Page 288 of Operation: Defiance

His breath catches.

Dipping my hand into my pocket, I find the flash bang, then kiss him again. A tremor starts in his legs, works its way higher. If I rush this, Voss will see. If I don’t, Asher could collapse before he knows what I have planned.

As I ease the device into his hands, my fingers find a crumpled piece of paper. The way he looks at me when I touch it…the desperation in his eyes…

“Trade me.” Another whisper. Softer this time. The shaking has reached his core now. He doesn’t have another minute in him.

The exchange is awkward, but we manage. I guide his thumb to the switch. A thread of tension runs through his body. It’s subtle. Here and gone before anyone else notices. But his eyes sharpen. Track quicker now that he has a purpose.

Another kiss. Another instruction. “Seven seconds after they take you.”

“He won’t last much longer,” Voss calls from across the lobby. “Your plan cost him everything.”

The words are meant to break me. They don’t. Because I feel Asher’s resolve under my hands.

I lift my palm to his cheek again. Feel the stubble under my fingertips. Memorize the exact shade of his eyes.

Another kiss, because I want it. Because I have to hide the motion of putting the second earplug in. Because I traded everything for this, and I have one more thing to say. “After…stay low.”

I raise my head. “Take Mr. Locke to the car outside. Put him in the back seat, and step away.”

Asher’s gaze locks on mine as the guards grab his arms. When they take their first step, he lets his head fall forward.

I focus on Voss. “You kept your end of the bargain. I’m prepared to keep mine.”

One.

Hands. Too rough. Too sudden. Digging into my shoulders and shoving me to my knees with such force, the impact slams my teeth together.

Every nerve in my body fires at once.

Don’t move. Don’t speak.

My heart slams into my throat.

Focus. Count. Breathe.

Two.

“Her phone,” Voss says.

“R-right jacket…pocket,” I manage through clenched teeth. The guard finds it, raises it over his head.

Three.

Somewhere behind me, Asher is getting closer to freedom.

Four.

“I’ll disable the drop once Mr. Locke’s car pulls away.” I have to keep Voss focused on me.

Five.

Voss chuckles. “You’ve lost, Agent Calder. I want you to understand that.”

Six. I close my eyes.

He’s still talking. I don’t care. In another second, neither will he.