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“A corrupt FBI agent,” Paxton sneered.
“Exactly. Money talks and they have it in spades. Nothing is too extreme for them to endure in their quest to achieve world domination.”
“Even if it means an apocalypse like you said earlier?” Knox said, shaking her head.
“Historically, much, if not all of Islam in Arabia was spread at the tip of a sword. It was conquer and convert.” She stuffed her equipment in the bags. “There’s no reason to hang around here. Let’s go home.”
“Don’t you think we should verify Fadhil’s location first? And Abu’s? As the new leader of ISIS, it would be the biggest coup if we could capture him and put an end to the resurgence before it properly gets off the ground,” Knox interjected.
“Based on the numbers Jordan cited earlier, I’d say it’s already off the ground. Booming, in fact,” Brock said. He dragged in a deep breath. “Well, Jared? I tend to agree with Tanner and Jordan’s assessment. What do we do?”
Jared stared at the faces around the table. Everyone had become dear to him— some more quickly than others. Nonetheless, he felt fiercely protective towards all of them. Whether or not Fadhil and Abu intended to infiltrate sleeper cells into the U.S., the safety of his people came first. Getting them back home was the first order of business. At least there, it was easier to protect them.
“We go home.”
“I’m going to pack,” Jordan mumbled as she headed upstairs to escape the glimmer in Brock’s eyes. She knew all too well what it meant. Jared had done the same to Paxton once they admitted their attraction to each other a couple of months ago.
The mighty Brock intended to become her sentinel. She’d have to set him straight in that regard. The last thing she needed now was to be smothered in a protective cocoon that would stifle her every move and result in the withering of a budding relationship before it took root.
Since it was her mission to wed him, his turning into a human shield to protect her against all things evil was off the table.
“The sooner he realizes I can take care of myself, the better.”
“I never believed otherwise.”
She spun about to glare at the object of her thoughts lounging in the doorway.
“Do you always sneak up on people?”
“The door was open.”
“Gmphf.” She ignored him and started picking up clothes scattered all over the floor. The only thing she’d wanted to do after being rescued was to rip off the pungent clothing from her body. It had become fouled in every way during her incarceration. Her face crumpled in disgust as the acrid scent stung her nostrils. “Burn this shit,” she muttered to no one as she threw it in the waste bin. “You can lose the halo, Carter. I don’t need or want your protection.”
“I have one question for you Jordan, and I need you to answer it without thinking.”
She glared at him. “I might be impulsive at times but I generally always think through every decision I make.”
“If you hadn’t done so with what I’m about to ask, I’m wasting my time.”
Jordan froze. He had hinted earlier where they were heading insofar as a relationship was concerned. She just hadn’t expected him to push for it so soon. More than that, she couldn’t afford to slip up. She was worried that taking such a step while being hunted by a disparate group of criminals might prove fatal. It could so easily be lights out for either of them.
“I’m all ears.” Her shoulders straightened as she returned his stare. That he was going to become a permanent fixture in her life, she had no doubt. The fact that their mutual attraction had been discovered now was unfortunate. But, come hell or high water, she’d be damned if she was going to turn him away and jeopardize her future.
“Do you want to become my submissive— in a permanent, exclusive relationship, with the aim of marriage in the future.”
“You’re asking me—”
“It’s a yes or no question, Jordan.”
She didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
He nodded and within a blink of an eye, he was gone.
“What the hell…” Jordan stormed to the door and peered around it. “Brock Carter, get your ass back here!”
A salute was his only response before he disappeared down the stairs.
“Well…” She gawked after him. It had been her intention to make him realize marriage was the only path for them. It was going to be a hard slog knowing that he hadn’t been in a relationship since his wife had died. Yes, she wasn’t ashamed to admit that she had done an in-depth background check on him to arm herself with the knowledge she would need in the fight for happiness.
