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Dorian opened the door and took point. “This is Hunter Four, I’m on the move with Hunter One and target.”
“We copy and have your signal on our tracker. The way is clear,” Hahn replied.
The plan was to take Tempest right through the back door. If anyone asked, they’d pretend to be inebriated and heading out for another round of partying. No one should question them too closely.
Just in case, Rook kept her face pressed toward his chest, hiding her identity from the facility security cams. Plenty of women had worn silver or white dresses tonight.
They made their way down the hall and entered the elevator. Dorian continued to watch him until Rook bit out, “What is it?”
Regret flashed in Dorian’s gaze. He glanced down at the unconscious woman then jerked his gaze away. “This is the right thing to do.”
Rook froze as realization struck. The team had heard everything. Not just the sex sharing but the intimacy afterward where Tempest opened up and shared her vulnerability with him. He’d known as she spoke that she didn’t tell her prior lovers the things she’d told him.
They’d also heard the embarrassing background of his life. Part of it anyway. No one knew the full details of that nightmare. He tightened his grasp on Tempest and shifted her weight in his arms. She was surprisingly lighter than she looked.
In the lobby, Dorian exited first and signaled all clear. He stayed on Dorian’s heels as they used the rear exit which opened onto a dark street and the recycling pump for the maintenance disposal of the building.
Heavy machinery chugged loudly on their left and a blacked out hovercraft idled to the right. The back door opened and Hahn stepped out. Rook hurried forward and slid into the back with his precious cargo settled on his lap. She curled into his chest and whimpered. Dorian hopped in and Hahn closed the door behind them. Kjar drove off as soon as the door slammed close.
Rook commed Kyele, “Target acquired and en route.”
“Copy,” Kyele replied.
They drove in silence to the transport station, Rook ignoring the questioning stares from Dorian and Hahn. The vehicle stopped at the off-world transport center. This late, there weren’t a lot of travelers coming or going. Dorian promised he’d knocked out the cameras for a tight window of time. Kyele had also done something on the backend to flag incoming and outgoing flights as full to aid in keeping their presence hidden.
“Ghost Unit clear for exit,” Kjar said from the front driver’s seat.
Dorian and Hahn climbed out the back first, heads on a swivel to see if their arrival had been noted. The empty bays echoed from their boots.
“Hunter One, you’re clear to move with package,” Hahn murmured.
Rook stepped out with Tempest in his arms. A soft moan slipped past her lips and he glanced down at her sleeping face, cradling her closer.
Her lids fluttered but she didn’t regain consciousness. According to Dorian, they had hours yet before the sedative wore off. His gaze dropped to her mouth. Lips slightly parted, they retained a puffy appearance from the frantic kisses they’d exchanged.
He inhaled subtly and drew in the light scent of her. His gut tightened. It was a smell he’d now recognize with his eyes closed. A delicate woman who wore a delicate scent enhancer playing at a game with some very powerful people.
Anger unfurled. She’d risked herself needlessly. There were laws to take care of those like Jarad and others in the crime syndicate. It wasn’t one untrained woman’s place to take on a massive undertaking of this nature. Only a fool thought they could do it on their own.
If she was truly his, he’d never let her out of his sight. He’d keep her safe and take care of any enemy she singled out. What he wouldn’t do, was let her risk her damn life needlessly.
His lips firmed on the thought and Tempest whimpered. Rook looked back down and realized he’d unknowingly clenched his hands and flexed his claws. Hurting her. Fuck. His grip eased and he let out a breath to dispel the tension building.
It didn’t work. All he could think about was the many ways those in the criminal enterprise Jarad commanded could have easily killed her. Or taken her away as he and his team members were doing. She’d been careful but not careful enough.
“Rook?”
Hahn’s voice pulled him from his dark thoughts.
“I’m good,” he muttered.
When she woke, she’d be angry. He’d deal with that. Better angry than dead.
An unmarked transport waited for them inside at an empty bay marked with the letter G. The others closed rank around Rook, keeping him in the center and hidden as much as possible.
They quickly made their way toward their covert ship. Any video footage recorded would be rendered useless due to the single nondescript bar clipped on the sleeves of their black uniforms. It emanated a continuous disruptive energy beam for electronics.
Onboard, he reluctantly secured Tempest in a corner cell reserved for the few times they were required to transport prisoners. Hahn followed and set the alarm on the door. “We need to harness in.”
