Retribution (SSU Trilogy Book 3) (The Surgical Strike Unit) (12 page)

Sure enough, Rafe’s mouth shifted into what she now considered his trademark teasing smile. She cursed as her mouth quivered, wanting to return a smile.

Dammit, sometimes she had trouble remembering that this was the man who’d pinned her to her bed that night at the compound. Who’d kept the flashlight directed at her eyes while he interrogated her.

The same man who’d nearly devoured her with those kisses she’d been trying so hard to forget. A week of giving him the cold shoulder hadn’t stopped him from flirting with her, and it sure hadn’t killed the low buzz of arousal she felt whenever he was near.

She rubbed her throat and took some petty satisfaction in watching Rafe’s smile dim. His lips turned down and he shifted his weight as he stared at the faint pink scars that were the only remaining evidence of the night he and his men had terrorized her.

She let herself enjoy the small power of unsettling Rafe. Ever since he’d ordered her to grab whatever she needed from her cabin and then shoved her into the night, her life had been anything but comfortable. She’d been trying to shake up his world ever since, but nothing rattled him.

“Gabby, this is what we do,” Rafe said. “We’re good. My team can handle it, no problem.”

Realizing she was close to throwing something at Rafe, Gabby closed her eyes and counted to ten. The infuriating man delighted in pushing her too far. He must have made it a personal goal to force her to unleash the temper she’d kept tightly chained since her childhood.

“Daddy, no!”

Gabby cowered behind the sofa as her father threw her favorite ballerina sculpture across the room. The delicate china shattered against the corner of the fireplace mantle and Gabby bit back a sob. She knew her daddy would be sorry about what he’d done when his nice side came back, but until then she clasped her arms around her middle and vowed she’d never get scary mad when she grew up.

Gabby jerked herself out of the past. True to her childhood vow, she never let her temper fly out of control. Even though she now understood that her father’s rages had been a side effect of Agent Styx, the ghost of the child she’d been was still afraid she’d end up like her dad one day—so enraged that only destroying her surroundings would ease her. Then being unable to remember what she’d done the next day.

Just like her patients.

Not patients. Patient. Singular. Rafe’s friend Nate Ngoro was the only escapee still alive.

But not for long. Today Nate’s blood and tissue samples had confirmed her fears. His body had started self-destructing at a rate she had no way of countering.

Knowing she had to give Rafe the bad news only made her temper worse.

“Gabby, c’mon, give it a rest will ya?” This was from Muldovsky, Rafe’s cherub-faced cohort. “Haven’t you figured out by now we’re the best?”

Gabby wanted to scream.

“Can you survive attacks by men as strong and mindless as Nate?” she threw back. Even in his weakened condition, Nate possessed extraordinary physical strength and unbelievably fast reflexes.

But if Rafe and his men felt any qualms about facing such a foe, they didn’t show it.

“How’s Nate doing?” Rafe asked.

Gabby winced as Rafe’s expression moved from teasing to concern. She really didn’t want to be the one to give him the news. He knew his friend’s prognosis wasn’t good, but Nate had been in such better overall mental condition than the others that she’d heard some of Rafe’s men speculate their buddy might make it.

As Rafe watched her expectantly, Gabby sighed and forced herself not to look away. “He’s dying, Rafe. His latest blood work shows his body has reached the same stage that killed the others.”

She saw the quick flare of grief in Rafe’s eyes and bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something more I could do.” Her throat tightened on a wave of tears. “But I can’t help him because we’re up against compounds we’ve never seen before!” What terrified her was that the notes Laurel had hidden in the clothes of the escapees contained comments indicating that even Kaufmann didn’t fully understand the drugs he’d been using. He’d stolen samples from someone he’d worked for before, a scientist called Dr. Nevsky, but Kaufmann didn’t have the man’s research notes and so had been unsuccessful in deciphering Nevsky’s drugs.

Despite his maddened, almost animalistic behavior, Gabby felt both possessive and maternal toward Nate. Her team had managed to ease Nate’s pain somewhat, but nothing could stop his body from self-destructing. She bit down on her molars, driving back the persistent feeling of helplessness. He was her patient now. She hated knowing she couldn’t save him.

There was no consolation in knowing that tomorrow Rafe and his team were returning to Kaufmann’s compound and might bring back the answers she needed. Nate didn’t have that long. At the rate his body was deteriorating, he’d be lucky to still be alive in four days, let alone the six Rafe estimated his team would be gone.

She studied the tabletop mockup of the compound one more time. It looked just as she remembered. Which wasn’t saying much. There were critical gaps in her knowledge of the lower lab. Empty spaces on the model indicated the places she’d been prohibited from entering. She’d only been able to give a rough estimate of the number of security personnel on duty inside.

The fact that the lives of Rafe and his team depended on her incomplete information terrified her. Yet Rafe seemed excited by the challenge. His dark mocha eyes snapped with the same excitement reflected in every one of his men.

She didn’t understand the pitying glances the men threw her way, as if she wasn’t really living because she didn’t think risking her life was fun. What was wrong with a quiet, orderly life? A life without violence?

Nothing, that was what. But these maniacs would never see it her way, so it was time she left them to their final preparations.

“There’s nothing more for me to add. Good luck tomorrow gentlemen.”

She took one last look at each of Rafe’s teammates, seeing their strength and their confidence. Wishing she could tamp down this choking fear for them.

Finally, she allowed herself to look at Rafe, and instantly regretted it. She felt singed by his heat and vitality. It wasn’t fair. She finally met a man who brought her feminine side to life and he could end up dead before she’d even had a chance to explore the attraction.

An icy hand curled around her heart. No, she wouldn’t picture Rafe dead.

Feeling tears threaten again, she spun on her heel and practically flew from the room.

“Gabby, wait!”

She heard Rafe’s footsteps behind her in the hallway, but she didn’t stop. The last thing she needed was to break down in front of him. She didn’t want him pitying her or thinking she wasn’t professional.

Dammit, she should have run the other way when he’d ordered her to pack her things and go with him that night. Her only excuse was that she’d still been off-balance from his interrogation and seeing the two dead bodies on the floor of her bedroom.

She wasn’t used to violent death. Another difference between her and Rafe that should send her fleeing as fast as possible in the opposite direction.

She warned herself not to glance over her shoulder. Even though Rafe called to some feminine need she hadn’t even known she possessed, she was damned if she’d give in to it. He was way too charming. Too dominant. Too accustomed to getting his own way.

And she’d been so lonely for so long that she soaked up Rafe’s flirting like a dry sponge. The small collection of stuffed animals and figurines was a constant reminder of how well Rafe had come to know her. She didn’t think she’d ever felt such an intimate connection to anyone, and it scared her to death.

Right. She was scared. Uh-huh. That was why her nipples were tightening just thinking about Rafe. Damn him to hell.

She gritted her teeth and focused on the door at the end of the hallway. Almost there.

“Gabby.”

She slammed to a stop, frozen by the sound of Rafe’s voice at her back. She hadn’t realized that while she was thinking, she’d also been slowing down. Giving him time to catch up with her.

Rafe slipped around her, blocking her way.

“
Querida
, what’s wrong?”

Hearing Rafe’s chocolate smooth voice draw out the endearment sent a sensual chill racing across her skin.

No weakness. Do not let him get under your skin. First, he’s leaving tomorrow. Second, Nate is dying. Keep your focus on your work.

Carefully keeping her eyes fixed on a chip in the corridor’s paint, she mumbled, “Nothing. I’m just…tired and I still have a lot of work to do. Please let me past.”

There. That sounded polite. She was pretty sure nothing in her tone gave her emotional state away. She sidled to her right, hoping he’d take the hint and move aside.

But no. Of course not. Instead, he reached out and tipped her chin up so she ended up staring into his concerned eyes.

Concern for her, when she was unable to save Nate. When she didn’t know if the work she’d done for Kaufmann had helped or hurt his friend.

Why did he have to be so nice to her? Why did she have to find him so attractive? He was tearing her apart because she couldn’t bear the thought that he was heading back to Kaufmann’s compound. Rafe was the one bright spot in her life right now. How would she put her heart back together if something happened to him?

She felt the first tear slide like hot butter down her cheek. “Damn you! Just leave me alone.” She jerked away and tried to run.

Rafe was faster. He wrapped her in his arms and set her head to rest against his chest. Within seconds his t-shirt was damp with her tears.

R
afe held Gabby against his chest and felt a lance of emotion pierce his heart. She was crying because of Nate. Because she cared so much about a man she’d only known as a rage-filled monster. Not the fierce, intelligent man Rafe had trusted with his life.

Rafe admired Gabby for not giving up despite the odds, but this crying totally undid him. Her tears didn’t just touch Rafe the leader, they touched Rafe the man.

Rafe accepted the risks of his job. Each mission had the potential to end in death or disability. Just because he had no problem with the danger didn’t mean he wanted those he cared about to worry. So he shielded them as best he could.

His heart ached because he couldn’t protect Gabby from the pain of Nate’s death.

She sniffled and started to pull away.

“It’s okay,” Rafe told her in a voice he hoped would soothe her into staying right where she was. “Just let yourself cry. Let it all out.”

Christ. He sounded like some talk show shrink. But bottom line, he didn’t want to let her go. It felt too right having her in his arms. Like she belonged here.

Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell Gabby that. After maybe another minute of crying into his shirt, she pushed away firmly enough that he had to let her go.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled as she pulled a tissue from her pocket. She blew her nose, keeping her eyes down. “Things have just been a bit…much lately.”

“Hey.” He tipped her chin up and nearly staggered under the impact of her hazel eyes. More green today than brown, they glittered brilliantly through the magnification of her tears. He totally forgot what he was going to say. Poof. It was just gone. All he could think about was comforting her. Making her smile again.

Which is how he found himself leaning forward, kissing her wet cheeks and tasting her tears.

He felt her body go rigid, heard her sharp little inhale of surprise. He pulled back long enough to see her stunned expression. To confirm that she wasn’t offended or scared. Then he leaned in again and finished drying her cheeks with his tongue.

Then, God help him, he moved lower and kissed her mouth.

R
afe’s closeness, his tenderness, threw Gabby completely off balance. The rasp of his tongue against her cheeks warmed her in places that should have been completely unaffected. Once again proving how dangerous he was to her equilibrium.

Then his lips settled over hers. He kept the kiss light. Tender. Yet her entire body jolted into awareness. When his tongue slipped between her lips she thought she made some husky sound of approval, but wasn’t sure. All her senses were focused on the feel, the
taste
of his mouth against hers.

God, the power of his kiss. She felt it in her soul. Felt that if she didn’t get more of his taste, she’d die. She pressed into him, sucking his tongue deeper into her mouth. Never wanting to let him go.

When Rafe raised his head, she whimpered and leaned forward, trying to recapture his mouth. He stared into her eyes, his expression clouded with desire. She was certain her own expression must be the same.

“Christ,” Rafe whispered. He slid one hand to the back of her neck, the other to the small of her back and pulled her against his body as his mouth came down on hers.

Rafe nibbled softly at her lips and Gabby opened her mouth, eager to have him back inside. She gave a purr of approval when his tongue probed deeper and Rafe answered with a growl. The kiss flared, turning ravenous as they tried to devour each other.

Gabby lost her sense of self. The rest of her body simply ceased to exist. She became nothing more than a starved mouth, desperate not to let Rafe leave until this hunger for his taste, for the warm spice of him, was satisfied.

“Jesus, mate, get a bloody room will ya?” a sardonic Aussie voice drawled.

Gabby jerked away from Rafe, mortified. She didn’t recognize the man standing in the corridor, leering at them. About Rafe’s height, he had spiky, white blond hair, a surfer’s tan and a grin that said he enjoyed her discomfort.

That was all she had time to notice before Rafe turned and put his body between her and the stranger. She put her hands between Rafe’s shoulder blades and rested her forehead on the backs of her fingers.

“Playing voyeur again, Larson?” Rafe asked in a voice so chillingly polite, Gabby shivered. “Isn’t it time you found your own lady?”

“Why? When it’s so much fun stealing yours.”

Gabby felt Rafe’s muscles tighten underneath her fingers. “And yet I hear you’re single again,” Rafe responded.