Page 64 of Cole

Janice rose on her toes and kissed him, soft and sweet and full of promise. "Thank you," she whispered against his lips. "For the necklace. For the tracker. For everything."

Cole's arms tightened around her. "When this is over⁠—"

"I know." She kissed him again. "When this is over."

They didn't talk much after that. Words seemed inadequate for what they were feeling, for the connection that had blazed to life between them in the midst of chaos and danger. Instead, they communicated in touches, in sighs, and the careful exploration of skin.

Cole laid her down on the bed with reverent hands, determined to memorize every inch of her, every little gasp that slipped from her lips. Tomorrow he'd walk into the lion's den. Tomorrow everything could change. But tonight, she was here, she was his, and he intended to show her exactly what that meant.

Morning came too quickly.

Cole woke and lay still with Janice’s head on his chest and his arms wrapped around her. He watched her sleep, noting the tension she’d worn on her face was gone and hoped her dreams were peaceful. He had no experience with feelings this strong, much less this strong this fast.

What was it about her that drew him in besides her obvious beauty? Was it her passion for what she did? Her dedication? Her leaping into situations that might be dangerous without being reckless but with careful planning?

He didn’t know how long he stayed and hated to leave, even though he needed to get the day started. He was careful not to wake Janice as he dressed in the darkness, but she stirred anyway, reaching for him with sleep-heavy hands.

"Stay," she murmured. "Just a few more minutes."

"Can't." He leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I need to head out soon if I’m going to make it to Penson's by eight."

Janice sat up, the sheet pooling around her waist, and Cole had to physically restrain himself from climbing back into bed with her. "Promise me you'll be careful," she said.

"Always."

"I mean it, Cole." Her eyes were fully alert now, sharp with worry. "Don't take unnecessary risks. The evidence we already have might be enough. You don't need to⁠—"

"I need to do this." He sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in his. "We don’t want him to become suspicious that I’m here for any other reason than his own safety. Penson has connections everywhere: politicians, regulatory officials, probably law enforcement too. If we're going to bring him down, we need irrefutable proof. Financial records, communications, something that ties him directly to the illegal operation and the corruption."

"And if you get caught?"

"I won't." He squeezed her hand. "I know what I’m doing. In and out. Plant the devices, get the measurements to maintain cover. Penson won't suspect a thing."

She didn't look convinced, but she nodded anyway. "I'll stay here. Keep the door locked, don't answer for anyone."

"Frazier and Timothy will check in with you when they arrive. You’ve got their ID photos sent to your phone so you feel comfortable letting them in. And if anything feels wrong… anything at all, you call Logan directly. He can have local law enforcement here in minutes."

"I know." She reached for the lighthouse pendant, her fingers closing around it. "I'll be fine. Just... come back to me."

"A grizzly bear couldn't stop me."

He kissed her one last time. The kiss was long and deep and full of everything he couldn't say. Then forcing himself to walk out the door, he waited to hear the click of the lock and the jingle of the door chain.

The drive to Penson's property took longer than he’d anticipated, with the roads still treacherous with packed snow despite the clear sky overhead. Cole used the time to review their plan, running through contingencies and backup options.

The house rose into view as he rounded the final curve, all glass and timber and carefully cultivated wilderness aesthetic. Cole felt his jaw tighten at the sight of it—so much wealth, built on poisoned land with dead animals and corrupted officials.

Penson met him at the door, his smile as polished as ever. "Mr. Iverson. Good to see you survived one of our little snowstorms."

“Yes, sir. We get them in Montana, but I confess the cold turning the snow drifts into ice was a challenge.”

“I’d hoped you would call yesterday, since the storm had passed. I felt sure the town streets would have been cleared.” Penson smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“I was originally waiting for another team member to meet me. They were at another jobsite and had some equipment I thought would be useful. I did make use of my time by coordinating with the system installation company. I just need a few more photos and measurements to make sure we order the right equipment.”

"Excellent, excellent." Penson stepped back, gesturing for him to come inside, his shoulders relaxing. "Please, come in. I'll let you get to work. Where would you like to start?"

"The study would be helpful," Cole said. "I want to double-check the window placements for the interior camera recommendations."