Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents 7)

Her lungs had burned.

Rachel exhaled slowly. The last thing she remembered was trying to surge for the surface and then— “Dylan.”

Noelle glanced toward a black van that had just arrived on scene. Thomas and Dylan were loading a handcuffed Jack—Aidan?—into the van.

I talked to him. I had drinks with him. I never suspected the truth.

Jack had fooled her again.

“When I got here,” Noelle said, “Dylan was under the water. You were both down there for a very, very long time.”

Rachel’s eyes were on the van. On the men there. Jack looked back at her.

He was right in front of me at the pub. And she hadn’t recognized him.

Jack had darkened his hair. His nose—it had changed, been broken a time or two. His jaw was different, harder. He must’ve had some surgery done to alter its appearance. He’d worn contacts, lost weight and changed his voice as he adopted an Irish accent.

He seemed like a totally different man.

But he’s the same.

Jack smiled at her. Then he climbed into the van. Thomas followed him inside.

Dylan slammed the door shut. He watched the vehicle as it sped away. His shoulders were tense. When the taillights vanished, Dylan turned back to face Rachel. His gaze held hers. Then he stalked toward her.

Rachel pulled the edges of the blanket closer to her.

Noelle stepped in front of Rachel, blocking her view of Dylan. “Are you afraid of him?”

Rachel shrugged. “Jack’s a dangerous man, but showing fear won’t—”

“Not him. Dylan.”

Maybe she was. He had the power to hurt her more than any other person.

“You are.” Noelle seemed surprised.

Rachel glanced up, meeting her eyes. “Even the good guys can be scary.”

Noelle glanced over her shoulder. Dylan was just steps away from them now. “You should let the EMTs take you to the hospital for a more thorough check.”

Rachel stood. Her clothes were still damp and a chill skated over her flesh. “There’s no way I’m stepping foot into a hospital again.” She was breathing. She was alert. The EMTs had checked her five times for goodness’ sake.

“But you need someone to watch you.” Noelle’s worry was obvious.

“I’ll watch her,” Dylan said. He brushed by Noelle. He didn’t reach out to touch Rachel, and she was glad. Part of her feared that she might shatter if he touched her. “Rachel’s coming home with me.”

Her eyes widened. “Since when?”

“Since I thought you’d died in my arms... Since I realized that I’m not letting you out of my sight tonight.” He came even closer to her. His clothes were wet, just like hers, but he didn’t seem cold at all. His eyes blazed with emotion. “What the hell were you thinking? You went out that window with him!”

Yes, she had. She’d known the water was there, so she’d thought her odds of survival were fair. Her chin lifted. “I was thinking that if I didn’t move, you were a dead man. There were only four feet between you and Jack. He wouldn’t have missed that shot.”

“You mean the way you did? Three years before?”

His question seemed to come out of nowhere, and Rachel flinched.

His eyes widened and a look of what could have been horror flashed over his face. “No, Rachel, wait, I didn’t mean—”