Lancaster slanted his gaze toward Cale. “You’ll need that wound tended to.”
Cale’s body all but vibrated with rage. “What I need is for you—”
“Russell, Owens...you two make sure that Ms. Chevalier is checked out and returned home.” Two more men in black moved toward Genevieve at Lancaster’s order.
Genevieve inched closer to Cassidy. “What’s going on? Who are these men, Cassidy?”
“It’s okay.” Cassidy gave her a hug. “They’re the good guys.” Mostly. “They’ll keep you safe.”
After a moment, Genevieve nodded and slowly walked away with the men.
Lancaster still stood in front of Cassidy. “I’ve got my orders. Mercer wants me to bring her in.” He was staring at Cassidy, but his words were for Cale.
“She stays with me. I’m the one who—”
“You’re the one who used her so that he could play hero and take down the Executioner.” Lancaster’s voice was flat. “Mercer knows exactly who you are.”
No, he had that wrong. Cale hadn’t used her. She was the one who’d put him in jeopardy.
“You don’t seriously think he just...let you go, do you, Ms. Sherridan?” Lancaster shook his dark head. “Mercer was very clear on what Cale was to do on the extraction...and he didn’t follow orders.”
“So now you’re taking over?” Cale gritted out.
“Yes, I am.”
But Cassidy didn’t want to go with him. She...she trusted Cale. She wanted to be with him.
So she twined her fingers with his. “Where I go, he goes.”
Lancaster’s dark brows climbed.
“So unless you have orders to physically pry me away from him—” doubtful, though she wouldn’t put that past Mercer “—then you can escort us both out of here. You aren’t taking me away from Cale.”
A muscle jerked in Lancaster’s jaw. “Figured you’d be as stubborn as Mercer.”
Her breath caught. He knew. But then, Lancaster had worked with her longer than most agents had.
A faint smile lifted Lancaster’s lips. There were secrets in his eyes. Plenty of them.
Cassidy knew she would have to deal very, very carefully with Agent Lancaster.
* * *
MOST FOLKS WOULD have never noticed the small clinic. It wasn’t in the heart of Rio, wasn’t close to the Carnival celebration. It was near the jungle, barely clinging to the edge of civilization. The doctor there knew how to keep quiet—and he also knew how to hurriedly patch an ex-soldier’s wounds.
No anesthesia was given. Cale didn’t want anything to dull his senses. The bullet was pulled from him; the stitches sank into his skin. Cassidy stayed by his side every moment, her worried gaze on him.
Blood streaked her clothes. Blood and dirt. She had to be exhausted after all that she’d been through, but the woman remained on her feet, stubbornly holding his hand like it was a lifeline for her.
Or for him.
This...this was the spoiled debutante that he’d scoffed at before?
Hell, no. This woman was completely different. She was strong, and brave, and...
He wanted her so badly that he ached. The newest bullet wound he had didn’t matter. The bruises and aches in his body were all but forgotten.
Cassidy—and the growing need that he felt for her—consumed him.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her face. So lovely. So perfect. When the Executioner had put his knife to her throat, when Cale had thought that Cassidy might die...
I went a little mad.
He’d raced up those stairs and had been ready to beat the man to death in an instant. Been ready to do anything for her.
“Finished.” The doctor’s English was rough, but his fingers were fast enough as they snapped up the money that Logan offered for services rendered.
“Obrigado.” Cale thanked him in Portuguese.
The doctor nodded, then hurried from the small room. Logan followed him.
Cale was left alone with Cassidy.
Finally.
He eased up, feeling the stretch of those new stitches as he sat on the edge of the metal exam table. Cassidy’s leg brushed against his.
“Take it easy,” she said, eyes worried. “You don’t want to undo the man’s work so soon.”
He pulled her closer, positioning her so that she stood between his spread knees. “You were wearing a mask.” He could see that now. No, see her.
She blinked at him. “Uh, Cale, did you hit your head at any time during that fight? Maybe it’s too much blood loss....”
His fingers rose and curled around her chin. “Stop, Cassidy. I see you now.”
For an instant, fear flashed in her eyes, but she blinked and the emotion was gone.
Just like that.
She was very good at wearing her mask.
A much better actor than he was.
“What do you think it is that you see?” Her lips twisted. “A woman who almost got you killed?”
“A woman who was willing to risk her life to stop a killer.”
Her lashes lowered. “I didn’t want you hurt. You can’t keep taking bullets for me.”
His hand went to hers once more. He brought her fingers to his bare chest.
She flinched at the contact.
He had to bite back a groan. Her hand was so soft, and she was—caressing him. Almost as if she didn’t even realize what she was doing.
Swallowing, he moved her fingers, making sure that she felt all of the scars that marked him. Old bullet wounds. Knife wounds. Too many battles over too many years.
“I’m used to risk,” he told her.
Her lips parted as a soft sigh slipped from her. “But this risk should have been mine, not yours.”
She was tracing the scar on his left side, just a few inches above his nipple.
His pants were too tight, and Cale knew she had to see his arousal. There was no hiding some things.
But Cassidy didn’t back away from him.
She eased even closer.
His heartbeat kicked up.
“I’ve never seen anyone fight the way you did.”
When it came to up-close kills, he knew he had a brutal talent. But that wasn’t something he would have chosen for her to see.
I guess we’re both seeing things we shouldn’t. “Why do you do it?” Cale asked, voice deep and rough because the arousal he felt for her pulsed through him. “Why do you pretend to be the party girl, flitting from one ballroom to another?”
“Maybe that is who I am.” Where his voice had been rough, hers was soft. Husky. “No pretending needed.”