Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,103

good practice for Bree because that girl is having serious troubles.”

Addy tightened. “I thought you said she was getting better.”

“Yeah, right. Better at hiding her issues maybe. It’s not like you haven’t been busy. What can you do from thousands of miles away? What can I do?” Zoey’s lower lip trembled. “I’m not liking you having the troubles, you know. You’ve always been there for me and Rhea and Bree. Vi and Mary. Hell, you were even there for Kamren when you didn’t know her. Not that you knew me all that well.”

“We’ll get through this and get Bree sorted,” Addy promised.

“You’ll talk to us? About whatever’s bothering you?” Zoey asked.

“Yeah, but not now. I’ve got to get to Kristof and the guys.” Addy figured she’d catch shit from her team regardless of what she did at this point.

No matter. She’d work through it like she always did.

Just as soon as she figured out where she stood. She wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed with Kristof and make love. Sleep. Laugh and talk.

Her heart fluttered in her chest. Last night was the first time she’d relaxed and been herself without worrying about anyone. She’d lost herself in Kristof, in the happiness she felt when she was with him. They’d laughed over the few joyful times they’d had together in the camp.

Then they’d shared some of the bad shit they’d packed away. Was this what Mary felt when she shared her problems with Dylan? Did Jud pour his heart out to Vi and feel as though he could float away afterward.

Fuck.

Talk about a screwed-up mess. She’d had sex with Kristof one night and she was already thinking about…

What?

Okay, so she’d thought about what he’d be like as a husband. A father.

Fuck knows she wasn’t going to be a good mom. Then again, both she and Kristof knew exactly what not to do. Between Peter and Kostya there was a huge ass manual on precisely what not to do. So maybe they’d have a shot.

Together.

But how would that work?

She couldn’t leave The Arsenal. They were her new family—the one she’d never had.

But was it fair to expect him to leave Russia?

Grrrr. Frustrated that her mind was thinking about hearts and happily ever after instead of the mission, Addy grabbed her weapons and a com and exited the safe house. Talk about a mess. She hadn’t even showered, and she was wearing Kristof’s T-shirt like a lovesick idiot.

Love.

Her heart thudded at the thought.

Did she even know what the hell love felt like? Did it feel like a vise squeezing hard at the thought of never seeing the person again? Was it the quickening of her pulse whenever the person was in the room? Or the joy that swept through her when Kristof smiled at her like she was the most beautiful and perfect thing he’d ever seen?

Damn.

Talk about a clusterfuck. She may have shelved the operative Addy last night. It felt good to just be herself—like she actually knew who she really was—but now that she’d woken up and entered a new day, she needed that Addy back. Where the hell had she gone?

She hadn’t shown up when she’d showered. Kristof had joined her beneath the heated spray last night. Then she’d fallen asleep tucked against him. Sex hadn’t ever been that much fun. Exhilarating.

She gripped the steering wheel as she navigated the crowded streets and made her way to Gavriil’s strip club. Hadn’t there been a better, more out-of-the-way place to meet? Unease pricked her skin the more she thought about what-if scenarios.

No.

Her team was with Kristof. They’d keep each other safe.

Maybe.

She’d gotten the majority of her mind sorted by the time she pulled up outside Gavriil’s club. Three armed guards stood outside the entrance. They moved aside and held the door open for her as she entered.

Okay, Gavriil had security sorted.

A surveillance drone flitted around her end. Someone had dispatched Arsenal drones. Good.

She took a deeper breath and made her way toward the men clustered at the same booth area they’d used last time she was here. Kristof stood between Beast and Shep. All three turned her direction when she halted a few steps away.

Shep chuckled.

Kristof took two steps forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. Her pulse quickened. He claimed her mouth in a hot, hungry kiss—the kind that promised the same carnal pleasure she’d had last night. She returned the kiss, took control and clasped his head.

Whistles sounded around her. She pulled back and kept