Page 26 of Midnight Caress

He’d transcribe the password somewhere super safe and then destroy the slip of paper.

“Everything I just told you, every scrap of intel, my program, the NSO videos, my commentary, it’s all on the site. Everything. Just in case—” her voice turned hoarse. She stopped for a moment, then cleared her throat. “Just in case something happens to me. Don’t let them get away with this. They might be willing to lead us into Armageddon for a cover-up. So if anything happens, go after them with everything you’ve got.”

The hell with what Black might think. Pierce picked up her hand. It was ice cold. “We will.”

Her voice turned fierce, those light eyes glowing. “Promise me.”

“Promise.”

She turned to Black who nodded. “Promise.”

Their promises carried weight. Pierce was at ease promising his own support and the backing of his company, which was strong and resourceful. Black’s promise was powerful too. He would never promise something he wouldn’t deliver, and his company was one of the biggest security companies in the world.

Tears shone in Riley’s eyes. “Okay,” she whispered. “Okay. Thank you. These people need to be brought down.”

And suddenly, Pierce saw it. Riley was a warrior, just as much as he and Raul and his teammates were. As much as Black was. She wasn’t trained to shoot and fight, but she had a warrior’s heart. Her mouth was set, her eyes glowed with purpose. She had clearly taken into account as a possibility her own death. Just as Pierce did, and Raul and the others. You go into a mission willing to give it your all, aware that you might die. Accepting that.

Riley was fully aware of the forces arrayed against her, a wall of bad guys and the forces of law and order. Gunning for her.

On her side, ASI and Black Inc. But above all, her sense of right and wrong. And though she didn’t have muscle power, she had formidable brain power and she was backed by her friends—three women who were the smartest people he knew.

Riley clearly felt this was her mission, and she was going to give it her all, and if that included her life, so be it.

However …

Over his dead body.

Pierce sensed Black was moved by her words, too. Black wasn’t attracted to her the way Pierce was, and he wasn’t friends with her friends, though Emma had recently saved his life. But he could recognize courage and honor. Black was a patriot through and through, and understood the consequences of the Sommers group winning.

Including possible war with a super power.

They could count on Black to the bitter end.

Black stood. Riley craned her neck to look him in the face.

“Riley.”

“Sir?”

“Jacob.”

“Okay, Jacob.”

“We’re all going to do our very best to stop this. You’ve given us an amazing array of weapons, and I thank you. You’ve gathered these weapons at great cost to yourself. I know you must feel like you’ve lost everything—your job, your friend, everything in your life—but trust me when I say we’ll move heaven and earth to make sure things work out for you.”

She nodded, but looked like she didn’t believe him.

“I’m going to start making some calls, and tomorrow we’ll meet with the Crisis Group in the Pentagon. In the meantime, I’m stationing operators frontandback, and they’ll be scouting the perimeter on foot. You and Pierce will be as safe as possible here. On my way out, I’ll have a good restaurant nearby send you some food. So have a nice meal and rest, both of you, because the next few days are going to be turbulent. Drink some wine, relax. You’re safe.”

“Yes, si—Yes, Jacob.”

A slight smile crossed his austere face. “Do you like Italian?”

“Love it.”

“Do you eat meat?”

“Absolutely.”

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