Tempest - Kris Michaels Page 0,55

am not an angel. Some would consider me a nightmare. I have a dark past where I worked top secret missions. Those were the secrets your mother wanted me to disclose. My past and my association with Guardian, which I've never acknowledged to anyone but you, is why I was tortured. I have one final mission with Guardian. If you so desire, I will walk away from all of this when I'm done with it. Come with me."

The breath in her chest caught at the emotion he'd laced through his words. To leave everything she knew for this man was insane. Yet, all she had to do was look at her life, truly look at it, to realize she’d never be anything but her mother's game piece. "You'll regret asking me."

"Never."

"We'll see." She pushed his hair from his brow.

A slow smile spread across his face. "Is that a yes?"

"How could it be anything else?" He wrapped her in a tight embrace, and she closed her eyes tight. God, please never let him regret it.

The single knock on the door jacked him to his feet. The gun which had been resting in his nightstand was in his hand and pointing at the door. He extended his other hand when Pilar sat up and grasped the sheet to her breasts, covering her nakedness.

He moved silently to the door and opened it with a quick jerk, his weapon centered on the man outside the door.

Smoke lifted his hands. "Don't shoot. Me friend. Comms, for you."

He nodded, releasing the grip he had on his weapon. "Be right there." He shut the door and placed the weapon on the bed as he searched for and found his shorts and a t-shirt.

"You have a gun?"

He glanced at her and chuckled. "Guardian is a federally recognized law enforcement entity. Guns are in our wheelhouse."

Pilar pushed her mass of blonde hair from her face. "Oh. Yeah, I guess. It surprised me." She blinked at him and then blinked again. "Where are you going?"

"I'll be right back. I have a call from Guardian. Go back to sleep." He leaned forward and kissed those full pink lips.

"Bring back some water, please?" She snuggled down and grabbed his pillow, pulling it toward her.

"Roger that." He slipped out and headed to the bridge.

Smoke nodded to the headset. He put it on and adjusted the mic.

"Go ahead."

"Who else can hear this conversation?" Anubis asked.

"No one. Headset with mic."

"Authenticate Teacup."

"Teapot."

"We have confirmed your theory."

Adrenaline flooded his body. "Targets?" God please let it be the Fates

"All three are coded but will be taken down as directed by Archangel. This is a delicate balancing game, Archangel was adamant. You'll take down all three, but in the order that is best for the entire operation. "

He glanced sharply at Smoke who was actively listening to his side of the conversation. His friend's gaze drifted his direction. A slight shake of his head was the only indication Smoke knew what was going on.

"They will all be brought down––by me."

"Affirmative."

"Send me the information."

"Negative. Sierra team will meet you in Tampa at the dock with the packet tomorrow night. They will accompany you. Whether or not you use them, they will be in the area. This is nonnegotiable."

"You don't trust me?"

"It has nothing to do with trust. Every Shadow has a team in the vicinity when they are working. Everyone. Lone wolves no longer exist at Guardian. We protect our own."

"All other Shadows are assigned a team?" He glanced at Smoke. The man nodded.

"Assigned a team for backup if they are identified as a single asset or, if they can mesh with another, they're given a partner. You saw the process at the Rose. We aren't singling you out. As I said, it has nothing to do with trust and everything to do with supporting our people to the fullest extent possible. Sierra team is your asset on this operation. You'll be in charge of their placement and utilization. The end game is still your show. Instruct Smoke to proceed to his usual berth in Tampa. Miss Grantham will stay with the yacht. You will disembark at 0230hours and rendezvous with Sierra team at the end of the pier."

"I'll need a few things delivered to the ship when we arrive." He rattled off what he wanted.

Anubis sucked a breath through his teeth. "I'll get it to the boat, if not this stop, the next one."

He glanced out the window into the darkness. "The next one?"

Anubis made a sound of agreement.