Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents #7)(26)
Author: Cynthia Eden

She sat in silence as they passed through the security checkpoint. Then they were in the cavernous garage. Dylan held the door for her when she climbed from the SUV.

“Thomas…” Rachel glanced his way. “We’ll catch up with you inside.”

Thomas hesitated. “Mercer’s waiting.”

Right. The big, fierce boss. But it was her life. “Let him wait. I need to speak with Dylan. Alone.” Because they needed to clear the air between them before anything else happened.

Thomas’s gaze assessed first her, then Dylan. He nodded. “Good luck,” he murmured to Dylan then Thomas headed for the elevator.

Rachel didn’t move. She wasn’t exactly sure where to start this little scene.

Dylan exhaled. “Say it, Rachel.”

Fine. So maybe she did know exactly where to start. “I close my eyes, and I picture you burning in that car.”

His jaw hardened. “And I close my eyes—and you’re in that damn car, burning right next to me.” He turned from her, yanking a hand through his hair. “That’s why this ends. I’m the bait. Hell, yes, I will be. Gladly. But I won’t risk you.”

“It’s all about me!” Jack would never even be coming after Dylan if it weren’t for her. Didn’t he see that?

“I’m the senior member of this team.” His voice was hard. “I make the calls.” He glanced toward the elevator. Thomas was gone. Dylan rubbed his jaw. “And when we go in that building, you should know that…I’m recommending you be relocated until Jack is contained.”

What?

He nodded, still not looking at her as he said, “It’s the best solution.”

“No, it’s a ridiculous solution.” She marched toward him. Caught his arm in her grip and forced him to look at her. “And pulling rank on me?” Rachel shook her head. “Bad form, Dylan. Bad.”

His eyes narrowed.

But she wasn’t done. Not even close. “You’re the leader. Good for you. Normally, you say jump, and every member of your team leaps. Not this time, though, because I’m not just part of your team.” She took a deep breath. “Now I’m your lover.”

“I’m damn well aware of just what you are to me,” he growled.

“Then you know that you can’t just push me aside—”

“I know that when you’re close, I’m at risk.”

His words shocked her, and Rachel let him go.

“I can’t think clearly when you’re with me. My control…it shreds.”

“You wanted us to be together…”

He nodded, but said, “And I knew that when we crossed that line, things would change.”

She didn’t like the tone of his voice. Too hard. Too rough. “You…you don’t want—”

“I want you too much, that’s the problem.” And he stepped back. Again, putting more distance between them. Did he have any idea how much that hurt her? “I need to keep my head clear. I rushed out of your apartment last night, not thinking. I should’ve checked my surroundings. As soon as the engine sputtered—I should’ve known what was happening. But I was too focused on you.”

“I was just as focused on you,” she whispered back because he’d given her so much pleasure. Her body had been humming. She’d been so attuned to him.

Then, in an instant, everything had changed.

“I can’t afford that weakness, not now.” His words seemed to snap out.

Rachel’s brows lowered. Had he just called her a weakness?

“I’ve got Jack’s attention. Obviously, I’ve got it. And that was the plan all along.”

She didn’t like the direction this little chat was taking.

“So now I move forward.” His tone was that of a commander, not a lover. “And you…you, Rachel, you’re going to have to stay the hell back.”

She actually did stumble back a step then.

“You don’t have a choice,” he continued. She couldn’t read past the mask he wore. “I’m in charge of this mission, and you have to follow the orders I give.”

Pulling rank. Again.

She didn’t even know who he was right then. This sure wasn’t the Dylan she knew. Pain twisted within her. “Yes, sir.” Her own words were cold. This wasn’t the way it should be between them.

She turned from him. So much for clearing the air. Dylan had his own agenda. She took another step then stopped. “Why didn’t you come to see me in the hospital?”

When she’d been hurt a few months back, he’d stayed at her side the entire time. But this time…

“Because I had a mission.”

Her shoulders straightened. That was the response of an agent, but they were supposed to be more than just teammates. Something was changing with Dylan. This single-minded focus that he had. Almost an obsession with catching Jack.

It…scared her.

She’d thought that she knew Dylan. She’d trusted him enough to take him as a lover.

But I thought that I knew Jack, too.

She didn’t look back at him again. She was too worried about what she might see.

Chapter Six

“Jack took the bait,” Mercer said as he leaned back in his chair. A faint smile was on his face. “Obviously.”

Obviously? Dylan stood a few feet from Mercer. He hadn’t bothered to sit down. Rachel and Thomas were both seated, and Noelle stood near the back wall. The better to watch us all. But that was what the profiler did. She watched and she judged everyone else.

“We tapped into the traffic cameras near Rachel’s place. Tried to get an image of Jack from that night.” Mercer tapped his fingers on the desk. “But Jack was careful. He kept his ball cap on, and he made sure that we only saw his back.”

Figured.

“He’ll make contact again,” Noelle said.

“You mean when he tries to kill me again?” Dylan answered back. Yeah, he was more than ready for that contact to come. Only this time, he’d make sure Rachel wasn’t anywhere around when Jack got close.

“Killing you does seem to be the current goal,” Noelle murmured.

Dylan grunted. He’d figured that out when his ride became a ball of fire. “Are we a go on the transfer?” he asked Mercer. He’d spent the past twenty-four hours pushing for this change. Mercer hadn’t been on board, not at first. Dylan had worked hard and convinced the man to see things his way.

From the corner of his eye, Dylan saw Rachel tense.