Page 55 of Every Last Breath

Spokes of fire roared overhead, back by the helm. Plumes of black smoke billowed. Flames lashed out, bright red and orange, licking the night sky. The heat bearing down on them was intense.

Castle and Reece hustled down the steps. Soot and smoke clung to them, their tactical gear singed. They’d been too close to the blast.

“Oh my God, are you guys okay?” She rushed to them, clutching each of them by the arm. Castle had scrapes on his face. Reece’s shoulder had exposed pink flesh.

“We’re walking and talking. We’re solid,” said Castle. “But the blast fried our comms.”

“Your shoulder, Reece.” Maddox glanced at the bruised area.

He winced and wiped his face clean of expression just as quickly. “Looks worse than it feels.” A familiar phrase they used to distract from injuries. “Is the weapon contained?”

“No.” Maddox shook her head with disgust. “Aleksander Novak—the man posing as Kassar—got away with it.”

“Damn it.” Castle pounded the air with a fist. “We had him in our sights. If it hadn’t been for the explosion, we could’ve taken the helo out.”

They made their way toward the helicopter.

“You okay?” Reece asked her. “Sounded like you were caught in the thick of a nasty scuffle. We lost your comms right before the explosion.”

Cole snatched Maddox by her arm, bringing her to a stop. His grip was so tight, it nearly hurt. “I told you to wait for me.” He jostled her with a firm, unnerving shake. “He could’ve killed you.”

Everything flooded back in a rush. The pressure. The pain. The fear.

She’d clawed, fought. Prayed. Her airway shut off.

Remember this mercy, Agent Maddox Kinkade.

Oh God, the Ghost knew her name. She didn’t want that man to know anything about her. She shuddered, unable to speak one word about the fight that had nearly claimed her life.

She was broken out of her thoughts by Cole cradling her face in his hands. He caressed her cheeks, his eyes wide with concern. “I told you to stay away from that scary motherfucker.”

For just a second, she wanted to fall into his arms and take a deep, long breath. Admit she’d been scared. Terrified. But there was no room to be soft. She slapped Cole’s hands away.

Castle clamped a palm down on her shoulder and yanked her gaze toward him. “And I told you to listen to Lover Boy.” Castle eyed Cole. “This once. Just to be clear.”

Allowing the job to become personal was always a mistake. Yet there was no other way to take this sexist bullshit. “I’m more than your little sister.” She glared at Cole. “And I’m more than your…”

His what?

His past.

The only reason they were standing side by side in the present was because of this mission. Not because he needed her. Or had come to find her. Or had bothered to pick up the phone.

She wrenched free of their grasps. “I’m an operative like you, Castle, and you, Reece.”

“Don’t drag me into this chauvinistic crap.” Reece raised his hands. “I know you can handle yourself, Maddox. You can shoot, stab, and snap necks alongside the best of us. I’ve got no issue with you covering my back on anything.”

Castle eyed him. “Not helpful.”

Reece cut his gaze back to Maddox. “I’ve got your back. Without question.”

She gave a nod of appreciation for the support. She could rely on ever-ready Reece, no matter what.

Castle heaved a deep breath. “You’re a good operative, Maddox. Solid as they come. I’ve only worried about you on a mission twice. Your very first time, you had your cherry plucked on a real nasty one. You proved you could handle it. The only other assignment to concern me is this one.” He shot a steely glance at Cole, then looked back at her. “I warned you the same as I would’ve Reaper or Reece. Novak killed a really good officer. The things he’s reportedly accomplished took serious skill. I’m talking sharp. We need to take him as a team.”

Castle thought of her as good, solid. She’d had no idea, since he steered clear of her for some reason. Her chest filled with the kind of warmth she hadn’t felt since their father had given her an attaboy.

She wanted to give Castle a hug, but they weren’t big on mush. “We’ll take him as a team.”