Page 68 of No Going Back

“That’s the idea.” A high-profile society wedding demanded her presence at the hotel from 6 a.m.

“So what’s keeping you awake?”

Maddie sat up and hugged her knees. “I was with Ros this afternoon. I ended up giving her the edited highlights about our past and the Bratva. I tried not to, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“That’s Ros for you.” Guy paused in the middle of removing his shirt. An approving smile softened his patrician features. “I’m glad you talked. You’re not the only one who’s had enough of secrets.”

Pain squeezed her heart. “I didn’t tell her about Natalya.”

“It’s all right. There are some things best kept between us.”

Maddie relaxed. “There’s one more thing—Ros offered me a job. She didn’t go into specifics, but she said there’s a place for me at Spectrum.”

Guy sat beside her on the bed, leaned over, and kissed her. “There is—if you want it.”

“Because I’m your girlfriend?”

The arched eyebrow spelled trouble, most likely for her butt. He cupped her cheek in his palm. “First of all, ‘girlfriend’ doesn’t come anywhere near to describing what you are to me, but we’ll deal with that later. There’s a place for you with Spectrum, because I remember a highly skilled intelligence analyst who specialised in the Eastern Bloc, Russia in particular. You know the company’s remit is changing. We need your expertise.”

“Even though it’s out of date?”

“That’s your best argument?”

He and Ros clearly shared the same script. “That’s about it, yeah.”

He shook his head. “Weak, Ms. Scott. Very weak. You’re not going to convince me that way.”

“Huh. Ros wasn’t convinced, either.”

But did she want to convince them? That was the question. She was proud of what she’d accomplished during her time as the hotel’s events manager. And yet, as she looked around her bedroom, Maddie realised she had precious little to show for the last few years. Being around Guy and Ros—and the other members of Spectrum—had set her pulse beating with addictive excitement.

“I’d probably have to convince myself fully first. I walked—no, I ran away from intelligence work when I came back from Russia. Once Yana had her new life and my new identity was created, that was it—the end. All cut and dried. Except now, it’s not.”

“Oh? Does that mean what I think it means?”

“If you think it means I’m interested, then the answer’s yes, I’m interested, even though part of me doesn’t want to be. And I need to make sure Yana’s safe first.”

“Couldn’t you convince yourself and make sure Yana’s safe at the same time?”

That was the question she’d been avoiding. She still wasn’t ready to answer, so she took the easy way out. “Have you made any progress with those vehicle sightings?”

Guy gave her a long, soul-piercing look. “Okay, you can change the subject for now.” He shook his head. “Still working on it. The number plates were false, and no one’s spotted them for the last couple of days. They’ve either gone to ground or left the area. We’ll get to the bottom of it—but not right now. I’m going to take a shower, and when I get back, I’m going to hold you until you fall asleep.

“But rest assured, Maddie mine, you won’t avoid that question forever.”

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Around twenty-four hours later, with another couple happily married and their reception finally winding down, Maddie headed back to her quarters, so exhausted that every step seemed to require a Herculean effort.

Although the day had passed without a hitch, the lead-up to it hadn’t. To support both her team and the wider hotel staff, she’d made herself available all day, in case there were any unforeseen issues. Excellent preparation had saved the day.

As she made her way through the hotel, in the quiet of the small hours, she wished Guy were waiting for her. Before she’d left him that morning, he’d told her he’d have a surprise for her the next time she saw him, but given her no clue as to when that might be. Knowing the man as she did, the best way to prepare for that surprise was probably a good night’s sleep. Although after the day she’d just survived, a few relaxing, unexciting hours in his company was top of her wish list.

Ready to fall straight into bed, Maddie kicked off her shoes as soon as she reached the sanctuary of her rooms. She didn’t even bother to switch on the light. She’d have loved to soak in a hot bath, but waiting for it to fill was a poor alternative to collapsing into bed.

As she went to unfasten the second button on her no-longer-pristine white blouse, a noise came from the direction of the bathroom. In that instant, her senses went on high alert and her old instincts kicked in with a vengeance. Acting on those instincts, one hand sought the firearm she hadn’t carried in years. Before she could make a grab for any kind of substitute weapon, the door that led to her bathroom opened. Light spilled out, and in the rectangle formed by the doorway, there appeared the silhouette of a male intruder.

Maddie’s system flooded with adrenaline. She wasn’t going down without a fight.