Glitter and Gunfire/Bulletproof (Shadow Agents 4)

“IT’S TIME TO go, Cassidy.”

She smiled at his voice, loving that deep rumble of sound, but Cassidy didn’t open her eyes.

She was in the middle of a really good dream. She and Cale were in a meadow. The sun was shining down on them. They were walking. He had her hand cradled in his.

There was no fear.

No danger.

Just life.

“Sweetheart, we have to go. The car’s waiting for us.”

His voice was louder now, breaking through the dream. The peace she’d known an instant before began to slip away.

Her eyes opened. Cale stood beside the bed, fully dressed. His expression was carefully guarded, almost blank.

Where was the heat that had blazed before in his eyes? So much passion. A desperate need.

That sensual pleasure hadn’t been a dream.

Sweet reality.

“I should have woken you sooner.” Now his voice seemed almost hesitant. “But you just looked so...peaceful.”

She hadn’t exactly enjoyed a lot of peace in her life.

“But we have to hurry. The car’s outside.”

Right. They were leaving. He was taking her home.

I want to have a home. A real one.

Could Cale give that to her? Did he even know what she wanted from him? Why?

Swallowing, Cassidy turned away from him. Five minutes later, with her hair combed, her teeth brushed and clad in the clothes he’d prepared for her, she was ready to go.

He stayed close while they hurried from the building. Dawn had just come, and streaks of sunlight slid across the D.C. skyline. Gunner was by the vehicle. So was Logan. She glanced to the left and caught sight of—

A flash of red hair.

Cassidy froze.

“Cassidy? What is it?” Cale’s hold tightened on her.

Cassidy glanced back at the alley. “Genevieve.”

A frown pulled his brows low. “The agents are still searching for her. They’ll find—”

“I just saw her.” The words were pulled from a throat that suddenly seemed dry. What was happening to her? Was she seeing ghosts? Seeing what I want to see?

“Where?” Cale demanded.

She pointed to the alley.

Cale didn’t head toward the alley. Instead he guided her to the vehicle. “Make sure she stays inside,” he told Gunner.

“What’s happening?” Gunner demanded.