They’re still alive. I can feel it in my bones, under my skin.
“Took you long enough,” I groan when I hear footsteps coming from the elevator. I don’t even need to look to know it’s them. Their souls are practically screaming.
Rage. Wrath. They’re not going to spare a single fucking soul once we find that dock.
We’ll have to move the second we get the location—no time for anyone to run. Our men are already on standby.
And I’ll be making damn sure thatVIPdoesn’t lay a single filthy finger on Roran.
I subtly adjust my pants before standing up straight, trying to conceal the proof I’m still rock-hard thanks to her.
I won’t touch her again. Not a chance. Not risking it.
“Keep lying to yourself. Let’s see where that gets you,”Myko huffs.
I jerk my head around, only to find Pedro staring at me with a smirk.
Of course, he noticed. He’d live to make it worse now.
“How did Pedro used to call you again?”I tease.“Oh, right—delusional sushi.”
“It took me forever to find that pendant in the office,” Pedro grumbles, tossing it at me.
I catch it easily and snort when I see it’s wrapped in Bay’s favorite pink handkerchief.
“You’re dead when she finds out.” I unwrap it quickly—just to make sure it’s still glowing like I feel it should—then rewrap it, stuff it into my pocket, and turn my attention back to the girls.
“Roran rides with me,” I say, pointing at her, then between Kayla and Chris. “You two ride with dad and Mariano. You know your job, right?”
Chris rolls her eyes like I just asked if the sky was blue.
“We both know I’m better than you in the field. Stop pretending I’m not.”
Mariano chuckles, and I fight the urge to laugh too.
She’s more than ready.
Roran walks toward me, careful, quiet. She won’t even lift her eyes, staring at the ground until she’s standing next to me.
Not too close—but close enough that I hear her shaky whisper. “Please don’t judge me when we get there.”
I step toward her, instinctively reaching for her chin to lift her face to mine—but stop myself just in time, yanking my hand back and jamming it into my pocket.
Ican’ttouch her. Not again.
“What exactly do you plan to do in there?” I ask, voice gruffer than intended. I tilt my head, trying to catch a glimpse of her face beneath the strands of dark blonde hair.
She takes a breath. Deep. Controlled.
“You’ll see.” She moves toward the car door behind me, but pauses.
“I know we had a deal, and that’s why I’m still alive and staying here, but please trust me. Everything I’m going to do—everything I’ve done—it’s all to protect the people I love.”
Before I can stop myself, my hand grabs her arm. I release it instantly, like it burned.
Ican’t risk it.
She follows my reaction and then finally looks at me. Like she’s hurt by it. But her eyes snap back to the ground before I can even register it fully.
