Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents #7)(11)
Author: Cynthia Eden

The man on his threshold just laughed. “Ah, Dylan, always a pleasure, isn’t it?”

No, it wasn’t. Dylan’s eyes narrowed as he studied Thomas “Dragon” Anthony. He and Thomas didn’t exactly get along, and a few months back, when Dylan had thought that Thomas might be the rogue agent at the EOD, he’d even…shot the guy.

At the time, though, Dylan had been feeling barely sane. He’d just discovered Rachel, covered in blood, and Thomas had been at the scene. He’d ordered the man to stand down, but—

“Don’t worry, man,” Thomas said, golden eyes glinting as he seemed to sense Dylan’s thoughts. “It was only a flesh wound.”

Because Dylan had chosen for it to be. “If I’d wanted you dead,” Dylan growled right back at him, “you’d be in the ground now.”

Thomas stepped forward.

“What’s going on?” Rachel called out.

Dylan glanced over his shoulder. Rachel had just slipped from his bedroom. She had on—

She’s wearing my shirt. One of his old navy T-shirts. It seemed to swallow her, falling all the way down to her knees. She looked sexy as hell in that shirt.

She also had a gun in her hand. His gun.

“What’s happening?” she asked as she crept closer. Her suspicious gaze was on the door. She hadn’t seen Thomas yet.

And, lucky for Thomas, he hadn’t seen her.

“It’s okay,” Dylan said, turning toward her and making sure that he put his body in front of hers. Rachel had some truly gorgeous legs. Long, golden. Perfect.

“You should get dressed,” he told her, aware that his voice sounded a little too thick. “Then come back out so we can talk.”

“I heard voices. I thought you might need me so I grabbed the first thing I saw.”

Hmmm…he wondered…had the first thing been the shirt? Or the gun?

She craned her head so she could see over his shoulder. Her eyes widened. “Thomas?”

“Looking good, Rachel,” Thomas murmured back.

Dylan spun around, a snarl on his lips.

But Rachel laughed. “Well, considering the last time you saw me, I was covered in blood and nearly unconscious on the floor, I guess I do look better.”

Dylan didn’t like to think about that time. The rogue agent had targeted Rachel. Dylan had been so desperate during those long hours while she’d undergone surgery.

So afraid.

Before Rachel, he hadn’t feared anything. She’d changed him, and he wasn’t sure that change was for the better.

“You weren’t the only bloody one,” Thomas told her. “Your trigger-happy team leader made sure I wasn’t a threat.”

Dylan glared at him. “I told you to stand down. Maybe next time you’ll follow orders.”

Rachel’s feet padded away from him. The bedroom door closed. Good. She was getting dressed. Thomas wouldn’t be able to ogle her legs.

The way I was doing.

“Come on now,” Thomas said as he shut the door behind him. “We both know what really happened. You thought I’d hurt Rachel, and you went a little…over the edge.”

Dylan felt a muscle jerk in his jaw. “Why are you here?”

Thomas shrugged. “Mercer’s afraid you might have another one of those little over the edge moments since this particular case is so personal. Since your usual backup—Cooper Marshall—is out of town on his honeymoon, the big boss sent me to keep watch on you and Rachel.”

Great. Just what he needed. Thomas already seemed a little too interested in Rachel as it was.

Thomas lifted his hands in the air. “Consider me part of your team from here on out.”

Not what he wanted. Thomas had a reputation within the EOD. The guy was a martial arts expert, and that expertise had earned him the moniker of Dragon. His particular skill set made him the perfect killing machine—and Thomas had killed plenty of times. His specialty was hand-to-hand combat. He could kill an enemy instantly, and his prey never would have the chance to so much as whisper for help.

Thomas had been captured behind enemy lines a year ago. By the time Dylan and his team had gotten in to free the man, Thomas had already killed all of his captors.

And the man hadn’t even had a weapon.

But Thomas had been injured. Grievously so. It had been touch and go on the chopper ride out of that place. Rachel had stayed with Thomas every moment. She’d applied pressure to his wounds. She’d kept the man alive, talking to him, telling him that everything would be okay.

And Thomas had made it. He’d pulled through.

Only, now do you have too much of an interest in Rachel? Dylan sure thought so. “Another agent will probably work better,” he said, giving a decisive nod. “I’ll talk with Mercer when we go in to the office today. Thanks, Dragon, but your services aren’t—”

“You know that I owe her.” Thomas’s cool voice interrupted Dylan’s words. “Let me repay the debt.”

The bedroom door opened behind them.

Dylan glanced at Rachel. She’d dressed in fresh jeans and a T-shirt. She’d picked up a small overnight bag last night, right before he’d hustled her out of her place. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She looked younger. Vulnerable.

But the truth was that Rachel Mancini really was far from defenseless or delicate. She’d been a marine, then a Marine Corps Judge Advocate. In the courtroom, she’d been a powerhouse. Then, when she’d joined the EOD, Rachel had proven herself time and again. She put her life on the line. She fought to protect her teammates.

Now they would protect her.

Sorry, Rachel, for what’s coming. But I won’t keep risking you. He’d created his own plan last night when he’d tossed and turned on that lumpy couch.

“Thomas is our backup on this mission,” Dylan said.

“The mission?” Rachel repeated.

“Apprehending and containing the assassin known as Jack.” As Mercer had said, that was priority. He inclined his head toward Thomas. “Welcome to the team.” And if you mess up, if you put her in any jeopardy, you’ll answer to me.

Thomas nodded back to him. Dylan knew that his message had been received. Loud and clear.

Good. The Dragon’s reputation didn’t scare Dylan. If Thomas did anything to endanger Rachel, Dylan wouldn’t stop until he’d destroyed the other man.

* * *

JACK STARED THROUGH his scope as the three EOD agents filed out of Dylan Foxx’s building.