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Rook had managed to cross the room to Seraphina’s side. At Jarad’s claim, fury rolled through him like a blast. Jarad had no remorse. He’d blatantly admitted to murder and his intent to kill Seraphina too. This could only end one way. Rook tapped his comm, muting it on his end.
He belonged to Ghost Unit and Ghost Unit belonged to the Alliance. He followed their rules without question. But in this...
In this, he didn’t bother resisting the protective drive directing him. Moving behind Seraphina, Rook aligned his chest to her back and covered her hands with his on the weapon. Her body trembled violently, jerking against him.
This close, he heard her breath catch in her throat but he didn’t make any attempt to take the weapon from her. Instead, he adjusted her aim and whispered, “Whenever you’re ready,essha.”
She shuddered against him in relief. Facing Jarad, she said, “I promised Coco you’d pay. I hope you burn wherever you end up and never find eternal peace.”
Rook’s hands cupper her fingers and depressed the firing mechanism. The laser fire hit Jarad at the base of his throat, not his chest as Seraphina had planned.
“Better this way,” Rook said, shifting away from her and tugging the laser free of her grasp. He needed to act quickly. He’d be lucky if Kjar and the others gave him a five minute lead before bursting through the door.
Seraphina released the weapon and turned around. Her arms flew around his neck as she sobbed. Sobbed for her friend and perhaps the life she’d just ended. Though, maybe not. If anyone had deserved death, it was Jarad Oolun.
“You have to go,” he murmured, hands running up and down her back, attempting to soothe the hurt he could clearly hear in her cries.
Seraphina hiccupped and brushed away her tears as she eased back. “What about you?”
His lips quirked. There it was again. That unexpected worry for him. He liked it.
Heart in his throat, he murmured his deep seated wish. “Maybe you’ll come to the Ice Ball next year. Meet a stranger for a one night stand and fall in love. Spend forty years together, holding his hand.”
Eyes wide, Seraphina stared in shock. “Are you serious?”
“Well, we have to let Tempest die for good. Give ERS time for the Jarad stuff to settle. Clean up the mess. Then,” he smiled, “I’m very serious.”
“What if I can’t get in? They don’t accept many new attendees.”
He had complete faith in her abilities. “I’m sure you’ll find a way.”
Seraphina leaped into his arms and Rook caught her as her legs entwined about his hips. She kissed him with desperation. “I feel like we’ve been here before but thank you, Rook. Thank you.”
Rook closed his eyes and buried his face in the crook of her neck and held on. In his ear comm, Kjar said, “Hunter One, you have two minutes then we’re coming in. I hope the sound of weapon fire wasn’t you getting your ass dead by Tempest.”
Biting his lip on a laugh, Rook gently lowered Seraphina’s legs. He brushed at the tears on her cheeks. “Time to go.”
She glanced around the office, ignoring Jarad’s slain body on the floor by his desk. “This will be difficult. No window.”
“I guess you’ll have to walk out the front door, won’t you?”
Her brows crinkled then smoothed out. He caught the quick flash of her grin. She morphed into a Prentian he recognized. Jarad’s assistant. The changed occurred smoothly and even though he watched, the way she changed her appearance was like watching ripples across a body of water.
“I’ll go.” Her voice mirrored the gruff, aristocratic tones perfectly. If she could do that without any prep time, what else was she capable of?
She gripped his hand, squeezed. A smile twitched her lips. “It does sound like a memorable way to fall in love, doesn’t it?”
Rook’s chest tightened. Had she’d just agreed to meet him where it all started? Dressed in the same outfit she’d worn to impersonate Jarad, Seraphina turned and opened the door.
“I’ll see you soon,” he called in a low voice that wouldn’t carry beyond the room. Without a backward glance, she walked out the door of Jarad’s office and Rook’s life.
For now.
