Page 50 of Corey
“No. The CIA is handling his capture.”
“They better,” Corey ground out. “I don’t like knowing he’s out there somewhere.”
“He won’t be on the run for long. They’ll catch him and nail his ass.”
“So, what’s our op?”
“Mitch confirmed the Lazaro Cartel was paying Sera’s bosses to use the J&J Shipping warehouse and docks as a base of operations. They’re trying to reestablish control in Tierra Caliente, diverting power from the Villarreals. CIA gathered from your photos that a narco sub is being used to transport weapons down to Mexico so the Lazaro Cartel can continue fighting the Villarreals. Our job is to intercept the sub and stop that from happening.”
Corey frowned. How the hell would they find the submarine, let alone stop it?
After disconnecting the call, Corey explained the situation to Sera. He felt bad about making her pack up again after they’d barely been back twenty-four hours. But he took comfort in the fact that it had been the best twenty-four hours of his entire life. And he hoped they were just getting started.
“I’m worried,” she said as they drove back to Old Glory, clutching the cat carrier on her lap a little tighter than the last time they made this trip. Light snow flurries hit the windshield as Corey expertly maneuvered the truck down the mountainside.
“You’ll be safe with Julia and Mitch.”
“I’m worried foryou,” she clarified.
“I’ll be fine, sweetheart,” he assured her. “This is what I do. The only thing I’m truly good at.”
“Oh, I disagree with that,” she murmured. “I think you’re pretty good at a few other things, too.”
He smirked. “Oh yeah? Like what?”
“Like giving me multiple orgasms.”
“I aim to please.”
She turned in her seat to face him, suddenly serious. “It’s more though, Corey. I feel like you see the real me. Emotional scars and all.”
“I do see the real you. And you, Sera Darling, are so fucking beautiful.”
He heard her breath catch. “You make me realize it’s okay to not be okay all the time.”
Because he didn’t have the words, he reached for her hand, pulled it across the center console and placed a kiss in her palm.She was becoming more important to him with every minute that passed.
And that scared the shit out of him. Because what if he failed her one day? What if she looked at him with disappointment in her eyes, treating him like the failed protector he knew he was?
He didn’t think he could stomach that. He’d rather die than let Sera down.
Chapter Twenty
Old Glory was hopping with customers and Sera perched on a stool at the end of the bar, watching the team get ready to depart on their mission. Once they were ready to leave, Brand caught Julia’s waist, reeling her in for a steamy goodbye kiss. Then Chaz swept Lottie off her feet and kissed her hard. Sera wanted to kiss Corey, too. But would he welcome it?
As if in answer, he walked through the door after stashing his gear in Brand’s truck and brushed the snow from his head. God, he looked as big and wild as his wolf. She squeezed her thighs together as his gaze searched the room and landed on her. He stalked straight over with zero hesitation, bent down and kissed the crap out of her.
Surprised, but in the best possible way, her arms wound around his neck and she leaned into him, holding on tightly or else she would’ve fallen off the stool. He didn’t hold back despite being in front of his friends, Mitch and a room full of strangers. It almost felt like he was staking his claim, and she loved it, kissing him back eagerly.
“And another one of my boys falls,” Mitch murmured, unable to hide his smile.
A couple of low whistles pierced the air before they finally ended the kiss. Staring into Corey’s piercing blue eyes, she laid a hand lovingly against his stubbled cheek and said, “Be careful.”
“I will.”
“Come back to me as soon as you can.”
“You can count on it, sweetheart.”
