Page 80 of Hunted to Be Mine
“And if something goes wrong?”
“It won’t.”
“Specter.”
He set the spoon down. “If it does, you call Damon. Tell him everything. Then you stay put until he gets you.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Yes, you are.” No room for debate in his tone. “If I’m compromised, you’re no help to me captured or dead. You get out with Damon.”
I wanted to argue, but it was sound. We both knew it. “Fine. But that isn’t happening, got it? You’re going in, getting what we need, and returning.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The ghost of a smile.
I slid into the chair across from him and watched him finish the soup. His color was better. The tremors had eased. When he set the empty bowl aside, I reached for his hand.
“I’m still not happy about this.”
“I know.” He turned his hand and laced our fingers. “But it’s the right move. We need to know what’s in that warehouse.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful. Actually careful. Not operative careful.”
His thumb moved slow circles on my palm. “I promise.” He lifted our joined hands and brushed a kiss over my knuckles. “I’ll come back to you, Selina.”
Something in me pulled hard. This was the man under the conditioning—the one who could hold me like I mattered and plan a break-in in the same breath.
“You better. Or I’ll have to come after you myself.”
His eyes darkened. “Don’t even joke about that.”
“Who’s joking? If you think I came this far to lose you now, you don’t know me.”
He stood, pulled me up, and brought me in. I went without fighting it, pressing my face to his shoulder. He smelled like hotel soap.
“I do know you,” he said into my hair. “Better than I know myself sometimes.”
With a reluctant breath, I stepped back.
“Your jacket’s still soaked.” I nodded at the dripping outerwear. “You’ll freeze out there.”
He zipped up the black hoodie and checked his watch. “Not a problem.”
“It’s barely above freezing, and you’re going to be still for hours. You need—”
He glanced toward the hall, a quick, mischievous look in his eyes. “I saw a spare on a doorknob a few doors down. Perfect.”
I stared. “You’re going to steal someone’s jacket?”
“Borrow.” His mouth twitched. “I’ll return it.”
“In what condition?”
“Better than I found it.”
Despite everything, my mouth tugged up. “How’s that?”
“The owner will appreciate it more once they realize it went missing.” He checked the second phone’s battery. “Besides, it’s a hideous parka. I’m doing them a favor.”
