“I’m glad you have him.”
“Me too. And you’re close with your brothers.”
“Yeah. And our mom. I already told you that we lost Dad a few years back.” Cam felt unsettled, shifting on the pillows. “My family have all been worried, since I came home.”
She moved closer. “Because they love you. And because your brothers have been through it, themselves.”
Cam paused, emotions churning. “That last mission. It was my fault we ended up fucking walking into an ambush.”
“Cam—”
“My fault my best friend, Kris, died. One minute he was alive, tough as hardened steel, a hell of a soldier. Next, he was in bits. Legs gone.” God, Cam would never forget the blood. The gurgle in Kris’ chest.
“It’s not your fault. War is horrible. You take terrible risks for your work.”
“We caught an Afghani villager spying on us. He was so thin. I…couldn’t face tying him up. There was a risk he’d die out there, of exposure.” Cam dragged in a deep breath. “There was also a risk that he’d give us away to the Taliban.”
She gripped Cam’s arm. “Oh, no.”
He gave her a tight nod. “I let him go, and then they knew we were coming.”
“Oh, Cam.” She wrapped her arms around him. “You faced an impossible choice.”
He shuddered, and his arm snapped closed around her. “Every night, I dream of Kris. Of him stepping on the explosives. I shout at him to stop, but he doesn’t hear me. Then I’m blown off my feet, covered in Kris’ blood.”
“Hold on. Just hold on.” She rocked him. “You haven’t talked about this to anyone before, have you?”
“No.” He pressed his face to her neck. “Why are you so easy to talk to?”
She pressed her lips to his. “Because I’m yours.”
Chapter Thirteen
It was midmorning by the time Saskia and Cam got to Norcross Security. A contractor named Matt escorted them.
The office was a hive of activity. Vander appeared, striding toward them like the angel of doom.
Man, he was a good-looking guy, but the suit did little to soften him.
“Any news?” Cam kept her hand in his.
Vander shook his head. “We questioned your uninvited visitor. He gave us a location, but Mikhailov was long gone by the time we got there.”
Cam cursed.
“Patience,” Vander said. “We’ll flush him out.”
Saskia squeezed Cam’s fingers and he nodded.
“Coffee?” he asked her.
“Sure.”
He returned with the coffee and led her to an empty office.
“Do you need anything else?” he asked. “I have some things to follow up on.”
“I’m fine, Cam. I have the Kindle app on my phone, and music to listen to. Plus, I need to call my dance director and tell him I need a bit more time off.”
Cam’s scowl reappeared.
“What?” She touched the groove on his brow.
“I hate the reminder that you live really far away from me.”
Her heart thumped in her chest. “One step at a time, right?”
He nodded. “And unfortunately, Mikhailov is first.”
Cam pulled her in for a quick kiss and then headed for his office.
Mmm, she loved seeing him in a suit.
She queued up some music, humming to herself. She sat in the desk chair and crossed her legs. She wore a new outfit she’d bought with Savannah. A cute, long-sleeved blue dress cinched in with a belt at the waist. She’d paired it with knee-high, brown boots.
She sent some messages to Savannah, who insisted she was fine, and busy in her studio.
So, how are things with Cam?
OMG. Savannah, I didn’t know it could be this good.
Squee. You just needed a Morgan brother.
I don’t know what’s going to happen after, but the first priority is catching Mikhailov.
That asshole is going down.
Saskia smiled. She was so glad that Savannah’s ordeal hadn’t dimmed her spirit.
I’ll see you soon xxx
Stay safe.
Saskia called her director. He was concerned, but happy to give some of the other dancers a chance to take a turn in the lead role of their current production.
“I’d prefer you were here,” Anthony said. “You are my star.”
“Don’t let the other principals hear you said that,” she teased.
“It’s important you’re safe and rested. Take care of that knee.”
“I will. I’ll be in touch soon. Bye, Anthony.” Ending the call, Saskia stared blindly at the wall. She knew some of the other dancers would be more than happy to take her role. And…she found she didn’t mind all that much.
This entire situation had made her re-assess everything. It made her realize she just wasn’t as happy as she’d thought she was.
What she got from dance had nothing to do with being under the spotlight or doing fancy photoshoots. Once again, her brain flitted back to her idea for a dance school of her own.
Was she ready to give up full-time dancing?
If it meant making a new start with a dance school, and with Cam…
She shook her head. First, she had to get out from under Mikhailov’s shadow.
Cam appeared in the doorway, his body tense.
She straightened. “What is it?”
“Good news. One of Vander’s informants has spotted Mikhailov in Seacliff. It’s an ocean-side neighborhood with big houses. Vander, Siv, and I are headed over to check it out.”
Saskia blew out a breath. “All right. Be careful.”
“We’ve got this. Saxon’s here if you need anything.” Cam closed the distance and touched her hair. “Stay inside.”
She made a sound. “Right, because I was planning to head out for a wander.”
He tugged on her hair. “I’ll be back soon.” He pulled her in for a quick, hard, and unfortunately, too-short kiss.
She watched him stride across the warehouse to where Vander and Siv were waiting.
Saskia bit her lip. He’d be fine. He’d been an elite, special-forces soldier. And he had Vander and Siv with him.
Saskia sat back down at the desk, trying to read her book.
“Saskia?”
Saxon stood in the doorway, frowning.
“Something wrong?” They hadn’t been gone long.
“Not exactly,” he said. “I’m hoping you can help me.”
She stood. “If I can.”
“I have some clients here. A couple. I need to discuss a case with them, but they have their five-year-old daughter with them. It’s not something she should sit in on, and there’s no one else to keep an eye on her—”
“It’s fine. I can sit with her.”
He flashed her a sexy smile. “Thanks. I’ll introduce you.”
He led her out to the empty sitting area by the front door, and she spotted a dark-haired little girl in a pink tutu.
Saskia smiled. Cute. A well-dressed couple stood nearby.
“Charlotte,” Saxon said. “This is Saskia. She’s going to hang with you.”