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As I kissed her, I rocked my body into hers, the bite of electricity slamming into me as I sank into her. She lifted her hips to meet mine and I was lost. Instinct took over as I made love to her. In my head a distant voice reminded me of what I’d known all along.Mine.
When I felt the telltale flutter and quiver over my cock, I drew back so I could watch her face. Her gaze met mine as the orgasm rolled into her, and in that one look, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to say goodbye.
All I could do was hold on twice as hard as I finally let go and my release rocketed me into oblivion.
CHAPTERTEN
Rafe
The next day I drove to Blake Security for the workout I’d been neglecting. Despite my decision to retire from the FBI, my body was my weapon, and I couldn’t afford to allow my blade to go dull.
Especially now that I have someone to protect.
I felt a sense of bone-deeprightat the thought. No matter what happened, no matter what I discovered about what Diana was hiding, she’d triggered my protective instincts something crazy. I had to keep her safe. For the first time since my rebirth—the way I thought of getting out of the FBI and reclaiming my rightful identity—I had something that was just mine.
Nonna and Lucia had formed a strong family bond while I was gone, and rightfully so. They’d gone on with their lives, and I wouldn’t have wanted anything less for them. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t painful to observe how close they were and how many private jokes and experiences existed between them that I simply wasn’t a part of. They didn’t need me anymore.
My cheeks warmed as I thought about everything I’d told Diana yesterday. My childhood wasn’t something I ever discussed. It was easier not to be bitter over what I’d lost if I didn’t revisit it. But when I was with Diana, I felt like she was used to being on the outskirts just like I was.
And it made me feel like my luck was finally changing.
Then I looked up and saw Alan watching me from across the room. I bit back a curse. My good luck wouldn’t hold, it would seem.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Matthias. “Did you guys lose something?”
Matthias sighed. “Not my fault, mate. I tried to warn you. You didn’t answer. Noah told him to go on back.” Then he hung up.
I growled even though I knew it wasn’t the kid’s fault. Noah knew that Alan had been my handler for years, but he didn’t know that I was trying to avoid him.
Once he realized I had seen him, Alan walked across the gym mats, dodging around the exercise balls and the scattered treadmills and other equipment. With a team of security professionals, many of whom lived on site, Noah had made sure to have a professionally equipped gym.
“Rafe. You look well. I thought you were going to take some time off? You know, go on a vacation. Wear flowered shirts and gain a few pounds.” Alan chuckled at his own joke.
I picked up a heavier weight and started curling. “I’m not letting myself go, if that’s what you’re asking. What do you want, Alan?”
The other man’s sigh said it all. “We really need your help on this Vandergraff case. You have insight that we just can’t get from paperwork. The more you dodge this, the more questions Interpol has. I think if you just made yourself available for questions—”
“I told you I’d search for information, but beyond that, I’m not getting involved. That part of my life is over.” I let the weight in my hand fall to the floor of the gym where it landed with a dull thud.
Suddenly I was irrationally angry. I’d done everything the FBI had asked of me. Sacrificed my life, my name, my relationships with my family, and essentially every dream I’d had as a young man about what my future would look like. There was no expectation of a thank-you.
Uncle Sam, like any other organization, didn’t spare much appreciation for the workers at the bottom that made the gears turn. But I didn’t feel it was too much to expect some peace in my retirement from the bureau. I’d served honorably, and now I was ready to move on.
But how could I move on when I still felt the weight of my old life around my neck?
Alan blew out a breath. ““You might not have a choice here. This doesn’t look good, Rafe.”
“What doesn’t look good?”
“You know how things are at the bureau. If the wrong people start asking questions, a small thing can turn into an international incident. With you being so cagey about this, people are starting to ask questions about why a former agent is living life so large after retiring so young.”
Now that pissed me off. “Living large? How am I living large? I’m not flashy. I don’t spend a lot of money. I know how to keep a low profile.”
Suddenly Alan didn’t look so sure of himself anymore. “You make a lot of money for a security consultant. You’ve got a nice place that you own outright and several expensive vehicles. It looks bad, man, especially since you aren’t even working regular shifts here.” Alan glanced around. “Whatever the hell a regular shift around here looks like.”
“You have me under surveillance or something?”
Alan didn’t meet his eyes. “Look, this case is too big to ignore. Solving it would make anyone’s career. People are not going to stop digging.”
