Page 73 of Killer Secrets (Tempting SEALs 5)

He lowered his head and ran his fingers through his hair before staring at the rise once again. She was too important. He had known that the moment he realized she was covering his ass in that warehouse. Hell, he had known it eight months before in Atlanta during the operation to protect Kell Krieger's woman.

He was screwed.

He flipped up the secure sat phone he held in his hand and keyed in Macey's number.

"Fuck-tard." Macey's voice came over the line, savagely quiet. "'Bout time you called."

"I have a shipment that needs to go out," he said firmly, closing his eyes at the thought of sending Kira away. "Are you available?"

"If it's raven-haired with a marksman rating, then you can fuck yourself," Macey growled. "I'm not touching that one."

That wasn't relief he was feeling.

"Why are you here then?" he asked. "Take the shot if that's what this is all about. Save us the trouble later."

Ian leaned back in the chair and opened himself to any shot anyone might want to take. He couldn't be certain why Durango team was there, but if this was all they wanted, then screw it. He was tired of the blood and the death, and he was tired of regret. SEALs didn't forgive betrayal from one of their own. And Ian didn't blame them.

"Killer Secrets." Macey reminded him of the code word he had given Kira. "And we got your message via Kira. Tell me, Ian, what part of friends don't you understand? Do you think I'm going to snipe your stupid ass while you're sipping your morning coffee and your woman is standing in the door watching you as though her heart were broken?"

Ian turned his head.

Whatever expression Kira may have had on her face cleared instantly, but her eyes were still somber, questioning.

"Hang for the commander," Macey announced.

"Lieutenant Richards, I'm going to kick your ass to hell and back when this is over." Reno came over the line, his quiet voice echoing with anger. "Where do we meet and when?"

"No meet." Ian lowered his voice further, never breaking Kira's gaze. "No chance."

"Unacceptable," Reno informed him coldly. "Take your woman on a ride. You know our location."

The connection broke.

Ian blew out a breath roughly as he shook his head. That was a meet he wasn't about to make. There were too many eyes watching, too many ways he could compromise what he was doing.

He stared out at the rock outcropping once again.

"No chance in getting rid of you, is there?" He sighed.

"Not on a bet." Her voice was somber.

"It would kill me if anything happened to you." He admitted that, and even more privately, he realized it would destroy what was left of his soul. And there wasn't a whole lot of that left.

"I won't walk away, Ian. I won't be forced away. If you wanted to try that, then you should have done it before last night."

Hell yes, he should have.

"Ian, I'm not an innocent bystander here," she continued as she moved to him.

She took the coffee cup from his hand and set it on the small table at his side before sliding onto his lap. She wore one of his silk shirts. The material slid over his flesh, warmed by her skin and carrying her scent now.

He couldn't help but surround her with his arms and hold her close to his chest.

"I'm well trained," she whispered in his ear. "I'm fully qualified to walk by your side, don't pretend otherwise."

He cupped her head and held it to his shoulder, bending his head to her, his lips close to hers, his gaze holding hers as he spoke.

"If I lost you here, it would destroy what's left of my soul."

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