Page 97 of Ash Storm

“You’re Reynold’s niece. Our mission was to rescue you first … and take Afsan down afterwards. So that’s what we’re going to do—as soon as we’ve gotten Chloe out of there.”

Take him down …

Is that a euphemism for—

Ash nodded grimly, as if reading her thoughts.

“You still saved me,” she said, stubbornly.

“We’re not heroes, Reka. Me, least of all.”

That made her angry. They’d been through this before. “Stop doing that. You took the fall for something you didn’t do, in order to save somebody’s life. You shouldn’t be paying for that for the rest of your life.”

“Don’t make me sound heroic. We’re all … none of us are good men.”

Reka looked at the men sitting near the front of the plane. Dark and Slate were sitting together, poring through some documents. As she watched, Dark rubbed at his tired eyes. He didn’t look like he’d slept in days. Rogue had his laptop out and was typing away madly. He turned to say something to Griffin, who nodded grimly.

Griffin, who should probably still be in the hospital, but hadn’t even been willing to entertain the idea of staying behind.

The certainty grew inside her.

No matter what Ash is saying, these aren’t bad men.

“Maybe what matters is not what you all did in the past,” she said quietly. “Maybe what matters is what you choose to do now, with this second chance.”

Ash’s chin dipped, but he didn’t say anything.

A few minutes later, Rogue strolled up to them from the front of the plane. The IT specialist stopped by their seat, gently pulling his head sideways and holding the stretch. “So, has Ash told you all about Chimera Force, Reka?”

“Chimera Force?” Reka asked.

“It’s our name. Rogue came up with it,” Slate said, walking their way. A smile filled his broad face.

“Think of us as Interpol, without the pesky paperwork,” Rogue said.

“That has a pretty good ring to it,” Slate said. “Maybe that should be our tagline.”

Laughing, the two men made their way back to the front of the plane again. Once again, she and Ash were alone. Reka sat as close as possible to Ash. Their thighs touched.

Any closer, and you’d be on him.

“I trust you, Ash,” she said, placing her head on his shoulder.

“I told you once, Reka,” he rumbled. She could feel the vibrations of his chest. “I will bring Chloe back to you, or die trying.”

But I don’t want you to die.

I need you to live.