Page 83 of Hidden Attraction

“Hey,” Alyssa said quietly as she crossed the room and took a seat.

Kennedy didn’t smile. Just stared at her.

Alyssa’s heart thundered. She wasn’t sure if she was walking into closure—or betrayal.

“You look like hell,” Kennedy muttered.

“So do you,” Alyssa replied, managing a faint smile.

They sat in silence for a moment.

Finally, Kennedy asked, “Do you think I did it?”

Alyssa met her gaze. “I don’t know what to think.”

That was the truth. She didn’t know. And the worst part was, a piece of her wanted to believe in Kennedy no matter what.

Kennedy’s eyes glistened. “I’d never hurt you. You know that.”

“Do I?”

The question sat like stone between them.

Alyssa swallowed. “The investigation will find the truth. I just needed to say that to your face. And to tell you…I’m stepping down.”

Kennedy’s eyes widened. “You’re serious?”

“Completely. I’m going dark.”

“Does this have anything to do with Special Operative Chase?”

The name hit her like a punch.

“I’m still a target. I need to stay off the grid. As for Special Operative Chase…Julian…Idon’t know yet. But I want to see where it leads.”

Kennedy gave a shaky nod and shakier smile. “Then go find out. And Alyssa? If they find I had anything to do with this…you do what you have to do.”

Alyssa sat frozen. Because that sounded too much like goodbye.

But she stood and walked out.

She had a future to face.

And a man she wasn’t done fighting for.

And dammit if that wasn’t the scariest—and most exhilarating—thing of all.

SEVENTEEN

The Charlie team’s SUV blasted through the city streets, taking every stretch of road a little faster, mirroring the urgency they all felt to get back to base.

Two weeks they’d spent out of country, shipped overseas on a mission to capture—or eliminate—a known arms trafficker.

Two weeks that Chase hadn’t seen Alyssa.

Hell, he wasn’t even sure if she was still on base. They’d deployed in a rush, leaving in the dead of night, and there hadn’t been time to exchange more than a few whispered promises to return before he kissed her goodbye.

Ever since the explosion at the ICE facility, he felt like Charlie team was in danger—because of him. Being with the guys, getting out as a team—and whole—gave him a little faith that what happened to Echo wouldn’t happen to Charlie.

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