Page 81 of Storm Warning

“I’m feeling better than I thought I would too. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be dead. You got there just in time.”

His thoughts racing, Hawk said nothing. John nodded at his bodyguard, and the man stepped out of the room and shut the door.

“Who is that guy, John?”

“You don’t think I need a security detail after being shot by an assassin?”

An assassin who had missed the mark. “I didn’t say that. But I get the feeling you already had a security detail ready.” Except they hadn’t been present at his home to protect him then.

“What’s going on? Who do you really work for?” Hawk tried to keep accusation out of his voice.

“How long have we known each other?” John hadn’t missed Hawk’s less-than-trusting tone.

“Long enough,” Hawk said. “That’s why I don’t understand why you’ve kept all this from me.”

“Intelligence work, Hawk, means secrets. It’s a balancing act of loyalties to my country, my job, and those who trust me. So please, trust me to keep you safe.”

“So, you’re not going to tell me.”

“I might have said too much when I was injured.” Lines deepened around his mouth and eyes.

“You didn’t say enough. What’s this operation about? Why is Cole after Remi?” Might as well play ignorant.

The door promptly opened, and the security dude stepped inside.

“It’s okay, Banks,” John said. “I’m good.”

The man stepped back out into the hall.

“I can’t tell you,” John said. “Knowing more will put you in that much more danger.”

If only you understood.“How much more danger can Remi be in? She’s a target, man. Cole snatched her right out of your home.”

“I get it. You don’t know what to do next. I’ll help youwith that, but I need to know, Remi...” John shifted his gaze to her. “What have you remembered?”

She shared a look with Hawk, and he nodded, trusting her to share what she felt comfortable with.

“I fell out of a helicopter. There was an explosion and I think the helicopter crashed.”

“Do you remember why you were on the helicopter?”

“While I don’t remember much, I feel uncomfortable talking about this.”

John fisted his hands and pounded the sheet. “Your life is in danger, girl. If you remember something, I need to know.”

“Hawk seems to think you can help us connect with ... um...”

“Connect with who?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “That’s why we’re here.”

Girl?Hawk had enough.“John, you know she’s right. You seem to know something about what’s going on. What Remi and I need is to know who was in charge of Operation Blackout. Remi will talk to that person only.”

John closed his eyes and leaned against his pillow. Were they overtaxing him? Or was it just an act? He put on a strong front despite the fact that he was still recovering from a gunshot wound that almost took his life.

He opened his eyes. “I’m in communication with the high-ranking official you need. I’ll make the necessary arrangements for you to meet. I’m sure he’ll be anxious to learn what you’ve remembered. I have a feeling there’s more, but you’re not telling me, and that’s understandable. You’re doing the right thing.” John leveled his gaze on Remi. He’d been trained in how to read people.

Hawk was torn between his fierce loyalty to John and trusting his instincts about this situation. He stepped forward. “John, I—”

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