Spy Games (Tarnished Heroes #1)(24)

Hector spread his free hand and lifted his shoulders.

He wouldn’t confirm or deny Rand’s assumptions, but he’d been around long enough to know how to read between the lines. Hector, and other direct employees of the company, would say as little as possible. It often made Rand’s job frustrating, but it was necessary.

“He was involved with Sarah?” He hated this Charlie person on principle.

“That I do not know.”

“But, what? Mitch said something? He didn’t say something? He asked a question?” Rand watched Hector’s face, looking for the minute twinge. A micro expression that would betray the other man’s thoughts. “He asked a question about Sarah or Charlie that made you believe they are—or were—involved.”

Fuck.

Sarah. With someone else.

He was too raw to think about it. To accept it. Hours ago he’d had her under him, been inside her, and thinking about her with another man, allowing him that kind of contact—it was too much.

“I’m going to go find Sarah.” Rand wheeled around.

This time, his thoughts didn’t stop him; they drove him on. First, he’d find her. Then, he’d secure her somewhere. And lastly, they’d talk. Or something.

He went up, past the main floor to the section that comprised the bunk rooms. Places for people like them to stay for short spans of time. They were a little better than single-occupancy dorm rooms.

Either she was done with Mitch, or would be soon.

Rand strode down the hall, passing the room he’d stumbled into long enough for a catnap and a wash-up. A thin line of light shone under a door a quarter of the way down the hall past his. He paused, tapping on it with his knuckles. “Sarah?”

She didn’t answer, but shadows moved under the door, blocking out more of the light.

The door opened and she stared up at him, dark circles under her eyes, lines bracketing her mouth. Rand crowded her into the room, nudging the door shut with his foot.

He needed to touch her, to assure himself that she was at least physically okay. He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her up against his chest.

She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder.

He didn’t dare squeeze her too tight or say anything. Who knew who was listening? If the person who’d burned her was part of the company, who wasn’t to say that the room was bugged?

“Rand, I—”

“Shh.” He stroked her hair. “You haven’t had a shower since Seoul.”

She blinked at him, frowning.

He laid his finger over her lips.

She no longer smelled of his shampoo, which told him she had, indeed, showered at some point. If they were being listened to, the person on the other end of the bug might not know that and even if they did, so what? The bathroom was still the best-equipped room in a structure with counter-surveillance equipment built in.

“Let me help you with that. I know your arm hurts.”

Sarah closed her mouth, brows drawn down.

“I haven’t had a chance to catch American news for a while. Mind if I turn it on?”

“Not at all,” she said.

He flipped the small, flat screen TV on and turned up the volume. That done, he ushered her into the small bathroom and turned on both the shower and sink.

“What the hell, Rand?” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest, the bandage on her forearm a stark reminder they weren’t kids playing hide and seek anymore. Besides, Rand wasn’t looking forward to a face-to-face with Matt any time soon.

“In case someone’s listening,” he whispered.

Her brows rose and her jaw went slack.

“It pays to be safe.” He leaned against the vanity and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“What’s going on?” She dropped her arms, shoulders slumping.

“I don’t know, but we’re in this together. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Her gaze dropped to the tile floor. She’d held herself together so well, never balking at what he asked her to do, never crying or being too scared. She’d grown into such a remarkable woman. So strong and brave. Much like her brother.

“Come here.” Rand held out his hand.

She walked straight into him, her face buried against his chest, her arms clutching him tight.

“Here’s what we know: someone burned you. Likely, that same person sold the briefcase’s location to the Chinese, and now we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, but we got this.” He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. It was late. They were exhausted. And the stress of it all was immense. She’d do better after a night of real sleep.

“But…what about everyone else? All the people who relied on me? What about them? And your assets?”

“My people are being taken care of. The company will work on contacting everyone else. That’s not your fault.” He didn’t doubt for a second that Sarah was an innocent in all of this. She had no idea what she’d gotten involved with. When he found out who’d sold her out, he’d make them pay.

No one hurt his Sarah.





Chapter Six


It was all too much. A storm Sarah had no chance of weathering…without Rand.

What was she going to do if he got reassigned?

This whole thing was so far over her head.