Way of the Shadows (Shadow Agents 8)

But she was ready for what was coming. Noelle didn’t need Thomas to warn her.

“Mercer says...he wants to start the interrogation in five minutes. He’s hoping to transfer the guy out by dawn.”

That didn’t give them a lot of time. “Mercer wants containment.”

Thomas inclined his head. “He’s already working on the cover-up.”

Right. Because the world couldn’t find out that a trusted senator had been bent on destruction—or that he’d been working side by side with a suspected serial killer.

Part of the EOD’s job was to sweep away the dirty, dangerous secrets like this one.

Thomas’s hand dropped. “I’ve always wanted to protect you.”

She blinked at him.

“Remember that.”

Then he was gone.

Her hands tightened around the bag. She couldn’t shake the feeling there was more going on with this case. More... Something that had rattled even the normally controlled Thomas “Dragon” Anthony.

She changed quickly and made sure all of the blood was gone from her hands. Her fingers were trembling slightly, and she clenched them into fists as she drew in a steadying breath. The case wasn’t over. Not yet. It wouldn’t be over until they uncovered all of the secrets Patrick Porter possessed.

After another bracing breath, Noelle opened the door. She expected the narrow hallway to be empty. It wasn’t. Thomas waited for her, with his back propped against the nearby wall.

“Thomas?”

He stared down at his hands. “I’ve done things in my life that I regret.”

“We all do things that we regret.”

His head lifted, and he gave her a sad smile. “I was trained to kill. Designed to be a perfect weapon. Trust me. There are things in my past better left forgotten.”

Noelle cleared her throat. “Forgetting isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

He straightened from the wall and reached for her. “Are you sure about that?”

His hold was strong, hard, and a bright intensity burned in his gaze.

“More of your past is going to come out, baby, and I need you to trust me.”

Oh, but that did not sound good. “I do trust you.”

“Enough to forgive what I’ve done?”

“Thomas...” He was scaring her.

His hand rose and curled under her chin. “I’ve watched you for so long that you seem like you’re just a natural part of my life.” His gaze searched hers. “But there are still secrets out there, and I don’t want them to hurt you. I don’t want anything to hurt you.”

She felt as if she were missing something.

“I’ll do what I must, in order to protect you.”

She wasn’t asking for protection.

His head bent, and Thomas pressed a kiss to her lips. He seemed to savor her. Almost helplessly, Noelle leaned toward him. After the madness of the past few days, Thomas was the only certain thing in her life.

When they touched, she needed.