“Fuck the mission,” Loren said flatly. She tangled her fingers in Sky’s hair and kissed her. “I don’t care about the mission right now. What I care about is you.”

The intensity of Loren’s words, the fierceness in her eyes, left Sky breathless. She wanted to protest, wanted to argue, but how could she when all she could think was Loren cares. Sky forced herself to think, pushing her feelings aside. “I’m not the one who matters right now.”

“The hell you don’t. You matter to me,” Loren said, tracing Sky’s jaw. “And not because you’re brilliant at what you do and tough when it counts.” She kissed Sky softly. “You matter because you’re stubborn and tender and brave and trusting. And because you don’t let me hide. You matter to me.”

Sky pressed her forehead to Loren’s shoulder, feeling anything but competent and in control. No one had ever said the things Loren had said before. She’d known respect and begrudging appreciation from other agents, but she’d never experienced the joy of being special to someone. “I don’t understand why.”

Loren laughed softly. “Maybe that’s one of the reasons.” She kissed Sky again, none of the temper that had been in her eyes apparent in the soft, reverent glide of her mouth over Sky’s. “You’re beautiful and I trust you. With everything.” Loren paused, kissed her again. “I love you, Sky.”

Sky jerked, the words as piercing as a blade. “I—what?”

“I know. I didn’t expect it either.” Loren smiled. “But I do. I love you.” She caressed Sky’s cheek, traced her thumb over Sky’s lower lip. “I think I could be happy with you in my arms for the rest of my life.”

Sky caught her breath, stepped back. “This is…I don’t know what this is.”

“I don’t expect you to say anything, and I know it’s crazy.” Fire flared in Loren’s eyes again. “But no matter what is or isn’t between us, it’s still dangerous for you to meet with a high-profile agent like Roberts right now. Too many eyes on us. Too many people want a piece of this big gun buy coming up.”

I love you, Sky. I love you… The astonishing words, the tender touches, the burning passion in Loren’s eyes threatened to unravel her, and Sky panicked. By instinct she clung to what was safe, what was known—the mission, the protective cloak of the job. “I think we can trust Homeland Security.”

“Really? I never took you for naïve.”

Sky laughed shortly, staying far enough away that Loren couldn’t touch her again. Another caress, another intimate glance from Loren, and her barriers would crumble. “All right, point taken. But in this particular instance, I can’t see how they could have any interest in what we’re doing. I believe Roberts is really here for information, and we certainly can trust her. If you know anything about her—”

“Who doesn’t?” Loren said impatiently. “And I’m not saying we can’t trust her. But we don’t know who else might be read in on this.”

“And I’ll make that clear to her. I know how to protect my operatives.”

Loren’s jaw tightened. “Are we back to that again?”

“That’s never changed.” Sky wanted to tell her that she was so much more than just her operative now, had been since the first, but the timing was so wrong. Loren’s life was still on the line, the entire operation was more complex than they’d ever expected, and there couldn’t be a worse time for them to become involved. And they were, she knew it, but she couldn’t think about it. Right now, the success of the mission was more important than ever—because if something went wrong, Loren could pay the price. Sky wasn’t going to let that happen, and if it meant ignoring what she wanted, what she needed, she would. “You know I came here because this is a critical mission that I’ve spent months, years, overseeing. This is bigger than you and me, and we can’t jeopardize it for anything, including a little personal diversion. I’m meeting with Roberts alone, and you need to concentrate on your job in all of this.”

Loren stiffened. “Well, I guess that makes things clear.”

“Good. Because we do need to be clear.”

“Oh, we are. Crystal.” Loren reached for her jacket and keys. “I’m going to the Rooster. Don’t wait up.”

Sky had made her choice and she had to play her part now. The sound of the motorcycle engine, an angry solitary roar, died into the distance, leaving the garage silent and nearly as barren as the emptiness that filled her chest. She gathered her clothes and few personal belongings from Loren’s bedroom and carried them out to her car. Better to make the break official, especially since she’d be leaving as soon as the operation was over. Since Loren was known not to stay with anyone for long, no one would be very surprised that their short-lived relationship had burnt itself out. She climbed into the car and sat behind the wheel without turning on the ignition. She’d made the right decision for Loren and for the mission, and she didn’t regret it. She just needed to hold on until the pain relented enough for her to breathe again.


*


Arms shaking, Jane pushed the barbell up for the fifteenth time and let it drop into the cleats. Sweat ran into her eyes, and she kept them closed as she groped on the floor beside the weight bench for the towel. She looked up when someone pushed the towel into her hand. Her father stood over her.

“Sir,” Jane said, quickly sitting up.

“I got a call. The federal agents are meeting tomorrow afternoon.”

“You have a location?”

He smiled. “I do, and our local contact was able to suggest a meeting place that will be to our advantage. We’ll brief in my office in thirty minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” Jane said, getting to her feet. “I’ll be there, sir.”

Her father turned abruptly and left the gym. Hurrying toward the shower, Jane glanced at the big clock on the far wall. Less than twenty-four hours. Less than twenty-four hours, and she would have all the ammunition she’d ever need to free her sister. Sometimes wars were won without bloodshed, and if her plan worked, she might avoid it. But nothing was going to stop her from freeing her sister.

Chapter Twenty-nine


“Flying solo tonight, Loren?” Trish said as she settled onto the adjacent bar stool.

“More or less.” Loren finished the warm dregs in the bottom of her glass and held it out to Clyde, the prospect who’d been manning the bar at the Rooster since three when the regular staff had left. He dutifully jogged over, took her glass, and refilled it from the tap.

“Let me have a whiskey sour,” Trish said when Clyde returned, and he hurried off to comply. She leaned her elbow on the bar and regarded Loren solemnly. “Just for the night or permanently?”

“Not quite sure.”

“Too bad. I kind of liked her.”

“Yeah, me too,” Loren said, sticking to the truth. Always smart when undercover, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything else. She couldn’t pretend she didn’t care and she couldn’t lie. Not about Sky. She was pissed off at her, but that didn’t change anything. All she really wanted was to erase the sick feeling in her gut that surged every time she thought about Sky in danger. She knew better too. If she couldn’t keep her head in the game, she was going to be a liability to Sky, and that was the very last thing she wanted.

“She’s too much woman for you, though,” Trish said casually and took the mixed drink from the prospect. She sipped it, a thoughtful expression on her face. She put the rock glass down on the bar and pushed it away. “That really sucks.”

Clyde’s face took on a sickly shade of gray. “I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I’ll make you another one.”

“Yeah, and this time try putting a little whiskey in it.”

“I will. I will. Just one minute.” The skinny kid with a half-assed goatee grabbed the glass and bolted away.

“You keep busting their balls,” Loren observed, “and Ramsey won’t have anyone to ride with him before too long.”

Trish laughed. “I’m a firm believer in busting balls. Helps you find out who the true men are.” Trish took Loren’s beer and swallowed a quarter of it. “Or the real women.”

“I’m not going to ask about the particulars.”

“No matter. You don’t have to. I’m always happy to speak my mind.”

Loren laughed. “Can’t say I’ve noticed.”

“See there? That’s why you get all the girls. Because you know how to flirt.”

Loren almost swallowed her tongue. The last thing she needed was Ramsey thinking she was flirting with his woman. “I…uh…”

“Relax, I know you weren’t. Well, see, you were but you weren’t meaning to, and that’s even better. Actually talking to a woman, playing with her, that’s exciting.”

Loren resisted looking over her shoulder to see if Ramsey was in earshot. Trish definitely had something on her mind. “So, ah, what’s your advice for an unworthy like me?”

“Now Lisa,” Trish said with a pleased smile, “she’s a woman with class. Smart and sassy, and sexy. In fact, I was a little surprised to see her in here at first.”

Loren’s stomach clenched. This was what she’d been afraid of. The men tended to discount women as being nothing more than entertainment, but the other women, they studied newcomers. Sky stood out, and Trish wasn’t the queen of the pride just because she was Ramsey’s old lady. She was street-smart, savvy, and tough. Loren needed to sell Sky’s cover, and fast. “Lisa’s in a league of her own, for sure, but she isn’t the conforming type. She might be smart, but could you see her in an office?”

“No, but I get her being an accountant.” Trish paused when the prospect handed her another whiskey sour. She tasted this one, grunted, and gave a little nod. “Better.”