Never Gonna Happen - Cynthia Eden Page 0,66

know enemies will try to take out family members. Loved ones. It’s why she was the perfect target this time. She was important to him and to you. But, see, Antony hasn’t quite gotten his hands as dirty as you have.”

Yes, he knew that. Antony tended to play the game from more of a distance.

But Sebastian…

“You’re the secret weapon, aren’t you, Sebastian? The list of your enemies is a mile long. Those who want payback…” Dex exhaled. “Look, I’m not telling you this stuff to be a dick.”

“No? Could have fooled me.”

“I’m telling you because I like her. You stop this threat. Great. But, as long as you are with her, there will be others. You need to know that. So does she. And that is where she gets to decide. If she wants those risks, fine, her choice. She goes into the danger with her eyes wide open. But if she doesn’t choose that path, will you let her go?”

That wasn’t the right question. Because, hell, yes, if Alyssa didn’t want him, he’d never try to force her to stay. The real question…If I’m putting her in danger, can I ever ask her to stay?

His phone vibrated. Then pealed with a familiar alarm. An alarm that shouldn’t be sounding. Sebastian hurriedly yanked out the phone and glanced at the screen. “Someone is in my freaking office again?” On his computer? Two break-ins in one night? Hell, no.

“What’s happening?” Dex tried to peer at the phone’s screen.

“Someone is trying to hack into my computer. Again.”

“Is it Antony? Did he go back to your office?”

It could be, but it could also be—

Dex’s eyes suddenly widened. He motioned toward his right ear. “Comm link,” he mouthed.

Sebastian knew Dex was getting a message from his team. He’d figured they were all wired with Uncle Sam’s tiny tech—the better to keep tabs fully on the operation. He’d also known that Dex’s team hadn’t caught sight of him when he slipped inside…or else Dex would have been notified at the time via the comm link.

“Showtime,” Dex breathed with a nod. “Incoming.”

Sebastian’s mind immediately turned ice-cold.

“Spotted on the perimeter.” Dex tapped his ear. “Good. Keep eyes on him,” he ordered the agent on the other end of the link. “I want to draw the bastard in. Make sure he’s close enough for us to take out.”

Sebastian shoved his phone back into his pocket.

“Baylor?” Dex paced a few feet away and glanced out a window as he continued communicating with his team. “Check in, now.”

Sebastian took slow, careful breaths as battle-ready tension fueled him.

“I see movement,” Dex barked. “Anyone with eyes on Baylor? He’s not responding.”

Had Dex lost contact with one of his guards? It sure seemed that way. Sebastian knew Baylor. A good man, a good agent.

“Copy that,” Dex snapped. “Two of them. Detain with any force necessary. You get that bastard down there, and we’ll take care of the one coming up here.”

Wait. Wait. The one coming up here?

Dex pulled out his weapon as he turned toward Sebastian. “One of my men isn’t responding. Another saw movement on the side of the building. Guess you weren’t the only one with the idea to scale up to the second level.”

Sebastian shoved open the bedroom door. His gaze immediately swept the room. No sign of an intruder. Yet. He rushed for the nightstand and grabbed his gun.

The bathroom door opened. Steam drifted out as Alyssa stood there with her hair wet and a towel wrapped around her body.

At the same time, an alarm blared from below.

“Sebastian?” Fear flashed on her face.

He was already running toward her.

Chapter Sixteen

Sebastian caught Alyssa and pushed her back into the bathroom. “Consider the bad guys to be here.”

Yes, she’d rather been afraid he would say that. “What can I do?”

“Stay down. Stay out of sight.” He pushed a gun into her hand. “And if anyone other than me comes in this bathroom door, you shoot, got it?”

She knew how to shoot. Her mom had made sure of it. “Got it.”

He turned away.

She grabbed him right back. Kissed him frantically.

His hands locked around her shoulders.

She was pretty sure that she felt the towel fall. Because…of course. Her luck.

“Your towel fell,” he whispered.

She nodded.

“Any other time…” He kissed her again. “That shit happens, and I don’t leave you.”

She almost smiled. Would have, if she hadn’t been so terrified.

He bent and scooped up the towel. Gave it to her. “If it’s not me, shoot.”

Then he was gone. She shut the bathroom door behind him. Locked