Page 29 of Oliver

River

Viktor didn’t talk.

Not at first.

Cyclone slammed him into the steel chair in the interrogation room downstairs. Blood smeared his jaw. His left arm hung limp from the bullet I’d put in him.

I leaned against the table. “You’ve got about thirty seconds before we let Raven do what he does best.”

Raven stood in the corner, arms crossed. Silent. He looked terrifying.

Viktor spit blood onto the floor. “You Americans always think you can scare men like me.”

Raven smiled slowly. “Who said we were trying to scare you?”

Viktor's eyes flicked to the door as Gage stepped in.

“Tag’s alive,” Gage said. “Found him behind the generator. Tied up. Unconscious. He’s lucky to be breathing.”

Cyclone turned to Viktor. “So you neutralized perimeter security, infiltrated a SEAL-grade safe house, and still lost the girl. Not exactly a career highlight.”

“She saw something,” Viktor muttered. “She wasn’t supposed to.”

“What was it?” I asked.

Viktor smiled through cracked lips. “Trade secrets.”

Cyclone slammed a hand down on the table, making the whole room jump. “You grabbed a U.S. Olympic swimmer on U.S. soil and dragged her overseas. That wasn’t a rogue job. That wasbacked.Who’s paying you?”

Viktor looked at me—then grinned. “You’ll find out when it’s too late.”

My fist tightened.

I didn’t like threats.

But we were getting close.

Too close.

And someone was still out there pulling strings.

17

Oliver

Ididn’t go with them.

Emery needed me.

And the second I closed the panic room door behind us, I knew something had shifted.

The fear had burned off.

Only fire remained.

I walked to where Emery stood and gathered her in my arms. I bent my head and kissed her. She sighed against my lips and murmured my name. I almost melted into a pool of liquid fire when my lips touched her soft, sweet lips. First, I was gentle, but my hot-blooded instincts took over when her arms went around my neck.

I have never wanted any woman as I wanted Emery. The only thought in my head right now was her under me naked.

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