Sharpshooter (Shadow Agents 3)

“You were with him, weren’t you?” Angry, low, biting.

Sydney squared her shoulders. “You’ve been through—” Hell. “I don’t want you getting so worked up, okay?”

“Worked up?” he yelled.

She winced.

“You have no idea just how ‘worked up’ I can get.” His smile was mean. Not the flirtatious grin that she remembered. “But you’re all about to find out.”

The door opened behind her. She figured it was Cale, coming back inside to check on her because he’d heard Slade’s raised voice.

Slade’s eyelids flickered. “Sydney, do you still love me?”

The man’s moods were shifting constantly. Too fast. A break because of his captivity? Or something more? His eyes were bloodshot, lined with deep shadows.

“Sydney?”

“Of course,” she said, and it was true. “You have to know that a part of me will—”

The door closed again.

Not Cale.

She spun around, yanked open the door and saw Cale standing to the side and Gunner stalking toward the beach.

“Now he knows,” Slade said, sounding satisfied, ?

?and now it’s time for his world to be ripped apart.”

* * *

SLADE STARED OUT at the pounding surf. He couldn’t remember the last time that he’d seen the ocean. The scent of the salt water was strong, and a million stars glittered down on him.

He’d shaved his beard and used a knife to cut his hair. He still didn’t feel quite human, but then, he hadn’t felt so for a very long time.

Sydney was gone. She’d headed back to her villa.

But not back to Gunner.

He wouldn’t let her go to Gunner. His brother actually thought that he hadn’t realized how Gunner felt about her. Slade had known. He’d always known.

I had something you wanted. He’d enjoyed keeping Sydney on his arm, showing Gunner what he’d never have.

His big brother, the one who was supposed to be so strong and tough and perfect.

Sydney would now see that Gunner wasn’t perfect.

They’d all see.

Slade was a survivor. He was the strong one. And Gunner...

He was the one who’d be destroyed.

Chapter Five

She couldn’t sleep. Sydney threw off the sheet that she’d yanked over her body, and climbed from the bed. She was wearing a pair of old jogging shorts and a T-shirt.

Sydney ran a hand through her hair. She’d been in that bed, tossing and turning, for hours. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Gunner.