“You’re hunting for my mother there. I know you are.”
His answer is direct and already chiseled in stone. “Yes.”
Deep brown meets striking blue.
I clear my throat lightly, reserved to the fact I have to face the truth. “I understand.” And I do, but I don’t have to like it.
“I can’t lose you. In order to do this I need to know you are out of harm’s way.”
The door creaks open behind Wolfe and I turn to find Polaris poking her head into the room. She mouths, “I’m sorry,” before ducking back out.
I bet she had little say in all these plans, too.
“This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”
His hooded gaze says it all.
Wolfe falls to his knees in front of me. The mighty warrior looks torn. I hate seeing the anguish pulling him apart.
He cinches his hands around my waist, erasing the gap between us. He rests his forehead against my abdomen and inhales slowly. Those few silent moments shoot frozen dread into every inch of my heart.
“Wolfe?” I run my hands through his damp hair.
“When I return I am taking you away from here. You deserve better and I am going to give it to you.”
My heart beats against my rib cage. Taking his large hand he covers my heart. The jolt is life-altering. It’s like live wires connected to a battery and he’s the conduit. Electricity shoots through me. My heart rate jacks up.
Powerful dark eyes collide with mine. He stands, takes the gun off his chest and presses it into my hands. “Go with Polaris. She will see you downstairs. Mace will drive you to the private airport where Harlon’s plane will take the three of you to meet up with Nova.”
He’s at the door and pushing me into Polaris.
“Keep that on you at all times. And this.”
I watch him press a burner phone into my empty hand. “Only I have that number.”
Wolfe tilts my chin up. “It rings, you pick up.”
“Got it.”
“Good girl, baby.”
I sound stronger than I feel. Neither of us need me weak or scared, though my insides tremble. And frankly I’m tired of feeling helpless.
“Go, and don’t you dare get killed.”
Heat climbs up my neck and settles in my cheeks. Not because I am shy about the long drawn out kiss he plants on me, but by the fear of this being the last time I see him.
He takes the right elevator that will shoot him to the top floor while Polaris and I step into the left.
She presses the button for B2 and we drop several floors down.
I will not cry, damn it.
I am not ready to admit how deeply gone I am over Wolfe. Polaris doesn’t pry but the way she bumps her shoulder against mine and that one gesture says a million things without a single word. She understands and that kind of friendship is priceless.
I breathe heavily through my nose and force my fingers not to shake as I tuck the gun into the back of my jeans. Not sexy, but I don’t want to walk around with it in my hand.
“We’re good. Let’s go help my sister deliver her baby. Everything is going to be fine.”