Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lena woke slowly to the soft, wailing sound of seagulls. For several seconds, she had no idea where she was. But then, she smelled the faint scent of Rafe lingering on the pillow beside her, and the memories of that morning came rushing back.
Rafe.
Her heart gave a little twist as she smiled. When she opened her eyes, she discovered the afternoon sun spilling across the bedroom floor. She had slept soundly for hours.
Lena stretched beneath the white linen sheet, savoring the delicious ache in her muscles as an unfamiliar sense of peace settled over her. That was a strange word to her, peace. She hadn’t known much of that in her life.
She’d spent most of her adult years expecting the next phone call, assignment, or threat.
Happiness was something she and those like her enjoyed in short blips of stolen moments.
Because the minute she started thinking those little blips could stretch into any real measure of time, life always had a way of proving her wrong.
But somehow, this felt different.
Lena slipped from the bed and pulled on Rafe’s discarded shirt from earlier before walking toward the bathroom. Minutes later, she made her way out of the bedroom with her bladder empty and her hair and teeth brushed.
A warm breeze drifted past as she entered the living room and noticed the sliding doors had been left open. The scent of saltwater filled her nostrils, and beyond the glass, sunlight glittered across the water.
And there he was.
Rafe stood at the railing, one hand resting against the wood while he held his phone to his ear with the other. Lena stopped, taking advantage of the stolen moment by soaking in the mouthwatering view.
Seeing him like that—relaxed and happy—tugged at heartstrings she never knew existed. He was completely unaware that she was watching him, and for some reason, that made her smile.
“I know, honey,” he was saying. “No, I haven’t forgotten. I’ll call you later.”
Her smile grew.
He’s talking to his daughter.
She knew how much Alice meant to him. It was in his eyes every time Alice was mentioned.
Lena stepped through the sliding doors and slowly began walking to where he stood. Sensing her presence, Rafe turned to look at her from over his shoulder. Their eyes met, and something changed in his expression.
The warmth in his dark gaze deepened. The corners of his mouth lifted.
“She’s awake,” he spoke into the phone. “Okay, I’ll tell her. I love you, too.”
He ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket. “How long were you there?”
“Long enough to hear you being a big, old softy.”
“Old?”
“Ancient,” she teased.
“Careful, Director Price. That one just might cost you.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
He held out his hand. She took it, and Rafe drew her against him. With his arms wrapped around her waist, Lena rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes. She sighed, feeling even more at peace than when she’d first awakened.
“I like this,” she whispered after a stretch of comfortable silence.
“What?”
“This.” Her arms tightened around him.
Rafe pressed a kiss against the top of her head. “Me, too.”
Lena tipped her head back so she could look into his eyes. There was no teasing expression or deception there. Only warmth and something deeper.
Love.
She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t briefly feared he’d changed his mind. But in her bones, Lena knew he’d meant what he’d said the night before—
I love you, too.
“I could get used to this,” she whispered.
He brushed a strand of blown hair away from her eyes. “I was hoping you’d say that. Because I was thinking, once this whole thing is behind us, maybe you could take some time off and come stay with me at the plantation.”
She opened her mouth to let him know she’d love to, when a muffled ringing came from inside.
Lena stiffened. “That’s my phone.”
“You’d better answer it.”
She spun on her bare heels and hurried inside. The phone was still plugged in on the nightstand, where she’d left it shortly after checking into the room. One glance at the screen stopped her cold.
Washington D.C.
It was a CIA number. A landline she recognized immediately.
Her stomach tightened as she answered the call. “This is Director Lena Price.”
There was a slight pause. Then a man’s voice came through the speaker. Deep. Rough. “Do you still remember the color of the sky over Vienna?”
Lena’s pulse steadied. “Only when the rain turns silver.”
Another pause ensued, this one a smidge longer, and then another man took over the call.
“It’s good to hear your voice, Director Price.”
“Director Mercer?”
Daniel Mercer, Director of the CIA.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”
Lena glanced toward the bedroom door where Rafe was watching her closely. It was impossible to ignore how damn sexy the former MI6 operative was, but she did her best to put those thoughts on hold.
“What’s happened?” She hoped the man at the top of the CIA food chain would get straight to the point.
He didn’t disappoint.
“A spec ops team is being sent into Turkey, and I want you on the ground with them.”
Me?
Her gaze remained locked with Rafe’s.
“Where in Turkey?”
“Harran.”
The city’s name weighed heavily between them.
“Who’s the target?” Lena asked, though she instinctively knew.
“They’re moving in on Rami Najjar.” Director Mercer paused. “And I approved Alexei Kozlova as well.”
Lena’s fingers tightened around the phone. After Roger’s call about Caleb and Sabrina, Lena had tried like hell to convince anyone with any real power to move on Kozlova.
No one would listen. They’d labeled him a secondary target and made it clear Najjar was the priority. Which made her wonder—
“What changed?”
“Officially? Nothing. Which is why this phone call is a personal request, rather than an order.”
“And unofficially?”
The man’s deep sigh filled the space at her ear. “I’m tired of burying my people.”
His words hit her hard. When tears threatened to fill her eyes, Lena tore her gaze from Rafe’s before speaking again.
“Agent Pascal is dead. Rafe Owens and I found him last night. He was holed up in a cabin near—”
“Sunset, South Carolina,” Mercer finished for her. “Yes, I know. I’m also aware that the safe house at that location is no longer in play.”
She didn’t bother asking how he already knew.
“And Roger?” Lena asked next.
“Unfortunately, Roger Wilcox is still missing. Don’t worry, I have people searching for him as we speak. We will find him.”
A chill traveled down the length of her spine despite the warmth of the room. She listened closely as Mercer continued—
“We’ve spent years trying to understand Kozlova’s intricate network. We’ve tolerated his movements because, as time went on and technology expanded, Najjar quickly became the larger threat. Given the recent turn of events, I can easily defend the decision to stop Alexei Kozlova as well.”
About damn time.
“What exactly are you sending me there to do?” Lena swallowed. “Am I going there to eliminate or help capture?”
“If capture is possible, take him alive.”
What if I want him dead?
“And if it isn’t?”
“I trust you to make the right call when the time comes.”
She looked back to Rafe, whose eyes were still intently glued to her.
“Why me?” Lena needed to know. “I’m sure the team you’re sending in is fully capable of handling targets.”
“You know more about Kozlova than any agent on my payroll.”
“And you know I’ll do whatever it takes to stop him.”
“It certainly doesn’t hurt that you have a personal stake in stopping him.
” Mercer’s tone softened with a deep sigh.
“Listen, Price. I know what happened in Syria, and I know how close you were with the agents we’ve recently lost. I need someone who understands how Kozlova thinks.
Someone who knows his methods and can anticipate his movements before he makes them. ”
This was it. Lena had the chance to finally put the ghosts from her past to rest. Most importantly, once Kozlova was out of commission, there would no longer be a bounty on her or Rafe’s heads.
She cleared her throat. “I’ll do it.”
“Pack light. A car will be by to pick you up in an hour.
The call was disconnected.
Of course, he knows where I am.
Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she looked at Rafe from across the room.
“That was Director Mercer. He’s sending a team into Turkey, and he wants me to go with them. The primary target is Rami Najjar, but he just, in not so many words, gave me the green light to take Kozlova dead or alive.”
He leaned against the doorjamb and slid his hands into the pocket of his sweats. “When do you leave?”
“I have an hour.”
The expression on Rafe’s handsome face grew hard. “Lena—”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She stepped closer. “You’re worried.”
Rafe pulled a hand free and reached out for her. “Of course, I’m worried.”
“I’ll be okay.” Lena closed the distance between them and slid her palm against his. Her heart kicked. “This is my chance, Rafe. If everything goes as planned, this time tomorrow—”
“The hit on us will disappear.”
She nodded. “I have to do this.”
“I know.” He pulled her into his arms. “I just wish I could go with you.”
“Me, too.” Lena rested her cheek against his T-shirt-covered chest. “I’ll keep you posted as often as I can.”
Rafe’s hold on her tightened. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I promise.”
“I don’t want to lose you.”
She lifted her head to look him in the eyes. “You won’t.”
Lena rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him. Slowly. Tenderly. Savoring every ounce of his taste while she had the chance.
When they separated, Rafe touched his forehead to hers. It was a move she was beginning to not only come to expect, but one she was starting to treasure.
“Promise you’ll come home to me.”
Home.
A giant fist squeezed her heart. “I promise.”
An hour later, she was standing in the suite wearing jeans, a black T-shirt, and boots. Her duffel was open on the bed. In it were a few changes of clothes. Ammo. Her extra weapons and mags.
She zipped the bag and looked around the room, finding it hard to believe all that had changed.
In a few days’ time, Rafe had destroyed every protective wall she’d ever constructed. And as anxious as she was to finally have a chance at redemption in taking down Kozlova, she was more excited at the thought of returning to the man she loved.
Lena turned and walked out of the bedroom, reminding herself this wasn’t goodbye forever, but merely for now.
“That was the front desk.” Rafe had just returned the room’s landline receiver to its cradle. “Your car is waiting downstairs.”
“Okay.”
He met her halfway, taking her bag from her shoulder. The chivalrous man also held open the door.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He gave a dip of his rugged chin.
The elevator ride down to the lobby was silent. Once outside, the driver Mercer had sent started to take her bag, but—
“It stays with me.” Lena flashed him an I-dare-you smile.
“Understood.” The younger man slid Rafe a sideways glance before making his way to the driver’s seat.
Rafe pulled her close. “Come back to me.”
She kissed him. “I love you.”
Deep emotion flickered behind his darkened gaze. “I love you, too.”
Their mouths met in a parting, sensual kiss before Lena forced herself to step away. She climbed into the car, unable to keep from looking back. Rafe was still there, watching her leave.
He lifted a hand with a smile she committed his image to the deepest parts of her memory, praying the promise she’d given him hadn’t been in vain.