Page 63 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost
His expression softens slightly as we head back to the elevator, and for a moment, I see a glimpse of the man behind the mercenaryfaçade.
"It's not easy," he says, his low voice carrying a hint of weariness. "But at the end of the day, it's just a job."
I nod slowly, processing his words. Just a job. As if running covert operations and taking on dangerous contracts is as mundane as filing paperwork. But I can sense there's more to it than he's letting on. The way he moves, always alert, always ready—this isn't just a paycheck for him. It's a calling.
As the elevator doors close behind us, I wonder what I've gotten myself into. And more importantly, how deep I'm willing to go to uncover the truth.
The elevator hums as we ascend, my mind still reeling from everything I've seen.
I take a deep breath. "I think," I say slowly, "this is so much more than what I bargained for."
Holy Shit. This is really happening—I'm about to start working with a secret mercenary team.The elevator begins its ascent, and Kade turns to me, holding out a small plastic card.
"This access card will give you entry to most areas of the building," he says, his voice low. "Don't make me regret this."
As I reach for the card, our fingers brush. A crackling current surges up my arm the moment we touch, causing my head to whip upward until I lock eyes with his. For a moment, neither of us moves. I'm acutely aware of how close we're standing in the confined space of the elevator.
"And if I do make you regret it?" I ask, unable to resist challenging him.
His eyes darken. "Then I'll have to teach you a lesson, little hellcat." The words hang in the air between us, heavy with promise.
Clearing my throat, I take the card and breaking contact. "I won't let you down."
The elevator dings, breaking the tension. Kade leads me down a hallway to a large corner office.
"This is Roman's office," he explains, pushing open the heavy wooden door. "It's yours for now."
I step inside, taking in the spacious room with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. A sleek desk dominates one wall, and I spot my personal belongings neatly arranged on a side table.
"You had my things picked up." An unexpected wave of comfort washes through me at seeing my belongings here.
Kade nods. "Jax had them retrieved from your apartment."
I walk over to the table, running my hand over my familiar laptop case. It's a thoughtful gesture, and it helps ground me in this unfamiliar environment.
"Thank you," I say softly.
Kade digs in his pocket and takes out a phone, holding it out to me. "This is yours now. It's got top-level security and can't be traced. Use it to get in touch with me or anyone else on the team if you need something. We're all in your contacts."
He pauses, then adds, "However, there's a specialized tracker in it. Makes it simple for us to find each other if we ever get split up."
I take the phone, our fingers brushing again. This time, I'm better prepared for the spark of awareness, but it still catches me a bit off guard.
"So you can keep tabs on me, you mean," I say, raising an eyebrow.
"That's one way of looking at it," Kade admits, unrepentant. "I like knowing where my assets are."
The way he says "assets" makes it clear he's not talking about equipment.
"I'm meeting with the team now, but we'll all be around if you need us," Kade continues, his expression growing serious. "One more thing—never open a door to anyone you don't recognize. It's just a precaution."
I raise an eyebrow. "Even with the special access needed to get up here?"
"Even then," he says, grimly. "We can't be too careful. If anyone tries to force their way in, use the panic button under the desk. I'll break down the door."
The wink Kade gives me sends heat rushing to my cheeks. My mind flashes back to that night at the first safe house, when he practically tore the door off its hinges to get to me.
The memory of his hands and mouth on my body, making me cry out and tremble with release, burns vividly in my thoughts. My face flushes more, and that smug bastard notices immediately.
