Page 106 of Knight

"What happens after tonight?"

His hand stills on my skin.

"I don't know." The admission is rough. "I'm not good at ... this. Any of it. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm more comfortable with computers than people."

I push up on one elbow to look at him, taking in the sharp angles of his face, softened now in the aftermath of pleasure. "Neither am I. But I want to try. If we survive tonight ..."

He catches my face between his palms, and kisses me. When we separate, his eyes hold mine. "Then let's make sure we survive. I'd hate to miss out on corrupting you further."

I settle back against his chest, letting my fingers explore the tattoos covering his skin.

His hands move over my body with equal care, lingering on my healing wrists. The touch carries apology, regret, promise—everything he struggles to voice. I press closer, silently accepting what he's offering.

"Your brothers?—"

"Won't say anything." His arms tighten around me. "They understand more than you'd think."

"About this?" I gesture between us.

"About finding something unexpected." His voice roughens. "Something worth protecting. Though if you tell them I said that, I'll deny everything."

A knock at the door makes us both tense.

"Knight?" Bishop's voice carries through the wood. "We need to review the infiltration plan."

"Thirty minutes." Knight's response brooks no argument.

I hide my face against his neck, breathing him in. Soon we'll face whatever waits at that facility. Soon we'll confront the people who took my brother, who tried to use both of us as pawns in their game. But right now, in this quiet space between planning and execution, we've found something worth fighting for.

His hand slides into my hair, tilting my face up for another kiss. This one carries a promise—of survival, of possibility, of something worth protecting. When we separate, his expression holds none of his usual sharp edges.

"Eva." My name emerges soft against my lips. "Whatever happens tonight?—"

"Don't." I press my fingers to his mouth.

"Fine." He kisses my fingertips. "But when this is over, we're having a serious discussion about your habit of interrupting me."

"Is that what we're calling it?" I smile. "A discussion?"

He rolls above me and spends the next thirty minutes showing me exactly what kind of discussion he has in mind.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

Knight

Eva's breathingremains steady when I ease out from under her and sit on the edge of the bed. She doesn’t stir when I dress or wake when I pause at the door for one last look.

I’mnotcommitting her to memory like some lovesick fool. I’m just making sure she’s still asleep.

Closing the door quietly behind me, I make my way along the hallway and into the kitchen. My brothers are waiting there, faces grim as they talk in hushed tones. Bishop is leaning against the counter, sipping coffee like it’s a casual Sunday morning, while Rook is double-checking his weapon, as if it’s a fidget toy.

Neither of them comment on my late arrival, or mention whether they could hear Eva's soft cries of pleasure earlier. Their focus is on the upcoming job.

"Transport is ready." Bishop checks his watch. "Guards change in forty minutes. If we’re going to do this tonight, we need to leave now. Are we waiting for Eva?”

I shake my head. “She’s asleep. Let’s keep it that way.”

"She’s going to lose her shit with you when she wakes up." Rook's observation carries no judgment, just fact. “What about Victor?”

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