Page 65 of Every Last Breath

9:46 a.m. EDT

Face upturned to the blazing sun, eyes closed, ankles crossed, Cole leaned back on his bike in the Gray Box parking lot. He adjusted the Glock holstered under his arm, doing his best not to melt in this godforsaken heat wave.

He’d replayed last night in his head a hundred times. Not the bits about them nearly dying. The juicy bits about making love with Maddox, holding her like she was still his. And that final, tender kiss she’d given him that had shifted the tectonic plates of his reality. How it’d soothed him and destroyed him at the same damn time.

He didn’t know what in the hell to do with it all, but he was done bullshitting himself.

His desire to see her, to be with her, had never waned. For nine miserable years, what-ifs had plagued him, keeping him up at night. What if she had moved on? What if she loved someone else?

He rubbed his chest at the sudden ache.

A couple of hours ago, he’d swung by her place, but Knox’s truck—Cole spat on the ground—was already gone, so he had headed straight for the spy center. Despite how she’d baited and hooked him and tried to toss him aside, he understood what she and her covert crew were fighting for. As worthy causes ranked, hers topped the list.

When Maddox left to track down the Ghost, he’d be with her, regardless of her insistence that he sit this out. She was smart and bold and more badass than he had ever imagined, but he couldn’t let her face Aleksander Novak without him.

A low creak squeezed from the front doors. Adjusting his Ray-Bans, he pitched his head forward and opened his eyes. Maddox and Reece came into view as they approached, followed by Castle and Gideon.

Her riot of curls was roped back into a ponytail, tension cascading off her stiff shoulders.

“Good morning, sunshine.” He tossed the words like a softball, as if the chasm of unresolved pain and anger separating them didn’t exist.

Her feet stuttered. Must’ve caught her off guard using the pet name she used to love.

Somehow, sunshine didn’t fit her anymore. He needed to look up the name for a monster star that burned ten million times brighter than the sun. That’s what she was now.

“What are you doing here?” Her sharp question cracked the air like the lash of a whip.

“Since you didn’t revoke my access, I figured you came to your senses about letting me help.” The only thing he knew for certain was that he was going to help her stop Novak.

Whether she liked it or not. Even if it was the last thing he ever did.

“I told you,” she said, “you’re done. I can’t allow you to risk your life helping us again.”

Allow? Did she really think she could stop him?

She wore her bossy pants well, but he didn’t take orders.

Smiling, Cole adjusted his sunglasses. “I guess you forgot. I’m a member of the band.”

She folded her arms. “Well, we can do just fine without you, Ringo.”

Chuckling, Castle gave a nod of approval. “Now, that’s the first sensible thing I think I’ve ever heard you say about Lover Boy.”

Gritting his teeth, Cole let the “Lover Boy” crap slide. If he let Castle see it bothered him, the fucker would only give him more shit.

“Nah, you’re giving him way too much credit.” Reece rested a forearm on Maddox’s shoulder, half-cocked grin showing pearly whites. “He’s more of a Pete Best.”

Gideon scratched his trim, blond beard. “Who?”

“My point exactly.” Reece’s grin deepened to a bright smile.

“I’m not asking permission. I’m helping you catch this guy.” Cole thrust his helmet toward her. “The bike is faster, and we don’t have time to waste.”

“We’re not getting more tactical support from in there.” Castle threw a nod at the Gray Box. “I’m sure he can do something useful—carry your gun or fetch you a coffee.”

Cole rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses.

“An extra body on this would be good,” Gideon added, “but we can manage without him. Your call.”