Page 62 of Lethal Salvation

“No shit.”

“Will you help me?”

“I need to think about it. Come to my office on Monday.”

Carter swept a hand through his hair, the cool, controlled adversary gone replaced by a man who was losing control and reaching for a lifeline whether he deserved it or not. Could he be that lifeline? He didn’t know but what he did know was that he needed to speak to Nadia and he needed to see her.

“I have to go.”

“Okay.”

He reached for the door and Carter stopped him with a touch on his arm, the tug on his sleeve so similar to how he’d tug on his trousers as he followed him around as a child.

“Giddy?”

The childhood nickname was one he hadn’t heard in years and all because Carter hadn’t been able to say Gideon. He closed his eyes a mountain of regret tumbling down on him. “Yes?”

“Be careful. Hansen is onto you, and he has a real hard-on for your team.”

Gideon didn’t confirm or deny his involvement or ask questions. He could ask that on Monday when he had Nadia with him to soothe the ragged edges of his frayed soul. “I’ll see you Monday.”

He left the room, taking a deep breath to ease the tightness in his chest. He had the overwhelming urge to run through the rooms, everything having changed in the last ten minutes.

“Relax, Gideon. Duchess just checked in a minute ago. Head towards the main room and she’ll be with you shortly.”

He’d thought having someone hearing him would be unsettling, but he found it strangely reassuring. He wouldn’t be completely happy until she was in his arms again, though. She’d become his true north, his guiding light, and he wondered how he’d ever gotten through life without her.

Chapter 17

The last bug planted in the main bedroom, Duchess backed out slowly, closing the door with a click. This property was huge and she knew without Gideon, his step-witch, and pathetic excuse for a father, wouldn’t be living in such luxury.

A bang made her stop as she walked past one of the other bedroom doors. Another sound like a clank of something falling to the floor made her push the door open and investigate. With so many unknowns on this job, it paid to be careful.

What she found was something she wouldn’t have expected in a hundred years.

“Lotus!”

Her friend was pressed up against the wall, her dress askew with Damon scrambling up from his knees. Her eyes found his and he looked away, his cheeks pink as he stepped to cover the woman he’d been pleasuring.

“Jesus Christ, fix your fucking dress.”

Lotus looked horrified as Duchess backed out, trying to hide her grin. As her boss, Lotus would get her ass kicked for this breach. She was here working and anyone could have walked in and found them and she would’ve been vulnerable as hell. Duchess shuddered to think about it as she bounced down the steps and saw Gideon, a panicked look on his face heading towards her.

Her heart soared at the sight of him, such a change in a few short weeks. Uncovering the man behind the suit had led to feelings she’d never expected. Lust, desire yes, but this bone-deep need to walk through fire just to see him smile proved her heart was in way over its head.

“Hey.”

He took her in his arms and held her close and she could hear his heart hammering a fast pace beneath her ear. “Is everything okay?” She stroked his broad shoulders as she assessed his face for a visual cue.

“Let’s dance and I’ll tell you.”

He towed her toward the main room and took her in his arms, dragging her close. Her dress didn’t allow the kind of contact she wanted but it did hide the arsenal of weapons she had there. “What’s up?”

He cocked his head, already looking calmer than when she’d found him. “What makes you think something is up?”

“I can just tell.” Duchess didn’t elaborate but let him move her around the dance floor.

“I’ve never known anyone who could read me like you do. It’s like my mind is an open book and you just skip to the page you want to read.”