From Sanctum with Love (Masters and Mercenaries #10)(128)

He was so useless now. A gun without a bullet.

He had to get dressed and go over to Erin’s where he would put on his mask and pretend to be alive. His brothers would be there. He loved them, but he wasn’t truly one of them. Ian and Sean had a language of their own. They’d grown up together, survived together, understood each other like no one else.

He’d only really ever had Theo.

Now he only had revenge. That was what got him up in the morning. The idea of putting his hands around Hope McDonald’s throat and squeezing had become his reason to live.

But briefly, just briefly, he’d thought he had another. He’d met a girl at Sanctum and for a few days, he’d thought of something other than killing. He’d felt like a dumbass kid the minute Mia had smiled his way. He’d thought about asking her out.

He’d wanted so badly to talk to his brother because Theo had always been better with girls than him.

And then he’d found out she was a f*cking spy. Oh, they’d all turned out to be on the same team, but she’d lied her way into his life.

It was better to be alone.

The doorbell chimed and he sighed. It was likely Sean. Ian was on his way to Erin’s to meet them all for dinner. They would all meet up at the house Theo had bought shortly before his death. Case could still remember ribbing him about the three-bedroom ranch in the suburbs.

Sean always rang the bell and then used his key to come in anyway, so Case sat on the bed, trying to put off the inevitable moment when the mask had to slide back into place.

He couldn’t help thinking about the conversation he’d had with Kai earlier. He’d meant it. He couldn’t feel Theo anymore. Maybe it had always been his imagination, but since they were kids, he’d had a connection to his twin. He’d known that night that Theo was in trouble. He’d been sitting having a drink with Ian and Sean and he’d felt his stomach turn and he’d known.

The bell rang again and he cursed under his breath. He schooled himself, standing and taking a deep breath so he could face his brother with a smile.

Clothes would have to wait a minute because Sean could be impatient. And apparently forgetful since he wasn’t using his key.

He was halfway to the door when he heard it. It was nothing more than a little scratching sound, the kind metal made when it came against more metal. The living room was dark, night having just fallen. His blinds were drawn so he couldn’t see out. He could get his computer and check the security camera, but by then whoever was there would either get in or go away.

Case went still and then moved very quietly to get his SIG. It was never far away, a constant companion.

His body calmed, his whole being slipping to a place he’d trained for his entire adult life. Most people would feel their heart rate speed up at the thought of confronting someone trying to break into their home, but Case’s slowed. His movements became methodical and silent, his every sense focused on one thing.

Taking down whoever was trying to get him.

Yes, he could use this. He hoped whoever it was didn’t go down without a fight.

He very quietly moved to the wall so he would be hidden when the door came open. There was a snick and then his front door swung in an arc.

Before his intruder could fully walk into the room, Case moved in. He slammed the door and had the intruder against it. He shoved the muzzle of his SIG against the intruder’s head and then he let himself process.

His intruder was face first to the door, having been turned around during the brief struggle. Shorter by at least a half foot, his thief had blonde hair, and that was when the smell hit him.

Citrus. Grapefruit. It was sweet but with a bite. Like the woman herself.

“What the f*ck are you doing here, Mia?”

“I thought I was being clever. I…god, Case will you please put the gun down?” Her voice was breathless. “And the other…you know…I can feel it against my back. Unless that’s another gun.”

Nope. It was his dick. Damn thing only worked around her anymore, and he kind of resented her for it. “I think I’ll wait until the police get here,” he lied, wanting her to panic. Six months had gone by and this was how she renewed their acquaintance? Had she been trying to show him what a dumb f*ck country boy he was? How much smarter she was? “You stay right where you are.”

“Case, I came here for you. I came straight to you because you know they’ll both leave us out. We can do all the work, but big brothers will leave us behind when it comes time. We have to stick together,” she said.

He could feel how soft she was. The round curve of her ass rubbed against him as she squirmed in his arms. His left hand was right under those nicely shaped breasts of hers. All it would take was an inch upward and he could cup one. He could haul her back to his bedroom. She’d been the one to break in. She’d poked the bear, and the bear could give it to her hard and then maybe, maybe he could stop dreaming about her at night. Maybe he could work up the will to find another woman, a woman who really made sense for him.

He took a step back because she was already f*cking with his head. Two minutes of Mia and he was thinking like a caveman, tossing out all reason. He couldn’t handle her. He flipped on the light because the dark was far too intimate for this discussion. “If this is something about the op my brother is running with yours, then talk to Ian. I don’t have anything to do with that.”