Page 67 of Croatia Collateral

Atkins was first through the door.

“Interpol wasn’t happy the laptop went missing. What have you got?”

Dmytro frowned. “It’ll take time to get through the code and understand the links to the satellites. Interpol will have to wait. Where’s Hank?”

“The helicopter with Hank and Interpol is taking Fearghas to the trauma center at Dubrovnik’s General Hospital,” Atkins said. “They’ll stabilize him there and arrange for medical transport to a hospital in Zurich, where he can be with his wife and baby.”

Dax hadn’t known Fearghas had a wife and baby. The Scotsman had disappeared each night while they’d been in Zurich. Dax had been so caught up in learning his role as Evan Maas that he hadn’t asked his teammate about his family situation. He vowed to fix that now that he was a member of the team.

“Is he going to be all right?” Giva asked.

Atkins nodded. “He lost a lot of blood, but they build the Scottish tough. He’ll pull through.” He nodded toward Dax. “We can take over here if you want to clean up and get some rest.”

Dax ran a hand through his hair, stirring up a cloud of dust. “You sure you don’t need me for anything else tonight? No cities full of millions to save? No crazy oligarchs to wrangle?”

Atkins gave him a crooked grin. “Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Rest up. Hammer will have another assignment for you before you know it.” He held out his hand. “You did good. Welcome to Brotherhood Protectors International.”

Dax shook the man’s hand, feeling pretty damned good, despite the pain in his leg and the knot on his head. Those would heal.

“I’m going to get a shower, then,” he said, turning for the door. He made it out into the hall before Giva caught up with him.

“You know you don’t have to pretend to be my fiancée anymore,” he said as she fell in step with him. “You could’ve stayed with the others to make sure they fix the mess Maas made.”

She held up a key card. “You’ll need this to go to our room.” Giva entered the elevator first, waved the card over the reader and punched the button for the penthouse floor.

As soon as the doors closed, Dax pulled her into his arms. “I know I’m covered in dust and probably smell like a dungeon, but I have to know something.”

She gazed up at him, her nose wrinkling. “You are both of those things.”

“Back there, before we stormed into the suite, I heard you say something, or maybe I misheard you, but I need a little clarification.” He cupped her cheek and tipped her face up so that he could stare into her beautiful brown eyes.

“What did you hear?” she asked, turning her face to press a kiss into his palm.

“I heard you say I love you.” His eyebrows dipped low. “Was it wishful thinking? Could a woman as beautiful, brave and kickass as Giva Haviv love a former Marine, covered in the dust of a thousand years and smelling like the dankest of dungeons?”

She stared up into his face. “And if she did?”

His face split in a grin. “That would be great, considering that smelly Marine, who vowed never to fall in love again, fell hard for a woman who’s his equal in combat skills and superior in her knife-throwing abilities.”

Her eyes widened. “He did?”

The elevator doors opened at that moment.

Dax grabbed her hand, dragged her out into the hallway and crushed her to his chest. “Yes. He did.” He shook his head. “I did. As crazy as it seems, I’m in love with you, and I’m not afraid to say it. I want to spend my life with you. If that’s forty years or forty minutes, I’ll take whatever I can have and love you like there’s no tomorrow.”

Giva smiled up into his eyes, her own filling with tears. “It is crazy, but I’ve never felt more alive than when I faced death with you.” Her brow puckered. “But it would be nice not to face death on a daily basis. Can we postpone that part for a day or two? I have a rain check to collect.” She took his hand and led him down the hallway. “I intend to collect it in full.”

He chuckled. “Can I get a shower first?”

She nodded. “We can get a shower first.” She passed the key card over the reader and pushed the door open.

Dax followed her into the room and kicked the door shut behind them. “I love a woman who knows what she wants.”

“And I love a man who knows how to please me.” She cast him a challenging glance. “Do you know how to please me?”

“If I don’t, I’ll spend the rest of my life learning how.”

Epilogue

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