“Michaels has enlisted the help of the Ghost Team to find you.”
That got her attention. Every Chameleon knew of the Callaghan Brothers and their off-the-books operation, especially since one of their own, a particularly skilled agent known as Nix, had married one of them. It was the one and only time a Chameleon had ever been made. Rumors were that some sort of mutually beneficial relationship had been forged between the Chameleons and the Ghost Team as a result, but Taser had never substantiated that one way or the other.
What that had to do with Gabe, though, she couldn’t imagine. He had been working through the covert Bone Frog Command division of Homeland Security, which, as far as she knew, had no ties to the Ghost Team.
“Again, I ask, so?”
“So, it turns out Gabe Michaels and Kane Callaghan are old friends. And after your little message, Michaels reached out to the Iceman for help in tracking you down.”
Deep in her chest, Virginia’s heart began to beat faster.
“I covered my tracks.”
“You did. A little too well, in fact.” Taser smiled, then sobered. “I don’t think you understand exactly how good the Ghost Team is, or how far they’re willing to go for a friend. Kane got his brothers involved, and as soon as they heard how effectively you’d disappeared, I got a call.”
“They know?”
“Not for sure, no, but they suspect.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, shit. I don’t need this, Tenebris. We don’t need this. Our entire operation is based on staying under the radar, feel me?”
She nodded, guilt washing over her. She’d only wanted Gabe to know she’d settled both their debts, hers and his. She hadn’t meant to put the entire organization at risk.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it. You violated our only sacred rule.”
“I know.” She also knew that the consequences of doing so were severe. There was no leaving the Chameleons, not ever. It was a lifetime commitment, spelled out in the contract they’d signed. There was too much at stake.
Still, she didn’t regret what she’d done. Gabe deserved some peace. After Christos, she’d done her research and knew exactly why Gabe hated Darius. She couldn’t give him what he really wanted—namely, the satisfaction of taking Darius down himself—but she could give him the knowledge that Darius would never hurt anyone else again.
“Do what you have to do.”
The corners of Taser’s mouth quirked. “You know, Nix said the same thing when she fucked up. Sometimes the similarities between you two are just eerie. It’s like you’re related or something.”
Taser’s eyes glowed, this time sending chills up and down her spine. “Do you know something I don’t?”
“I know lots of things you don’t. That’s why I’m the boss. Now, what are we going to do about this?”
Virginia clamped her lips together, refusing to be baited further. What she didn’t know, she didn’t need to know.
“The way I see it, we have two options,” Taser continued when she said nothing. “One, we leave them hanging in the breeze and ensure there’s nothing for the Ghost Team to find.”
She nodded. “And the second?”
“We extend an offer to Michaels.”
She gaped at him. “Seriously?”
“I’ve done some digging while you were off galivanting across Europe on the company dime. Michaels meets all the prerequisites and then some. We could use a guy like him.”
Hope tried valiantly to resurge, but she held it at bay. “It’s a nice thought, but there are a few flaws with your theory.”
“Bite your tongue, woman. My theories are flawless, and you know it.”
That almost made her smile, but her mind was too busy processing the possibility of being with Gabe again, and all the reasons why that wasn’t realistic.
“Gabe doesn’t want this kind of life.”
Taser waved his hand dismissively. “Men like Michaels never completely walk away. Take breaks, sure. Tell themselves they don’t need it, yeah. But they do. Especially when given proper motivation.”
“And you think I’m that motivation?” She laughed through the pain that sliced like a blade through her heart. “I’m pretty sure he hates me.”
Taser didn’t even crack a smile. He tilted his head to the side and regarded her closely. “Why? Because you lied to him about who you were?”
“For starters.”
“You also exposed yourself and more than ten years of undercover work to save his life. That means something to men like him.”
She wished she could believe him. Wanted to so badly. “Not enough.”
“Let me ask you this: are you willing to find out?”
Chapter Forty-Four
Gabriel
Gabe gave the ax another hefty swing. The wood gave way beneath the sharp blade, splitting into two roughly equal pieces. They tumbled off to either side of the stump with a soft thud. He picked up one half, placed it back on the stump, and repeated the process.
Chopping firewood was a mindless task, and that was a good thing, because his thoughts were somewhere else these days. It had been weeks since he’d left the Callaghan compound. Weeks of waiting and wondering, and still, he hadn’t heard anything.
Nothing.
His hopes that she’d want to see him again faded a little more each day.
Three strikes and you’re out, you stupid son of a bitch.
The thing was, he’d thought it was different this time. He’d let himself believe that connection he’d felt with her had been the real deal. That what had happened at the Kristikos estate and the stunt she’d pulled in Korfos meant something. They had. He knew it with every fiber of his being.
But apparently, not enough.
It was frustrating, to come so close to finding her and then have her slip away again. The Callaghans knew who she was, or at least who she worked for.
Oh, they’d never actually admitted it. The most they’d told him was that they’d put out some feelers to see what shook out, but they knew. He knew they knew, the same way he knew that if that croie bullshit they spouted were true, then Virginia was his, and he was hers.
He also knew that while they sympathized with him, nothing he said or did would make them change their minds and start spilling information.
He understood it, but he hated it. Hated the feeling of not being able to do a goddamn thing but wait and hold on to the hope that she’d decide to contact him, if that was even an option.
Whatever organization Virginia was a part of, it was well above his pay grade. Super-secret agencies could only accomplish the kinds of things they did as long as no one knew they existed. Hell, he half expected to feel sights on the back of his neck every time he stepped out of his cabin just for knowing the little bit he did. Which was practically nothing.
And probably why he was still breathing, swinging an ax, and muttering curses into the empty space around him.
Swing. Split. Bend. Place. Swing. Split. Bend. Stack. Was this all there was for him now? Chopping wood. Fishing. Hunting. Alone, with no one but Fred for company. He’d told himself that was what he wanted. That after decades of service, this was what he deserved.
But now... he wasn’t so sure it was enough. An endless stream of days just like this no longer seemed as much of a reward as it did a sentence.
Getting back in the game had reawakened something in him, and not just his heart. Silas had been right when he said he needed to do things. To challenge himself, both mentally and physically. To have a purpose.
He wasn’t a kid anymore, but he didn’t exactly have one foot in the grave, either. He could still be useful.
He was reaching for another log when Fred’s ears perked up. The hound lifted his head and stared intently toward the cabin.
Gabe turned around but didn’t see anything. “What is it, boy?”
A tingle started at the back of his neck and ran the length of his spine, his senses going hyper-alert. Fre
d got to his feet and ran toward the cabin.
“Fred!”
The dog ignored him, running full-speed and nearly tripping over his own feet in his excitement, disappearing around the corner, baying gleefully. Gabe hadn’t seen him that animated since . . .
Then Gabe was running, too. He rounded the corner and stopped dead in his tracks, afraid to believe his eyes. Virginia was crouched down, laughing softly and accepting the sloppy, wet kisses Fred was lavishing on her.
He took a moment to breathe, to convince himself that it really was her. She looked different than the last time he’d seen her. Her hair was darker, a reddish brown instead of the bronze it had been, loose and flowing, and held out of her face by some kind of stretchy band. Instead of conservative designer apparel, she was wearing jeans, hiking boots, and flannel. Less professional, more real. And so much more beautiful.
Was she real? Or had that tingle he’d felt been a sniper’s bullet right before it landed in his brainstem, spawning his own, customized version of heaven?
Virginia looked up at him and offered him a tentative smile. “Hello, Gabe.”
At that moment, he didn’t care if she was real or not. He closed the distance between them, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her as if his life depended on it.
After only a moment of surprise, she softened and returned the kiss, parting her lips, allowing him to take what he so desperately needed. He lifted her up, her legs wrapped around his hips, and he carried her inside.
“Sorry, buddy.” Gabe closed the door, leaving Fred outside to fend for himself for a little while.
Unlike the last time, there was no slow seduction. No, this was a claiming of the most primitive kind. Clothes were discarded, body parts revealed and acknowledged with haste, and then Gabe was pushing into her. Only once he was seated deep inside her did he pause and breathe, feeling rightness in his world again.
He made love to her without words, the sheer carnality of it breathtaking. Before long she was crying out and he was pulsing out his release deep inside her body. Despite the brevity of the encounter, it was no less meaningful than the hours they’d spent pleasuring each other their first time.
It was only afterwards, as she lay in his arms sated and replete, that he finally spoke. “I missed you.”
She smiled back at him and stroked his face. “I missed you, too.”
“You got my message, then?”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
Yes, she was, warm and naked and in his arms. He kissed along her jaw and down her neck, pleased when she lifted her chin to give him better access. Those nails scraping lazily along his back felt pretty damn good, too.
“What took you so long?”
She laughed softly, repeating the words she’d said to him a lifetime ago. “I am a busy woman, Commander.”
He responded with a nip of his teeth that made her squeal in protest. “Too busy for this?” For me?
“Again I say, I’m here, aren’t I?”
“For how long?”
Her hands stilled. Gabe hated himself for blurting that out, for sounding so goddamn needy. But damn it all, he was. After months of searching, of waiting, of wondering, he finally had her with him again and he wanted to keep her there.
“Gabe, we need to talk.”
Well, that didn’t sound promising. The phrase “we need to talk” never preceded anything good.
“Let’s not. Let’s just stay in bed and not say anything that doesn’t involve you calling out my name or God’s.”
She laughed, her hand finding its way down to his ass and giving him a stinging smack.
“Mmm, kinky,” he murmured against her neck. “I’ll allow it.”
He thought his distraction tactics had worked until her hands found their way back up to cup his face and she kissed him.
“Seriously, Gabe. We need to talk. But first, I need a hot shower and some real food. I’ve been camped out on the ridge for two days.”
He pulled back, surprised by her words. “You’ve been here for two days and you just now decided to show up on my doorstep?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Her eyes were serious. “I needed to assess the situation first.”
Gabe pulled back. Her words reminded him that no matter how soft or fragrant or beautiful she was, she was no ordinary woman. She was a highly trained covert operative. And what, exactly, did that make him?
Not liking any of the answers he came up with, he released her and got out of the bed, then stalked toward the bathroom.
Chapter Forty-Five
Virginia
Gabe was pissed. She didn’t blame him. If their roles were reversed, she would be, too. But she needed him to understand.
“Don’t be angry with me, Gabe. I needed to make sure you were alone.”
He returned with a warm washcloth. Despite the scowl on his face and the furrow between his brows, his cleansing strokes between her legs were gentle. She opened for him, allowing him to care for her this way, sensing his need to.
“Doesn’t take two days to do that,” he grumbled.
“No,” she agreed. She’d needed to do more than simply assure he was alone. She’d wanted to observe him before she extended Taser’s offer. As much as she wanted to be with Gabe, she couldn’t be selfish. Signing on with the Chameleons was a lifetime commitment, and offered only to those who had nothing else. If he appeared to be happy, or even content, she would have walked away and not looked back, regardless of how much it would have hurt to do so. “I don’t expect you to trust me, but I had my reasons.”
He stared into her eyes, searching for answers she wasn’t quite ready to give him, because they would change everything. She wanted a few more moments of just being with him.
Finally, he exhaled and nodded slightly. “All right. Take your shower. I’ll make us something to eat. Then you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on.”
Gabe brought in the backpack she’d dropped outside while she indulged in a hot, steamy shower. By the time she emerged, delicious scents of grilled steak and roasted root vegetables filled the cabin. They kept the conversation light as they ate, speaking of the beauty of the surrounding area and the advantages of living simply. The fact that he had purposely distanced himself from the rest of the world was encouraging, but she tried not to let her hopes climb too high.
Afterward, they cleaned up together. It felt so domestic, so natural—except for the huge elephant in the tiny kitchen area. Her grace period was passing quickly, and she knew he wouldn’t accept her silence much longer.
He dried the last of the dishes and looked at her expectantly. The cabin suddenly felt too confining for what she had to say. She suggested they make coffee and talk on the porch. He agreed.
A short while later, she was sitting in one of the surprisingly comfortable wooden rocking chairs with a mug in her hands and a cool breeze caressing her face. Fred was curled up at her feet, Gabe beside her as they watched the sun sink below the mountains, painting the sky in brilliant colors that reflected in the lake. It was so peaceful. So perfect.
“Now is a good time to start talking,” he prompted.
“I’m not sure where to begin.”
That was the truth. She wanted to start at the beginning. Wanted to tell him everything so he would understand. But she couldn’t. Not yet. Not unless he said yes.
“Let’s start with what happened that night at the estate. Why did you do it?”
She exhaled slowly. Of course, he’d gone right to the heart of it. She chose her words carefully. “A long time ago, Darius Kristikos took something from me, something I loved very much. I wouldn’t allow him to do it a second time.”
He was quiet for several long moments. “Are you saying that you love me, Virginia?”
His voice was deep and even, giving nothing away. In the increasing darkness, his face was shadowed, his expression unreadable.
“Yes,” she confirmed. “As you can imag
ine, that complicated things greatly.”
“I bet,” he murmured. “I don’t suppose you can expand on that?”
She shook her head. “No, but I can tell you we had similar reasons for wanting to find Christos.”
His rocking cadence paused for a moment before continuing. “I doubt it.”
“Gabe, I know about your SEAL team. About what happened in Mali and who was behind it. That’s why I did what I did in Korfos. I wanted you to know that I took care of things for both of us. To give you some peace.”
He stared deep into her eyes. “Who are you?”
“I am whoever I need to be,” she answered softly.
“Is Virginia even your name?”
“At this moment, yes.”
He made a grunting sound and got to his feet, walking over to the railing. Fred’s eyes followed, but the dog didn’t move. “Jesus. Is there anything you can tell me? Anything real?”
“That depends.”
“On?”
She gave him a small smile. “On how much you value your life.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me?” His voice was low and deadly, reminding her that he was no ordinary man.
“No, just laying out your options.” She took a deep breath. The time had come. She could stall no longer. “There’s so much you don’t understand.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“I already know you work for some secret organization of spooks. That, for all intents and purposes, you don’t exist, and . . .” He stilled, connecting the dots. “Why are you here, Virginia?” he asked softly. “Am I your next assignment? A loose string that needs to be cut off?”
“I think you know I’m not going to do that,” she answered, just as quietly.
“But someone else will?” he mused, turning his gaze toward the ridge as he put the pieces together with astonishing accuracy. It would be so easy for someone to hide up there, rifle in hand, waiting to take a shot. “Will either of us exist tomorrow?”
“I won’t, but you have a choice.” Gabe opened his mouth but she held her hand up. “Just listen, all right? I don’t have a lot of time.”
SEAL Out of Water (Silver SEALs, #7) Page 19