Page 38 of No Words
Surprise flickers across his face, followed by something that might be pride.
“We’d be outgunned,” he says, his eyes studying me with fresh interest. “But if we play this right, we could end this. Permanently.”
I meet his gaze, unwavering. ‘I choose this. I choose you.’ Words that will change everything between us.
And for the first time since I’ve known him, Cole falters. His eyes widen slightly, his jaw slackens. It’s small, but from him, it might as well be a shout. In this moment, I understand the genuine danger isn’t Alessio or his men. It’s what I’m beginning to feel for the man before me, and what I’d be willing to do to keep him.
10
COLE
The phone vibrates against my thigh. Killian’s signal, time’s up. I slip away from Molly’s warmth and pad to the kitchen, keeping my footsteps silent. She needs whatever sleep she can get. After tonight, there won’t be much chance for rest.
“Bennett,” I keep my voice low.
“We’re here. Three of us, like you asked.” Jayce’s voice carries through the phone.
Backup should feel like relief. Instead, possessiveness burns through me, sharp and unwelcome. Through the window, I watch three shadows detach from the dark pines, boots silent on pine needles. They move like predators, confident and lethal.
“Transport, clean papers, three safe houses north of the border. Everything you need to vanish. We can have her across the Canadian border before sunrise.”
Her. Not us. Not you both. Just her.
I open the door before they knock. Jayce enters first, lean build, blonde hair, eyes that catalogue everything. Jensen follows with his military-short hair and the gear I requested, while Owen immediately sets up a laptop on the kitchen counter.
Jayce drops a duffel at my feet and hands me a tablet. “Trail cams caught these two hours ago.”
I look at images of black SUVs on the forest access road, men with guns moving between trees. My stomach knots.
“Borsellini himself?” I ask.
“Alessio’s leading the hunt,” Owen says without looking up from his computer. “Must want her pretty bad to get his fancy shoes muddy.”
I push down the flare of rage. “How long?”
“Two, maybe three hours before they get here,” Jayce says. “They’re checking every property along the way. Taking their time to be thorough.”
“And the escape plan?” I ask, though I already know what I’m going to do. Running means she’s never truly free. Never truly mine.
Jensen spreads a map on the table. “There are three routes out. The forest road north, the river to the east, or helicopter extraction from the clearing two miles west. All doable. All ready now.”
I study the escape routes, each one viable, each one leading away from here. Away from her. The thought grates against every instinct I have.
“No,” I say simply.
Three pairs of eyes turn to me.
“No?” Jayce’s eyebrow lifts.
“We’re not running.” I trace my finger along the property line. “Even if we get away clean, Borsellini keeps hunting. As long as he’s breathing, Molly’s never safe. Never free.”
“Our job is to extract and protect,” Jensen says carefully. “Not to engage.”
“Your job,” I correct him. “Not mine. Not anymore.”
They exchange glances. These men know me. Know what I can do.
“So what are you thinking?” Jayce finally asks.
