After they were a good distance from the office, he threw a glance at Denver.
“That injury in Italy…it’s still bothering you.”
Denver stopped walking, giving him a long, long look.
Chase went on high alert. “How many head injuries have you had in your military career?”
“Four.”
Shit.
“And your childhood?”
“Two.”
“You need to see a medical professional.”
Denver waved a hand. “I’m good. So what if my ears ring sometimes? We all have that from shooting and bombs exploding beside us.”
Chase gave Denver a nod as they reached the base of the stairs leading to their sleeping quarters, his mind already checked out of the debriefing. His focus was split between worry for Denver—whose cocky deflection didn’t fool him for a second—and a pulsing need to find Alyssa.
As he mounted the stairs, he ran over what he’d seen. Denver might be good at hiding things, but Chase saw the flicker in his eyes, the way his balance was off just slightly.
That head injury was a ticking bomb, and it worried the hell out of him.
But right now, Alyssa was about to walk into an interrogation to face her assistant, who had been one message away from delivering her directly into the hands of Cypher.
She’d do it with the cool poise she did everything with, but he knew her. And it would shatter her if they found out that Kennedy betrayed her.
He rounded the corner and spotted Sophie exiting a room. She saw him and paused before pulling the door completely shut.
Slowing his steps, he approached Sophie. “How is she?” he asked quietly.
“A rock.”
He nodded, expecting nothing less from his ambassador. The love of his goddamn life.
Sophie’s eyes warmed as she stepped aside to give him access to the room. “Take care of her.”
The breath in his lungs heated another degree. “I intend to.”
The words were out there, hovering in the air, before he could pull them back.
Hell, he didn’t even want to.
Sophie started to turn away, but he caught her arm. “Sophie…”
“Yes, Chase?” A small smile played around her lips and made her eyes twinkle.
“I love her.”
Her smile widened, and her eyes lit up with joy. For him. For them.
“I know.”
He nodded and drew in a deep breath before he opened the door. When he saw Alyssa standing across the expansive room, his heart flexed. In a few steps, he pulled her into his arms, yanking her flush against him and claiming her mouth all in one move.
A soft noise broke from her. She threw her arms around his neck, dragging him down, heightening the kiss. The swirl of their tongues increased in fervor until they were both gasping.