The Spy Who Came For Christmas(22)

Chuck’s rage hadn’t burned red-hot. It had been ice cold. He’d been calculating. He’d slowly worked his way through the chain of command until he’d found those responsible for that leak.

And then he started taking them out. One at a time. Taking out anyone and everyone he thought had been involved in her death. Chuck wouldn’t stop…not until I stopped him.

On a mission gone to hell. A mission that had ended with two dead CIA operatives…and one of the dead had been Chuck.

Chuck…always so quick to smile. A fake smile that had hidden his pain.

Because he really f*cking loved her. And without Lada, he broke.

“You sound as if you’re speaking from personal experience,” she murmured.

“I am.” A grim, hard truth. “I’ve seen the lengths that people will go to in order to achieve their revenge. I had a partner…he turned on the Agency. Turned on his own teammates, and he destroyed anyone in his path.”

“I’m sorry.”

So was he. “I thought I could trust him. I was wrong.” He’d almost paid for that mistake with his life. He exhaled slowly and stared into her eyes. “We need to dig into Gage’s life. If there’s someone out there who might have a reason to blame you, to come looking for you, then I will stop him.”

Her fingers trailed over his chest. “I don’t want you hurt.”

“Jemma—”

“Look, Super Spy, you aren’t bullet proof. No one is. And we can find the guy who is doing this—we will find him, but I want you safe. I want us safe.” She leaned toward him and pressed a quick kiss to Grayson’s lips. “Because I’ve discovered that I’m quite fond of you.”

I’m more than just fond of you, sweetheart. I think I love you—and that scares the hell out of me.

Her gaze drifted to the right, to the clock on his nightstand. “Ohmygosh…” She tried to jump off him, but he just held her tighter. “Grayson…” His name came out on a sweet sigh. “I’d love to stay naked with you all day—”

Good to know.

“—but I’ve got to get to the shop! The Winter Wonderland Festival is coming up, and I need to get the last of the chocolate ready.”

“The Winter what?”

“Wonderland Festival.” Her smile flashed. “It’s a Holly thing. And, like I said, though I would absolutely love to stay naked in this bed with you, if I don’t get to the shop, there is going to be a serious chocolate panic when I don’t bring those orders in for the festival.”

His fingers tightened on her. “How much would you like to stay?”

“Gray…”

“How about…stay a little? And we’ll be fast?”

Her eyes widened. “How…fast?”

He tumbled her back onto the bed. Took her mouth with his.

Not that, fast, sweetheart. Not that fast.

***

She’d stayed in bed with Grayson far too long.

But she’d sure enjoyed the hell out of that time.

Jemma jumped out of Grayson’s SUV. “I just need to run inside my place and get some fresh clothes. Five minutes, ten tops.” She slammed the door, but Grayson had already turned off the vehicle. Figured he’d follow her. He was definitely in his protective mode.

And she liked it. He was sexy when he did the Super Spy thing. Actually, she rather thought he was always sexy.

She unlocked her door and hurried in. Her alarm was beeping and she quickly typed in her code to reset it. A glance over her shoulder showed her that Grayson was pacing near the front door. “Be right back,” she promised him.

Jemma hurried down the hallway. She pushed open the door to her bedroom, stepped forward and—

A hard hand grabbed her from behind. She opened her mouth to scream, but her attacker whirled her around. His right hand came up, fast, and in that hand, he had a gun.

He shoved that gun under her chin.

“Make a sound,” he rasped, “and I will shoot you here and now.”

Jemma stilled.

He’d been behind the door. Hiding here, in my bedroom.

He’d gotten past her alarm. Gotten in her house. He’d been waiting…and I have no idea who he is.

Frantic, her gaze raked over his face. A weak chin, stubble-lined jaw. Roman nose. Dark brown eyes. Blond hair.

I don’t know him. I’ve never seen him before in my life.

“I’m really sorry about what’s going to come,” he told her, still keeping his voice low. Because he knows Grayson is here. He must have heard Gray talking with me. “It’s not personal. Know that. You’re just…caught in the crossfire, so to speak.”

She started to shake her head, but stopped—the gun is too close.

“You’re his weakness,” he continued as that gun barrel jabbed her even harder. “And after what he did, Gray has to get the payback coming his way.”

And she understood.

Grayson had been right. It was about revenge. But the attacker didn’t want to pay her back for what she’d done in the past.

This is about Gray. He wants to hurt Gray.

A smile spread across the blond man’s face. “I’ve waited for this moment.”

In her mind, Jemma was screaming. As loudly and as desperately as she could. But she stood before him, frozen, not speaking at all.