Page 29 of Broken Trust
Mason leaned against the counter, staring into the depths of his mug. But he didn’t see the dark brew or register the flavor.
His thoughts were still lost in Elin. Her smell, her taste. Fuck, the feel of being buried in her tight heat.
Most of all, he’d missed those glimpses into her beautiful mind.
The low hum of female voices drifted from the living room, which was their equivalent of the war room for Charlie team. Each one of them had a role in Blackout, providing expert skills and support. Their work wasn’t the crash of waves on the shore that everyone saw from the operatives—it was the subtle undercurrent that kept the team balanced and steady even when storms hit.
Elin’s work was different. Her code reached farther. The effects of her hacking rippled through the network like the moon pulling the sea in a quiet, inexorable tide.
Changing everything.
Changing him.
He took a sip of coffee, this time acknowledging the dark roast that flowed like water here. It still couldn’t wash the taste of his lover out of his head. It would be a long time before that faded, if ever.
The memory of spreading her thighs, of sinking between them, had him drowning for a long minute.
The thud of boots on the marble floor jerked him out of his reverie. When Dante entered the kitchen, Mason was ready for what he knew was coming.
“Briefing with Con. Now.”
He pushed off the counter and took two steps to place his mug in the sink. “Right behind you.”
Dante had already ducked out again. Mason followed in quick strides, aware of sounds coming from the rear of the mansion. He picked up on the footsteps of a newcomer. One who took tentative steps, too close together, because his head was covered by a blackout hood.
Steele and Sinner had returned with their charge, the bomb handler Elin located in Canada, brought to them for questioning.
Hearing the arrival of their guest, Con emerged from the war room, his expression a hard mask. When he passed Mason, he gave a brisk nod.
“I’ll be with you and Dante in a minute.”
Mason stepped into the war room. Dante and Sophie were already seated there, but no Elin.
He didn’t know if he was relieved he didn’t have to face her after their night of passion or disappointed not to get the chance.
He slipped into a seat. “Is this a briefing for the whole team?”
Dante shook his head. “Just us.”
“I understand you and Sophie—you’ve been working closely on the situation. But what does Con want with me?”
Dante arched a brow. “It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it, Mason? This is about Elin.”
On the surface, Mason stilled, and the mask of a SEAL slid automatically into place. Using the skills he learned in BUD/S training, he forced his heart rate to slow, but his insides were locked and loaded for battle.
He hadn’t exactly hidden the fact that he left the war room with her after they watched the suspect get taken into custody, and he didn’t bother to hide that he never left her bedroom untildawn. But he didn’t do anything the rest of the guys didn’t do on a nightly basis.
The sharp sounds of doors opening and closing preceded Con’s footsteps as he returned. When he entered, his stare landed on Mason.
“Let’s talk.”
He sat like a rock, unmoving as three people studied him like he was under investigation.
Con opened his mouth, and Mason braced himself, but Con aimed his question at Sophie. “How do you like working with Elin?”
Sophie’s mouth softened into a smile. “She’s a great asset to Charlie. With her help, I’ve been able to work faster on the cryptograms.”
Con nodded, then turned his attention to Dante. “What do you think?”
