Undercover Captor (Shadow Agents 5)

When she left the plane, two agents were waiting to meet her. Tina instantly recognized Gunner Ortez and Logan Quinn. Gunner was married to Tina’s close friend, Sydney. Normally, Gunner hung back from Tina—from most people, actually. He was the tall, dark and deadly quiet kind of guy. But when he saw Tina leave that tarmac, he pulled her into his arms.

“Nothing will happen to you,” he promised against her ear. “If you come out of this mission with so much as a bruise, Syd will have my hide.”

A choked laugh escaped her. Tears stung her eyes. “Thank you, Gunner.”

His words had been so low that only she could hear them.

“I’ll have a lock on you,” he told her, pulling back a bit so he could study her with his steady and determined gaze, “every step of the way.”

That was good. She blinked away the tears. Then Tina quickly followed the agents into the hanger. She was wired, hooked up and given a bulletproof vest in mere moments.

She’d worn a bulletproof vest before, during the few times she’d gone into the field. The weight should have reassured her. It didn’t.

A knife was slipped into the sheath that had been attached to her ankle. Now she matched Drew. The agents even gave her a gun. Finally.

“They’ll probably take the weapons from you as soon as you go inside,” Logan Quinn told her. So much for the gun. “But they won’t be aware of everything that you and Drew have.”

Because Drew had being loaded down with weapons. Multiple guns. Knives.

She was given backup weapons, too. Now if only she’d had the training to go with them, then she’d be a serious threat.

“Just point and shoot,” Logan told her, staring her dead in the eyes. Logan Quinn—Alpha One. He was the team leader of a group of EOD operatives known as the Shadow Agents. In combat, he was lethal. “If they’re coming at you, they’re coming to kill. You don’t hesitate.”

Tina nodded. She wished she could have a few minutes alone with Drew.

Time to tell him goodbye.

His shoulders were straight. His spine up. Fear had to be twisting through him, but he showed no emotion on his face or in his voice.

He was barking orders. Checking equipment.

How could he be so calm?

“If you don’t compartmentalize,” Gunner said from her side, “then you’re no good in the field. You have to be able to turn the emotions off.”

That was exactly what Drew was doing.

She couldn’t do the same. She looked at Drew and she hurt.

She didn’t want this for him.

She wanted his family whole. Wanted him happy.

Because I love him.

Too fast? Too sudden? She’d known him for several years. Fantasized about him for nearly that whole time. Then when they’d been thrown into close quarters, the reality of the man had far exceeded any of her expectations.

She’d never forget dancing with him in that little room above the Texas bar. He’d let her slide past his guard in those precious moments; she knew that he had.

Logan’s phone rang. He stepped aside.

Gunner turned away.

Tina reached for Drew. “I— Can we talk?”

His gaze collided with hers. “I flew you out of this city just nights ago.”

She nodded. “I was terrified then.”