line,” said Brie. “What do you need?”

“Before you start—” Declan grabbed my chin in his hand. “I’m going to watch your back. You need to accept me being a little protective right now.”

His words, primal in their intensity, reassured me. Not like Finn, whose control strangled me. Declan let me breathe. Let me be me. He was watching out for me, not watching to be sure I didn’t step out of line.

“I’m sorry about…” I whispered, trying to find some level of control, so I could say what I needed to. “Earlier, I… Every minute with you was the adventure I hoped for when I came to Rome.”

“When we get out of this, I’m taking you on a proper date.” His lips grazed mine. “And I promise, it’s going to have a lot less adventure.”

I pressed my hand to his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beating against my palm through his tight-fitting thermal suit. “I’m looking forward to it.”

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on my cheek, his lips lingering. “You can do this.”

“You’re a bad influence, Declan.”

With our faces still inches apart, he said in a low rumble that reverberated through me, “I’m exactly the influence you need.”

A smile formed deep inside of me. Declan wasn’t just the flirtatious safe cracker or the charming rogue. He was brave, determined, willing to risk everything for others.

He was so unlike the men I had dated, men who were confident, even charismatic, like my brothers. But their confidence, their charm, their charisma—it was always about them. Always about what they wanted, their needs, their desires.

But Declan was different. He’d come to rescue us and would risk himself to ensure we survived.

An overwhelming realization hit me. Declan Ramsay was exactly the kind of man I’d been looking for. A protector, not a controller.Thatwas what I wanted.

I gripped his neck, pulling him closer. How lucky was I to have met this amazing man? “You’re right.”

“You said you needed help?” said Brie, from the phone still in my hand.

“Yeah, sorry.” I let go of Declan’s neck and got back to work.

“Come on.” A hand landed on my arm. Isaac. “Let’s do this. Then we get out.”

Chapter 36

Declan

Thepartnoneofthe people in the room had heard? We were now little more than bait.

If the plan unfolding over my earpiece went down the way Scarlett expected, one kidnapper would end up on the short end of Rav’s fist. Rav would cinch him up with zip ties, then Jayce or the drone would bring the other guy to him with the same result. He was looking forward to meeting the men who’d set Scarlett up.

But odds were, Rav would only get one. The other would hear the fight and come back for the vault. A man like that would only chase a drone so long before he got wise to the distraction.

And when he did, he’d come for us. That’s what I had to prepare for.

I stepped back from Leigh before I did something ridiculous, like kiss her again. She was my distraction, and we had a job to do.

Twelve feet of etched stone stared back at us. From the photos, I’d expected a flat door, covered in the zodiac symbols. Instead, dips and waves marred its surface.

My heart thrummed with excitement, my fingers itching to trace the lines and curves of the carvings. The vault door wasn’t just a barrier to be overcome, but a reluctant lover, begging to be coaxed open. Now, I had the door and my actual lover by my side.

This vault wasn’t my job. My priority was listening to the communication coming over my earpiece and being ready. Leigh had my phone, so I couldn’t monitor the GPS map, but the team would give me a heads-up if we were in danger.

Isaac walked Leigh to the vault. He was braver in the face of danger than I’d expected, despite the flicker in his eyes, a shadow I couldn’t shake off. Jealousy that his sister put her faith in someone else? Anger that I’d lied to him to shoo him off earlier?

Scarlett said over my earpiece, “He’s almost to you, Rav.”

Leigh walked to the center of the room. “I think I’ve figured it out.”

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