Page 63 of Rogue Voice

It’s not like he had much choice. The plan had been agreed, the wheels had been put in motion. But Rogue would keep her safe—whatever it took. Rogue pulled her closer against him.

“We’ll be in Antwerp in a few hours,” he said. “We’ll figure it out together.”

“And your friends will meet us there?”

Rogue nodded. The entire team would meet in Antwerp, with the exception of Ash, who’d been instructed to stay back this time around. Dark and Slate had left Panama ahead of them, in a private jet. Griffin was driving from Zurich, so would be there soon. Even Thorne was traveling to meet them, and he never joined them out in the field. But then, he had the best contacts at Interpol.

Rogue had thought of researching Thorne’s background multiple times but had always stopped himself at the last minute because he wasn’t sure he wanted to know their handler’s past, and because, as good as Rogue was with computers, he didn’t want it getting back to Thorne. That was trouble he didn’t need in his life.

Rogue looked down to find Bea’s small fingers gripping his hand. “It’s going to be okay, isn’t it, Rogue?” she asked, sounding scared.

Rogue held her hand as tight as he dared.

It will if I have anything to do with it.

He would protect her with his life.

“If you’re having second thoughts, we can find another way, Bea.”

She shook her head. “No. I want to do this. I’m sure of this. It’s just … I’m also scared.”

“I promise we’ll protect you, Bea.”

“I know that. But I don’t want you to get hurt, either. I wish … I wish this were all over.”

For an instant, Rogue let himself imagine what would happen if it were all over. He knew whathewould want. He would want Bea with him. He’d been a fool to think he could get close to her—make love to her—and then let her go. He’d never be able to let her go. Or rather, sure, he’d let her go. He’d let her go because that was the right thing to do. Because she deserved her freedom. But he’d never—no matter how much time went by—forget her.

He’d already admitted to himself that he was falling in love with her. It was something he’d never thought could happen, and yet, it had happened. It was happening, every minute of every day.

Bea eyed him warily. “Areyouokay, Rogue?”

Rogue nodded, glad she couldn’t read his thoughts, knowing they would only serve to scare her. Now was the time to focus. Whatever the cost, he had to finish the mission and make sure Bea was safe.

28

Rogue

“Antwerp has a population of half a million people, but a harbor that’s close to one hundred and fifty square kilometers,” Agent Rahmer said, pausing for effect. Her thin lips pursed when she didn’t get the expected reaction. “That’s the largest in Europe.”

“I always thought of Antwerp as the diamond capital of the world,” Slate said. “Once, I—” The big man’s words died off, earning him a curious stare from everyone except his brother, Griffin, who pointedly looked in a different direction.

“It is,” Agent Roberts said. “That’s one of the many ways in which drug money is laundered. Thousands of tons of cocaine and heroine make their way through this harbor every year and find their way into Western Europe. It’s a market worth billions of dollars.”

Rogue ground his teeth together to stop himself from interrupting. The Interpol and DEA agent seemed to think this was a contest, to be won by the one who could spew the greatest number of facts in the shortest amount of time.

Across the table from him, Thorne took a sip of his dark coffee. The coffee was surprisingly good, taking into account the fact that the near-empty coffee shop they were sitting in wasn’t a real coffee shop. From the looks Agent Rahmer had exchanged with the barista, Rogue assumed he was also an Interpol agent.

On Thorne’s right sat Griffin, who stared at the DEA and Interpol agents coldly.

No love lost between them.Rogue knew the ex-CIA agent had worked a lot of dangerous missions over the years. There was a chance he’d come across either Rahmer or Roberts before. But if so, Griffin wasn’t talking about it.

Slate sat on Griffin’s right. Rogue allowed himself a small smile. A few months earlier, the two brothers wouldn’t have been caught dead in the same room, let alone sitting at the same table. Now, theentente cordialebetween them had grown where they could at least spend thirty minutes together without wanting to kill each other.

“Where’s the girl?” Roberts asked.

Rogue’s jaw tightened at the reference to Bea asthe girl. Before he could say anything Thorne, put his coffee down. “She’s safe. That’s all that matters.”

As usual, Thorne was the best-dressed person in the room, in a custom-made navy blue suit that looked like it cost a fortune. But Roberts wasn’t far behind. Both of them looked ready to dine with royalty.

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