Page 21 of Croatia Collateral

She stepped out of the dressing room.

Dax leaned against the wall beside the door. When she came out, he straightened and turned to look at her latest outfit. A smile slid across his face. “Nice. That one could be dual purpose.”

She nodded and faced the three-sided mirror, pushing the sleeves up on the jacket and shoving her hands in the pockets. “Paparazzi-worthy.”

In the next moment, she shrugged out of the jacket and pulled off the belt. “Suitable for night ops,” she whispered.

His lips quirked upward on the corners.

His approval made her chest warm. Not that she needed his approval. But it was nice that he recognized her effort to dress according to the mission.

She paid for the outfits, including the thin red belt.

Dax carried her bags back to the men’s store, where they’d completed the alterations and had their purchases bagged and ready to go.

Giva texted Dmytro and Fearghas while Dax gathered his bags.

When they exited the store, the long black vehicle had pulled up to the curb.

To get to the car, they had to walk through a gathering of reporters with cameras and microphones.

“Mr. Maas, how long will you be in Zurich?” one man asked.

Fearghas stepped between the reporter and Dax, hurrying him toward the vehicle's open door.

“Ms. Royce, is it true that your lover paid a million dollars for you to travel to space on the next launch of his commercial spacecraft?”

Giva smiled and refused to respond, linking her hand through Dax’s elbow.

When they reached the vehicle, he handed her in first and then slipped in beside her.

Fearghas rounded the rear of the car to the other door and got in on Giva’s other side.

With cameras aimed at the windows, reporters walked alongside the vehicle as Dmytro eased away from the curb.

Dax stared out at the clamoring throng. “I think the word has spread.”

“Gird your loins, people,” Fearghas said.

Giva’s hand found Dax’s.

He squeezed gently and didn’t let go as they slid through the streets of Zurich.

I’m an independent woman, Giva reminded herself.

But it felt good when someone had her back.

Chapter 5

Dax sat across the narrow aisle from Giva. Though the distance was short enough he could have reached for her hand, he didn’t. It was one thing to touch, kiss and hold her in public, where people expected Evan Maas and Sasha Royce to demonstrate their love or lust for each other.

It was another thing entirely when they were only with their small team of Brotherhood Protectors, each knowing this mission was only a charade necessary to get them inside the meeting of the wealthy and powerful.

Giva was a member of the team, just like Dax, Fearghas, Peter and Dmytro. They were professionals on a mission.

Not a couple on their way to an all-inclusive adult resort to float in a pool and drink Mai Tais.

At that moment, a couples’ retreat sounded amazing.

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