Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(103)

“All right. I’ve avoided this because I’m trying to not be a crazed, possessive caveman, but I’m going to talk to Ten about him. He tried to recruit Fain. He must have had a reason. I don’t know that I buy that Fain turned Ten down.”

“Not everyone wants to work black ops, brother. Some people want to do their time and then come home.”

But that wasn’t Fain. He was too good, too observant. “Yeah, those people don’t tend to get into the security business. Not at the level we’re at. Get back to me if you can. I’ll deal with Fain when we come home. Be safe.”

“You, too.”

Case hung up the phone with a sigh. He didn’t even have beer in his fridge. The only reason he was staying at his place was the fact that the flight was super early in the morning and he didn’t want to disturb the baby and Erin. It was easier to hand over security guard duties to Michael now rather than at five in the morning.

But the thought of spending the evening alone seemed sad. He hadn’t spent the night in his place since Mia had broken in offering him information and so much more. She’d offered him her sweetness, her affection. Sometimes he was sure she’d offered him her love. Why the hell else would she have put up with his shit if she didn’t love him even a little?

When he got back, he was going to start over with her. Maybe he would even introduce himself and see if she followed. A true fresh start. He would take it slow, no matter how much his dick wanted to speed things up. His dick wasn’t in charge anymore.

He sent a quick text to Ten asking him to send anything he had on Ezra Fain. He never actually called Ten. Not since Ten had started working small jobs. He only took jobs that kept him close to his wife and only intelligence gathering. From what Case understood, he’d negotiated a few deals the State Department asked him to and he’d rescued a diplomat’s son after he got himself in trouble. Ian had sent him on a few fact-gathering ops for some of the companies McKay-Taggart worked for. Still, for the most part Ten preferred to initiate contact.

And he would see Ten in about thirty hours or so.

Eat, sleep, work. It was what he did now. Eat, sleep, work, cuddle TJ, and think about Mia. That was his life.

It was going to change once this op was over. He shoved his phone back into his pocket. The urge to call Mia again was riding him hard, but he’d left her a voice mail already and it hadn’t had the effect he’d hoped for. She hadn’t finally called him back and promised to never leave him again. Nope. Radio silence.

The elevator doors opened and he strode down the hall. He passed Hutch’s place and only stopped when he realized the door to his apartment was slightly open. He could see the door handle wasn’t where it should be, it was the tiniest bit swung inward.

He dropped the salad and reached for his SIG, adrenaline starting to flow. Backup. He would need backup. Before he could reach for his phone again, the door came open and he could hear a feminine laugh.

“I’ll totally stand watch. I’ll text when Case is on his way up and then Kori can make herself scarce, but he would murder the both of us if we left you alone like that.” Sarah was standing in the doorway, looking back inside. She was one of the club regulars, a submissive who worked as a trauma nurse. She was Kai’s wife’s best friend and for a while, Case had been in her circle due to her friendship with Mia.

So why was she standing in his doorway and what was Kori watching over?

Sarah turned and then stopped in the middle of the hall, gasping before she visibly calmed. “Oh, that’s what they all talk about. Damn.” She pushed the door open again. “Okay, I totally get it. He’s ridiculously hot when he’s about to kill someone. Yeah, I think it was me he was going to kill. He’s totally here. Yeah, you might want to rethink a few things, sweetie. He looks pissed.”

“Who the hell are you talking to?” He holstered his SIG. Murdering Sarah and Kori would definitely get him in trouble with Kai, and he would have to explain to Mia what had happened.

Although she would likely attend their funerals and then he would have an excuse to see her…

“Mia, of course,” Sarah said as though that should be completely obvious. “Who else would break into your place?”

“What?” He’d been eating too many salads. His brain was fried. Or maybe it was the kale Charlotte thought she could sneak into his smoothie thing. Maybe that one sip he’d had before his brother had taken pity on him and helped him quietly toss it out had damaged his hearing.

Mia was here?

Kori stepped out, holding her and Sarah’s purses. A big smile crossed her face. “Awesome. I was worried you were going to stop someplace along the way. Kai said you were on your way home. And before you flip out, Boomer’s patrolling the halls. When Mia called, he was hanging out with us and he decided to come along so the CIA-looking dude could do whatever he needs to do when he’s in town.”

Case was so confused. “CIA dude? Are you talking about Fain? He’s a bodyguard.”

Kori shrugged. “You all look alike to me. He reminds me of Master T. Anyway, Mia wasn’t left unprotected. Not even for a second. Now, I’m going to pick up Boomer and head back. Hey, someone left a Top bag out here. Free dinner. Nice.”

He didn’t give a damn about dinner anymore. Mia was here and she’d broken into his place again, the little brat.