Page 111 of Missile Strike

Better to stay grounded.

The remaining tape from her wrists dropped onto the carpet. She threaded her fingers through the damp strands of Danny’s hair and kissed him. “If that’s the way all my lessons in escape and evasion end up, I’m totally down for this.”

A crooked grin spread across his face. A real one, not the facade he slipped into so easily.

He eased her feet to the floor, then gave her a quick, firm peck on the lips.

“What’s next?” She scooted around him to gather her clothes.

The smell of sex perfumed the air. Her bed was wrecked, their clothes strewn around the room, scarves dangled from the bedposts, and her kitchen chair sat in the middle of it all.

Her stomach growled.

Danny chuckled. “Dinner. Tomorrow, we’ll move on to other escape and evasion techniques. Zip ties. Handcuffs.” He waggled his brows. “Could be fun.”

He turned to collect his pants, giving her a spectacular view of broad shoulders, a trim waist, and a firm butt—a butt with divots, for God’s sake. The man had the ass Hollywood actors would kill for.

Her mood flatlined.

In three more days, the gala would be over. Her father’s campaign would move on. Her life would return to normal.

Danny would get a new assignment.

She loved him.

The look in his eyes made her think he might love her as well, but he hadn’t said the words.

And she still wasn’t sure if she could live in his world of chaos, or if he could live in her world where everything had its place.

A piece of duct tape stuck to her foot. Lifting her leg, she peeled it off her skin and held it up, examining the torn section. Satisfaction settled through her.

Regardless of what happened between them, she wasn’t the same woman she’d been yesterday.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Danny’s shoulders tightened as Nathan’s ringtone lit up his phone the next morning. Across the living room, Bella sat curled on the couch, laptop balanced on her knees.

He pressed the phone to his ear. “What’s up?”

“I came across some information you might find interesting.” Nathan’s deep voice rumbled over the line.

Interesting from Nathan rarely meant anything good.

Bella noticed his grimace. “Something wrong?”

He shook his head. “Be right back.”

He stepped into the backyard and pulled the door shut behind him, resuming his conversation with Nathan. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“The reporter from The Charlotte Times, Olivia Flores? I had Ryan do a more thorough background check. She had a colorful history as a campus activist back in the day.” Nathan’s tone darkened. “Funny how none of it showed up in the background information the newspaper provided for her press credentials.”

“How colorful?”

“Anti-war, anti-capitalist protests. One incident stands out. She threatened a general during a university forum on the future of US defense policy. He used to head up CENTCOM, and she refused to leave the auditorium when requested by campus security.”

What the fuck? Danny tipped his head back, staring at the sky to calm the irritation crawling along the back of his neck. “How the hell did that not show up in our initial check?”

“Charges were dropped and her record sealed. But you know me, I love digging up shit someone’s tried to bury.”