Page 24 of Hunted Hearts
“He and Aspen are staying in his Tahoe house for a few more days, then they’ll be home.” Denver seemed to be studying Theo’s face too hard, as if searching for something he wasn’t saying.
“Shoot straight, brother.”
Denver got to the point. “That phone call you took back at the cabin. What was that about?”
Theo kept his eyes forward. “Why?”
“You didn’t say a word. I figured it was personal, but…” Denver paused, then glanced around. “Was it about Blackout Charlie? Someone trying to pull you back in?”
Theo adjusted his jacket, tone flat. “No.”
“Then what?”
He scanned the area, making sure they were alone before answering. “A note I was handed back at the embassy. Trafficking routes. I passed it up the chain. Nothing more to it.”
“And you’re not getting pulled back for this? Not leaving again?”
Theo met his gaze, steady. “No. I’m done leaving. Not for Blackout, not for the Navy, not for anyone. I’m here—with the family, with the team at the moment. Final word on it.”
Denver’s grin was genuine. “Damn, that makes me happy. Whole family together again, finally.”
Theo allowed the faintest smirk. “Careful, Malone. You’re getting soft.”
Denver chuckled. “Your time’s coming, brother.”
He ignored that comment and reached for the door handle. “I’m going to brief Juliette’s team.”
When they entered the dressing room, Juliette was standing in front of a tall mirror as her stylist fussed with the final touches on her gown. The deep emerald silk skimmed her figure like it had been poured on, the slit at her thigh revealing just enough to make Theo’s chest tighten. Her hair hung in smooth waves over one shoulder, catching the soft golden lights of the room.
She turned as they entered, her expression calm but her eyes keener than usual.
Tension tucked beneath the polish.
Theo crossed the room to her. As he approached, he caught a hint of something sweet. On guard, he swept the room with a glance. “Did you receive flowers again?”
The members of her team seated in various spots looked confused.
“I smell flowers.”
“Oh,” her stylist spoke up, “that’s just Juliette’s perfume.”
Theo felt his chest inflate as he filled his nose with the scent again. Yesterday it was the earthy scent. Today flowers. Dammit, he was way out of his element. Enemy lines and sniper sights he understood. Not perfume.
He reached into a pocket and pulled out a small black case. He held it out to her.
Eyes the color of the sea off the coast roamed over the object. “What is that?”
“A comms device. You place it in your ear—”
She was already shaking her head before he got the words out. “I can’t put anything in my ear. I have to hear myself play.”
He gritted his back teeth. “I need to communicate with you in the event something happens while you’re onstage.”
She shook her head. “I can’t do that. And I really hope you won’t be standing off to the side like you were last night. It was…distracting.”
Through tight lips, he said, “I will be near you. No argument.”
She turned back toward her mirror, dismissing him but not arguing either.
