Page 7 of The Heart

LUKE

“Where?” Sebastian casually asks into his earpiece as he scans the room.

“White male, black hair, near the east entrance. The verified owner of the photo ID he stole is at the front with security and would really like it back,” Ryan explains.

My eyes snap to the doorway, and I watch as a shorter man makes his way over to one of the buffet tables at the far end of the room. Then I notice Leena, who is only a few paces behind, discreetly following after him.

Fuck.

My eyes quickly find Sebastian’s and we give each other a knowing look. We didn’t want her anywhere near the op tonight, we never do. But she had to get out of the van eventually, and we know better than to try and keep our woman down once she’s made up her mind. I remind myself again that she has her weapon and knows how to use it, but I hope to fuck it never comes to that.

Not again.

We make our way as quickly as possible through the crowded room, smiling, apologizing and trying not to draw attention.

“Leena,” Sebastian growls a warning over the radio, but she doesn’t reply.

“Chase, Campbell, need I remind you of your own rules? You just need to get him alone andtalkto him. Do not engage unless there’s a confirmed weapon. He made it past the metal detectors, so there’s no need to ruffle feathers if we don’t have to,” Ryan lectures. I hear Sebastian snort out a grunt from beside me.

“Fuck the damn feathers,” he mumbles, but not into the comm.This time.

Classy as always,I think, shaking my head, but I can’t help the smile that tugs at my mouth. I love how gruff he is.

I also love him in that suit. So much, in fact, I’ve been actively avoiding looking at him all evening. Then Leena walked in wearing that dress, andfuck. Me.

I don’t know how much longer I can take it with these two before I wind up dragging them both out of here and–

“Hart’s moving in,” Ryan updates us from the van, but we’re nearly to her now. We slow our pace, already feeling better now that we have a clear visual on the woman in the sexy as fuck silk dress.

Oursexy as fuck woman in the silk dress. No matter how many times I tell myself that it’s true, I still find it impossible to believe that she’s ours.

That we get to behers.

I’m feeling very protective of that right at this moment.

She’s near where the man is wandering along one of the large buffet tables, picking food off the communal plates with his damn fingers.

If this man isn’t supposed to be here, then there’s a very real possibility that he will make a scene if we try to remove him. We need to be subtle so as not to start a panic, and so no one gets hurt.

There are just too many goddamn people in here.

I guess we could try and calmly ask him to come with us, but then I look at Sebastian, who’s tense beside me, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.Great.Maybe this is just him overreacting because it’s Leena’s first time in the field, but the second this guy gets a look at him or me, he’ll most likely freak the fuck out.

I honestly don’t see any scenario in which this goes down without Sebastian shooting someone.

And I don’t blame him. I’ll shoot the bastard myself if I see even the slightest hint that Leena’s in danger.

We’re about to move in closer when Colton stops us. “Chase, Campbell, she’s got this.”

I glare at where he’s standing against the far wall, but I know he’s right.

Leena knows what she’s doing.

Shestumblestoward the man, unsteady on her heels, the champagne sloshing in her glass. She places one hand on his shoulder and leans in close,too fucking close.He turns, frowning, then smiles once he actually gets a look at her.

Sebastian makes some sort of noise and I glance at him, a look telling him to calm the fuck down.

They’re far enough away that we wouldn’t be able to hear their conversation, except that Leena was clever enough to switch on her comm device before approaching him.

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