Sharpshooter (Shadow Agents #3)(42)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“Slade…” Gunner began.

Slade flinched. “I know I’m about to get busted for firing a weapon in here, okay? Mercer’s going to rip into me—”

“You were here when I wasn’t. I just…” Gunner leveled his stare at the other man. “I’m thankful.”

But there was an edge in Gunner’s voice. One that gave her pause. Maybe because…

She didn’t quite believe what he was saying.

There wasn’t any more time for talking or questions then. As Mercer herded them out, he separated her from the rest of the group and led her to his office.

She knew her own interrogation was about to begin.

She’d wanted to prove that Gunner was innocent, but she hadn’t wanted anyone to die.

Two deaths in the past twenty-four hours.

What would happen next? Because Sydney was sure the nightmare wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

* * *

SHE WAS PREGNANT.

Slade walked down the hallway, trying to keep his movements slow and easy, even as rage built inside him.

Sydney was pregnant. He’d seen the way Gunner touched her stomach, heard his brother’s desperate whisper.

Cale was walking behind him doing guard duty. Slade had just saved Sydney, been the hero, and they were still guarding him.

Gunner had looked as though he would choke when he realized Slade had been the one to save the day.

Too late this time, brother. For once, someone else got to be the hero.

Cale’s hand wrapped around Slade’s shoulder. “Mercer wants to talk to you.”

Of course he did. Mercer would want to grill him some more when he should want to pin a medal on his chest.

But Gunner was the one with the medals, and he…he was the one left to rot.

Slade nodded. “Right,” he said timidly. He thought the tremble in his voice was a good touch. Made him look as if he was still shaken after the shooting.

He’d planned to kill Hal that day, one way or another. He’d known the guy was a weak link, and he’d intended to eliminate him at the first opportunity. Only he’d wanted Hal’s death to be linked to Gunner. More evidence and suspicion mounted on big brother.

No matter. At least Sydney was back to thinking he was the good guy. He could definitely manage to use that to his advantage.

As for putting more suspicion on Gunner? Well, he already knew exactly what he’d do on that score. And after the next attack, Sydney would be convinced that her lover was trying to kill her.

Chapter Ten

“Sydney!” She turned at Gunner’s call. She’d been heading for the elevator. It was far past midnight, and she just needed to crash.

“Are you ready to leave?” he asked her.

More than ready. She’d been heading upstairs to find him, but now they could just head out to the parking garage together.

“I had your car brought in,” he told her as they slid into the elevator.

“Thanks.” She knew her smile had to be tired.

Gunner frowned at her, and then he leaned forward and pressed the emergency stop button on the elevator’s control panel.

“Uh, Gunner?” The elevator had stopped.

He pulled her into his arms, kissed her. The kiss was wild, hot, desperate.

His hands were tight around her, his body so hard and strong. He kissed her as if she were some kind of lifeline for him. As if he needed her to survive.

Only fair, since she needed him so very badly.

Gunner lifted his mouth a few inches from hers and growled, “I thought you’d been shot. I thought Slade had shot you.”

But no, Slade had been the one to save her.

“There was blood on you…”

She’d switched into some backup clothes that she kept at the EOD. Those bloodstained clothes had caused nausea to roll in her belly.

“I think you scared a good ten years off my life.” His arms were still around her.

Sydney stared up at him. “I didn’t think anything scared you.” Gunner was the tough guy. The one who could stare death in the face and never back down.

“That was before you.” He kissed her again. Still as desperate. “I need you to be safe.”

She needed him to be safe, too.

His gaze searched hers; then he slowly eased back. “Better get us moving,” he murmured, “or Mercer will send out a search team.”

Because security was on full alert at the EOD office.

She gave him another smile and waited as the elevator resumed moving.

Gunner’s fingers—broad, warm—curled around her shoulders, and he began to massage her as they headed down to the parking garage.

Heaven.

But that paradise came to an end all too soon. The elevator’s doors opened. The garage was well lit, with security cameras positioned every few feet. She saw her little car waiting right next to Gunner’s truck.

“You can ride with me,” Gunner said. “I had your car brought in, just like you asked, but there’s no need for—”

“I want to take my car,” Sydney said, cutting through his words. “With everything that’s happening, I want to make sure that I can stay mobile on my own.” If she had to clear out quickly, she wanted the security of knowing that her own ride was waiting for her.

Gunner’s jaw locked, and she knew he didn’t like her answer. “I will be right behind you,” he told her. “I’ll follow you back to our place.” He caught her hand, pressed a kiss to her fingers. “Be careful.”

Our place. No, it wasn’t, not yet. But maybe they could talk about their place soon. About starting a home for the family they would have.

Sydney tried a faint smile for him. “I’m a federal agent. I can do careful, no problem.”

He didn’t smile back. The worry was there, shadowing his gaze.

She slipped into the car. Gunner closed the driver’s-side door and watched her through the window.

He hadn’t talked about marriage. Hadn’t really talked about their future at all other than to say he wanted to be there for the child.

Did Gunner want a future with her?

She cranked the ignition. He kept watching her as she eased away from the parking spot; then he turned and headed for his truck.

She wanted a future with him. Baseball games and barbecues and Christmases spent around a tree. She wanted to wake up next to Gunner every day, and go to sleep next to him each night.

If only he wanted the same thing.

Her phone rang, surprising her. She had it hooked in to her car’s system so she just had to press one button on her console to connect with the phone system. Frowning, she took the call. “Sydney.”