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“Correct.”
As was Colin, who said in his thick Scottish accent, “Come along now, you two. Car’s awaiting.”
The trio rushed along the walkway, weaving their way through the gathering throng of people and climbing into the back of a black Hummer.
Damen had no doubt this wasn’t the only team from the terrorists’ side to be in pursuit of him and Nikki. But there was already a barricade set up to slow the traffic in their wake, once they cleared the city limits, and that would give them wide berth to get onto the ops campus and under that umbrella of protection.
They traveled mostly in silence, with Damen keeping an eye on his phone map to stay abreast of more agents clearing their path.
Beside him, Nikki fidgeted restlessly, anxiously. Caught herself. Stilled. Then absently fidgeted some more.
Every fiber of his being wished he could just drop her off at the airport with a ticket to Switzerland and let her go about her business.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He really didn’t want to let her out of his sight. Nor did he want her anymore entangled and entrapped in this precarious situation.
Most conversely and contradictory of all? He’d be lying if he didn’t admit, even if just to himself, that he was somewhat grateful and relieved Garcia had taken the action she had. So that Nikki had ended up in Damen’s care. And in his bed.
A double-edged sword he kept under his proverbial hat.
When they were out of town and in the hills, he finally spared another glance at Nikki.
She appeared deep in thought—and he’d give up just about everything he owned to know what she was mentally ruminating over.
Certainly, she was well-trained in emergency situations to keep a cool head. That didn’t necessarily mean the woman had nerves of steel.
Damen wouldn’t expect her to; though, she was absolutely a force to be reckoned with, and he admired her spirit. He prayed he didn’t damage it further with any sort of mishap regarding her computer—and the life she kept on it.
He wasn’t quite sure he’d ever forgive himself for destroying her precious memories…and wouldn’t be surprised if she felt the same toward him.
Nikki was internally berating herself for not spending more time on the street, ensuring everyone was okay and that no one needed medical attention.
Yes, she’d performed a thorough visual assessment of the scene. But there were always delayed reactions to take into consideration, not to mention the first signs of traumatic stress that could be exacerbated when not immediately tended to.
All of her training had urged her to stay where she was. Survival mode, however, had insisted she go with Damen.
First responders had already been on their way, she reminded herself. Not that that fully let her off the hook. She was a medical professional and had an ethical duty to uphold.
Still. She knew it’d been too dangerous for her to linger any longer. If she was in jeopardy, didn’t her mere presence run the potential of putting others’ lives at risk? One of those terrorists could have taken a shot at her—and missed.
A shudder ran through her.
Being shot at was agonizing enough to reconcile. Knowing she created peril to others jangled her nerves even more.
Sensing her unease and conflicting emotions, Damen reached over and his hand covered hers, resting in the space between them. His fingertips curled around her wrist.
Her pulse was erratic and she feared he’d feel it trying to jump right out of her skin.
She willed herself to get a grip and be calm. She’d been in deadly situations before, after all.
Granted, the majority of them had been simulated during her training, and then the other occupational hazards had been primarily Mother Nature’s doing, not someone pointing a loaded gun at her.
Though those explosions in Mexico City had certainly made her wary of penthouse suites in high-rise hotels.
At the moment, she couldn’t deny she was wary, in general.
She had no control over what was currently happening to her and that was not something Nikki was accustomed to.
More than that… She knew every second that her life was on the line, it was tearing Damen apart.
