Page 40 of Hero's Heart

They weren’t far from the embassy now. The downtown traffic was much heavier. Callum eased therepurposedcar into a dimly lit parking garage, the tires crunching over scattered gravel. He killed the engine and looked over at her.

“We’ll have to walk from here. It’ll be much less conspicuous. Plus, there’s generally no parking at the front gate of an embassy for security purposes.”

“Once we get inside, will we be separated?”

He turned to face her, seeing the worry etched in her features. His chest tightened. “The people there are on our side. You don’t have to be afraid. I’ll be nearby, even if we’re not in the same room.”

But even as the words left his mouth, Callum knew the embassy would mean the end of…whatever this was between them. No more shared hotel rooms, no more quiet moments in the car. No more waking up to those big blue eyes.

The thought left him feeling a little hollow.

Before he could stop himself, he reached out, cupping her face in his callused hands.

“Sloane, I…” he began, then gave up on words entirely. He leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.

The kiss started soft, tentative, but quickly ignited into something more. Sloane wound her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Callum deepened the kiss, tasting her sweetness, feeling the warmth of her body against his.

For a moment, the world fell away. All that was left was the two of them.

When they finally broke apart, they both were breathing heavily. Callum rested his forehead against hers, breathing in the scent of her. He wanted nothing more than to stay here with Sloane and keep kissing her.

Except to make sure she was safe.

“We should go.” He forced the words out.

They got out of the car and walked in silence toward the embassy, Callum hyperaware of Sloane’s presence beside him. At least he’d gotten one kiss. He’d treasure it, even though soon this nightmare—and his part in it—would be in her past and she’d move on. This would all become smaller and smaller in her mind until it was eventually gone for good.

For him too. That was the way it should be.

Right?

As they rounded the corner, the embassy gates came into view. Callum picked up speed before he could do something stupid like ask her to see him once they got back on US soil.

Then he stopped in his tracks, grabbing Sloane and spinning them both so they weren’t facing the embassy anymore. He’d been so caught up in his thoughts he’d almost missed the two menacing figures standing near the gate, eyes scanning for people all around.

Callum had no doubt the men were scanning forthem.

“Shit,” Callum hissed, pulling Sloane close. “Kozaks’ men at the gate. They’re looking for us.”

He felt her tense against him. “What do we do?”

“Act natural. Don’t pick up speed or look at them. Just keep walking.” He guided her away from the gates.

“Okay,” she whispered, her body tense.

As they retreated, Callum’s mind raced. The embassy was out. If they couldn’t get through the gates, the soldiers inside couldn’t help them, even if they stood there screaming,We’re Americans! Outside the embassy gates was Moldovan business, not American.

The Kozaks’ men could shoot them point-blank, and the people inside the embassy couldn’t do anything about it.

He and Sloane had been so close to safety, yet now it was impossible to be reached. His mind started shifting to other options. The Kozaks must have a bigger network than he’d thought if they already had men stationed here.

“We need a new plan.”

And fucking fast.

Chapter 14

Callum’s eyes darted between shadowy alleyways as he and Sloane hurried down the crowded street away from the Kozaks’ men. The acrid smell of exhaust fumes and spices from nearby food stalls filled the air.

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