“I reminded him that he was the first person at the company to break that rule.”
“I can only imagine the look on his face.” She laughed. “That question he asked us both—he wasn’t testing my response. He was testingyours. You know that, right?”
“What?” Clearly, Dylan hadn’t picked up on that.
“He wanted to see how you would react. That’s why he brought up the Nordic god guy. He was trying to push your buttons to see if he could provoke you.”
“That bastard.” Dylan gave a little laugh. “I guess that makes sense. He knows why I left the SEALs.”
“I could see that his question upset you at first.”
“My whole body tensed, and then … somehow, I just let it all go.”
She’d seen that, too.
She sat up, turned to face him, water sloshing over the edge of the tub and onto the stone tile floor. “I want you to know, Dylan, that I would never betray you like that. Despite all evidence to the contrary, I’m a pretty traditional girl. I could never be with one man and hook up with another.”
He reached out, ran a wet finger over her cheek. “I meant what I said, Gabi. I want you to be happy, whether you’re with me or someone else. The truth is…”
“Tell me.”Please, just say it.
His jaw tensed, and he took a breath, his gaze meeting hers, gray eyes dark. “The truth is that I’m in love with you, and it scares the hell out of me. I wasn’t looking for you, but you found me. I haven’t felt this whole or alive in so long. I know that probably sounds crazy.”
Gabriela’s heart melted, joy washing through her like a sunrise. “It doesn’t sound crazy at all—not to me. Some things are just meant to be. I love you, too, Dylan.”
“You’re my miracle, Gabi.”
She set her wine aside, straddled him, caught his face between her palms. “And you’re my favorite sin.”
Then she kissed him.
Epilogue
Six months later
Gabriela waited with Dylan, Lev, and Malik in the living area of a hotel suite at the LA Hilton, the men wearing tailored suits and ties, Gabi in a dark blue skirt suit and heels. This wasn’t like any operation she’d been part of for either the Agency or Cobra. Today, they were playing themselves, and Corbray and Tower wanted them to look professional.
“Do you think they’ll be disappointed?”
“Disappointed?” Lev arched an eyebrow. “Why would they be disappointed—because you’re not a nun?”
Malik glanced up from his phone. “They’ll just be happy to see you’re alive.”
Dylan walked over to where Gabriela stood by the window and drew her into his embrace. “Hey, come here. It’s going to be fine.”
She leaned into his strength, savored the feel of his arms around her. He’d been her rock these past six months, helping her through the nightmares that had followed their ordeal in Venezuela and doing all he could to make the transition from the Agency to Cobra easier. Everything had worked out.
This would work out, too.
They were taking a big risk, and lives were at stake. But inaction had become just as dangerous. Weeks of preparation had gone into today’s meeting—planning, trouble-shooting, working through details with the Agency.
“Thanks.” Gabriela pressed a kiss to Dylan’s lips.
“Hey, get a room—a different room,” Malik joked.
Lev stood, walked to the door, looked out the peephole. “They’re coming.”
A knock.