Page 60 of The Soldier

A few seconds later, Trina lifts her face, and despite the height difference, we’re close enough for me see the full emotion in her eyes. It almost takes my breath away.

It’s fury and wild.

“I thought you were dead.” Her voice is rough, but soft as if holding back all I can see inside those blue globes.

“I’m hard to kill, little wolf.”

Our eyes remain locked as Ryder presses the elevator button. So many unsaid things pass between us as I drop my arm and run a finger over her forehead to brush away a stray lock of hair.

“He is,” Ryder says. “I’ve tried a dozen times.”

I wink at Trina, and she rolls her eyes at both of us.

Somehow my hand rests on her lower back and because she hasn’t pushed me away, I’m not moving it.

“Tell Josh if he wants a briefing he can wait until tomorrow morning. I need a shower.”

“He’s not expecting you.” Ryder suddenly pulls his phone out of his pocket and glares down at it. “Are you kidding me?”

My eyebrows shoot up.

“Problem?”

“Yeah, apparently a dark chocolate emergency. What is this?” He holds up the image on his screen.

Trina grabs his hand and angles the phone her way. An odd sensation fills my chest. I do not like her touching him. Despite being a married man, the fact she has her hands on another male is triggering me.

That’s new.

“Mr. Mister’s chocolate nuts? She wants them now?” Trina groans.

He nods. “Yup. Where do we get them?”

Another message beeps.

“Wearen’t getting them. They are only sold on the other side of the city.” Trina shakes her head. “I need to get this guy home.”

I couldn’t agree more. My shower is calling my name. I have sand from Kuwait in my butt cheeks. I am not driving around so Savannah can get some special celebrity whatever goddamn chocolate nuts she’s craving.

I also need to take these pain meds and get a good night’s sleep.

“Look, I can grab an Uber—”

“No,” they both say.

“I’ll grab one. Trina can take you home.” Ryder glances between us then focuses on her. “Think you can do that without killing him? We just got him home.”

I twist my mouth in a grin waiting for her response.

“I can’t promise. But if he doesn’t talk on the way home there is a higher possibility.” She lifts a shoulder.

Man, I have missed her.

Laughing, we take the elevator down to the ground floor. I shake Ryder’s hand, and he kisses Trina on the cheek—risking his life once more—then hands me my duffle bag.

Why does he need to keep fucking touching her?

“I’ll take it.” Trina tries to intervene, and I ignore her, lifting it above her head and throwing it over my shoulder with my good arm.

---