Page 63 of No Mistake

The uneasy feeling grew. He checked the cameras on the outside of the house, but all was quiet. It was two in the morning. Something wasn't right, he could feel it.

Perez, Juan, and Diego were in the kitchen. His own men were either sleeping or on watch outside. Luis and Chloe were in their rooms. Tracer climbed the stairs, knocked on Luis’s door, and entered.

Luis was on the phone but waved him in as he ended the call.

“What is it?” Luis asked.

“We need to change the plan.”

SOPHIE WOKE, TAKING a moment to remember where she was. It was still dark and, as her eyes adjusted, she looked beside her, but the bed was empty. Getting up, she made her way downstairs, hearing the TV on in the lounge.

“Hey, honey.” Ryan said. He lay on the couch and had taken off his t-shirt. With the light of the TV, she could make out his muscular torso, tattooed arms and the sweatpants low on his hips. That view certainly took her mind off things.

“Hey,” she said sleepily, standing at the end of the couch. “What time is it?”

“A little after two. Too early to be up.”

“Why didn’t you come back to bed?” Goddamn it, that was her little insecure voice talking. Thinking he didn’t want to be there. As if reading her mind, he sat up, held out his hand; she took it.

“I wanted to come back to bed, more than anything. But I was on and off with my team through the night, and I’m expecting another call. I wanted to let you sleep. If I had my way, I would take you back to bed right now. And not to sleep. The only thing that is stopping me is this situation. Because when I make love to you for the first time, the only thing your mind is going to be focused on is me. Got it?”

Sophie’s mouth went dry. Her body temperature soared, and she squeezed her thighs together to stop the throbbing.

“Got it?” he repeated.

“Got it,” she whispered, her eyes involuntarily swept over his bare chest, down to his...

“Earth to Sophie?”

Sophie shook her head, realizing she’d been staring.

“Sorry. I was miles away.”

“Thinking about what?”

“You,” she answered honestly.

“Well, that’s nice. And what was I doing?”

She rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t thinking about that.”

“Liar.” He grinned. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thank you. I’ll get out of your way, let you watch TV or sleep, or whatever...” She waved her hand feeling lost. She wanted to go home. She wanted to go to work. She wanted Chloe back. She turned away as the tears came.

“Hey!” Ryan jumped up, tightening his grip on her hand. “You are not in my way. Never. Come here.” He tugged her gently toward him, and she went willingly into the comfort of his arms.

“I hate this, Ryan. The not knowing. I just want to get back to normal.”

“I know, honey.” He stroked her hair.

“And there I am being ungrateful again, when all you’re doing is trying to help. Sorry.”

“You’re not being ungrateful. Your sister was kidnapped. You were shot at. You’ve been forced out of your home. You can’t go to work. It’s OK to feel upset and frustrated.”

“I can’t lose her, Ryan.” She tried to stifle a sob. Ryan moved his hands to cup her face.

“You’re not going to lose her. I swear, Sophie. My team won’t let that happen.”

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