I didn't participate in the raid of the Janitors as I planned. I'm not sure how it happened, but the plan was feasible and everyone was in position when Marlow called and asked why I wasn't there. He was pissed as fuck.

I had a bigger fish to catch, that's why I didn't join the operation. They say a crime scene gets both familiar and newer each time you revisit it. So I went back to Anne's, trespassed the police tape, and dived in.

Everything was neatly placed, no sign of violence or struggle. Whoever killed her had only one job—to kill her. I'm no fucking detective but I can tell a few details. That chick was onto something dangerous.

But what was it? I went through her stuff, using a flashlight to check her documents, her drawers, and nothing was alarming except the fact that her passport and visa were stashed on a purse that contained a plane ticket to Dubai.

Was she planning to travel?

"Red, I want to know everything!" Mia snaps. "Please, enough with the secrecy. I'm done being treated like a fool so I want to fight this head on with you. I want to be informed of everything if you're truly on my side! Starting with, how much do you know about Anne's death?"

Now I'm up for a good ride.

"I think she heard or saw something she shouldn't have. Being involved with Patrick and Derek can never be a safe heaven for any woman unless she chooses to be stupid and obedient," I say flatly as it is.

From her bank records, Luca found out that she'd made a huge withdrawal recently and she'd put her apartment for sale. I'm convinced she was going to leave Portland. Alone. But I can't tell why.

Mia grimaces. "What are you talking about?"

"Sit down," I urge. She complies and I do the same. "You know a woman named Cora Mitchell?" I ask her.

Her eyes crinkle thoughtfully, but in a jiff her head bobs. "Yes, I do. She's the chief director of Kingston Pharmaceutical Research Facility. I've met her a couple of times and I can't say we ever clicked. She's. . . Unusual?"

"What else do you know about her?" I think this is a good start.

That woman was the last person to be seen with Anne. I can't find any connection between them, since she's an indispensable asset of the Kingston Pharmaceutical Company. She's got an outstanding profile.

"Well . . ." Mia sits straight. "I don't know her that much. But I think she's involved with Derek or something. I got that vibes when I last saw them together at a drug launch. I didn't pay attention 'cause Derek is a Kingston—he fucks around all the time. If you ask me, they are probably fuck buddies for the horny seasons and nothing exclusive. That jerk doesn't date and that woman didn't look much of his type."

Interesting. If Cora is involved with Derek, then automatically there's a conflict of interest between her and Anne. But no, she doesn't fit in the category of passionate women after my unpleasant meeting with her a few hours ago.

Fuck buddies fits better.

Besides, she's ambitious. Her dedication to the research facility is almost like a freaky obsession. She literally lives there. No social life, no family, no friends. She spends her time in the lab, tasting subjects, if not traveling for work matters.

If Kingston Pharmaceutical is truly involved with Project Z—production and development of bioweapons—as the Federal Bureau believes, then that woman must know something.

But how does the fuck does Anne fit here? What was her business with a nerdy scientist?

"Anne was planning to leave the country before she died," I tell Mia. "Did she mention about any trip when you talked to her?"

"No." She's very surprised. "But if you think Anne was trying to leave," she says after a while, "wouldn't it be because there was a case against her? She sounded desperate over the phone."

That could be possible.

"And that makes me wonder," she says with a pause. A flash of amusement jerks her eyes alight. "Red, who would want Anne out of the picture if not Derek Kingston? She's been his accomplice and if she were to go down, she'd have surely taken him to the bottom with her. I'd have done that in her place."

Makes sense. If there's one bigger hound here, it should be Derek Kingston. He's worse than his father, more ambitious and unscrupulous, and he's not afraid of weeding out anyone stumbling on his way. He's his father's son.

"It has to be him, Red. It's him! I'm sure of it!" Mia stands up. She's hysterical, overly emotional already. "You also think so, right?" she asks.

"Yeah, that can be possible. But you're not going to face him, Mia." I rise up. Her lips part, as if she wants to argue, but I haul her waist and pull her closer to me, glaring at her strenuously. "He's a dangerous man. We have to be careful and most especially you."

My eyes linger about her stomach. She's having our baby and that's the most important thing to me. For them to be absolutely fine.

"Promise me, Mia. Promise me that you won't do anything that—"

"Alright. Under one condition," she interrupts.

"What condition?" I ask warily.

I knew she wouldn't accept it so easily. Damn this woman!

She takes a deep breath and places her arms on my shoulders. "We're investigating this together. Everything you find out we share. And I'll do the same because I'm not gonna sit and do nothing. How about that?"

"Investigating together?" I stifle a laugh.

Goddamn it, what does she mean by that?

"Red, I didn't reach where I am today by playing by rules all the time, or sitting around waiting for someone to do things for me," she tells me bluntly, her eyes stoic and determined. "I know how to play filthy when I have to, and to get what I want, I fucking don't mind dirtying my hands. We're either doing this together, or I'll do whatever I damn see fit."

Okay, sweetheart, we're not in a warzone now, are we? Gosh, women can be scarier than the storm. She spits fire, yet she still looks beautiful in flames.

"I'll tell you everything I find out, Mia. As long as you don't do anything drastic without letting me know. Can we trust each other on that?" I ask her, even though I'm not really sure if I can risk it all by being a hundred percent transparent with her.

It's a hell of a risk.

"Not without knowing who you really are, Red. Now, right here, I want to hear the answer to at least one of my many questions," she mutters.

I squint my eyes. Here she goes! Palms on my cheeks, eyes suddenly calm and twinkling—a simple portion in pursuit of a man's sole attention—she looks me deep in the eyes. No fucking escape.

"You're here because you have a job to do, am I right?" Her smooth voice makes it difficult for me to lie. Damn. "Don't worry, I won't ask for details. I just want to know if any of this is real. What you feel for me. For us. I'm carrying your baby, Red, so if you don't—"

"Raiden," I interrupt her. "Raiden Hunter. That's the name my parents gave me."

"Ra-Raiden?" she stutters in a whisper, her chest thumping at the pace of her erratic breath. I nod. "Your name is Raiden?" It's more of a statement and she looks damn thunderstruck.

I'm using a fake identity now, but legally registered in the national database. I know Mia hired someone to run a background check on me, but whatever she got is a made-up profile of a non-existent man. I wonder if she's only testing me right now or not, but I choose to be honest with her.

"Listen." I gently stroke her hair and her breath slows down gradually. "I'm not such a great guy, Mia. I'm hiding some things from you and you'll probably hate me for that because I can't spill everything for some very valid reasons. But despite everything, I'm gonna need your help to fulfill the mission that brought me here."

Silence is Mia's response for almost a full minute.

"Your . . . What? Mission?"

Fuck, Red. You've successfully ruined your chances with her! But I'm done playing around. I have so little time to fix everything and get out of this place.

"Yeah." I pull away from her. I can imagine the horror running through her, as if I've unleashed the bad guy in me. "I can't give you all the details but your suspicions have been right all along. I'm not just your bodyguard. I'm here for work and not because—"

"Stop!" she barks and runs past me until she's back facing me. She's panting heavily, staring at me frigidly. "Am I your target?" she asks me. My heartbeat accelerates at the sharp tone of her voice. "Am I your fucking target, Red, answer me!"

"Yes, Mia," I reply. "You were one of my targets but things changed when—"

A heavy slap lands on my face.

"You're an asshole!" she creams to my face, tears falling through her eyes.

Yes, I am.

But before I can respond, she grabs me by the collar and pulls my face down to hers, her eyes wet and wounded. I hear her harsh breath when she kisses me so hard that my world spins around and breaks into random stars.

Fuck! What is this?

"Your eyes darken with desire whenever we kiss. And your heart beats so fast that I find myself less stupid for reacting exactly the same way when touch me!" she yells while panting.

"Mia . . ." I don't even know what say, damn it.

"I knew you were a bad guy from the moment I caught you in Patrick's study, Red! But I kept rolling with you anyway because I don't give a fuck who you are and why you are here! The only thing I want to know is . . . Me and this thing in my womb." She presses her palm on her stomach. " Do we mean anything to you? Or are we just a disposable part of your 'mission' that—"

"You're my everything." Now I'm the one grabbing her so tightly until her breath hitches. "I may kill, I may steal, but you two are my heaven in this fucking hell we are in. The only real thing in my life."

Something like relief washes over her. It's that clear through her shiny eyes that were filled with utter doubts a few moments ago.

"Do you love me?" she asks breathlessly.

Love is too big to tell, but with her it feels very easy and manageable.

"I love you, Mia Vera," I answer lightly.

A teardrop rolls down her face but she quickly wipes it off.

"Then that's enough for me, Raiden Hunter. I have to be in the office early tomorrow; there's so much to do," she says, calling my name for the first time as if she's practicing it. "I need to sleep."

She kisses my lips and walks away. I stay frozen, watching her.

Moments later she takes a quick shower and makes her exit from the moment when I walk in. She's still angry; I can tell when a woman is holding a grudge against you and yet she smiles at your face while making your damn dinner.

"Couldn't have chosen an apartment with a bathtub?" she murmurs scornfully while strolling through the door, wearing a very tiny towel that reveals her butt cheeks.

I scoff, my eyes stalking her distracting rear view. Lord have mercy! I shut the door and smother a smile.

And why the heck would I need a bathtub? I don't do bubble baths with rose petals like her, do I?

"Well, It's the only place I could afford. You've showered, right? Did you lose a leg or something?" I mumble to myself, unable to hold my smile any longer.

"I heard that!" she snaps loudly.

I burst into laughter. Just fight me if you're angry, woman! Yell if you can, but I'm gonna hold you so tightly when I'm done here. Cool water pours down and I feel more alive.

When I return from the bathroom she's seated on the bed, hissing over something. She's wearing my T-shirt, a hand stuck on her stomach as if she's in pain or discomfort. I frown and move.

"What's wrong, Mia?" I ask while landing on the bed.

"Um . . . It's nothing. You have water?" She hoists herself back, taking a soft breath.

Should I stop being worried?

"Wait here." I head out to the kitchen to get her a bottle.

She's still seated when I prowl back. I watch in silence as she gulps half of the bottle in one go, and then she sighs heavily as if something's off her chest. When she looks at me I find sadness in her eyes. She's not really fine.

She may feel safe after everything that has happened recently, but she can't be okay.

As a man, sometimes I wish I had the power to fix every broken thing in her life, the same way I'd fix a broken bulb. Sighing, I flip the towel aside, put on a plaid boxer brief, and lay right beside her. She scoots to my side as if she's been waiting for me. Joy spikes inside when I wrap my big arms around her.

She feels like a baby right now. She's calm and vulnerable, and I can't believe she's here with me.

"You sure you're okay?" I ask her. "If something hurts it's better you get checked, even if it means going to the hospital right now."

"I'm just tired, Red. So tired," she whispers, fixing her head comfortably on my bare chest. "I have a brutal schedule tomorrow. Don't know if I can wake up early."

You're not waking up any early in my watch. MK won't die overnight. It's fucking two o'clock in the morning.

"Okay sleep now. We'll sort other things tomorrow."

"Hmm." She's slowly drifting. "We love you. You bad boy."

We? That sounds great. I smile from ear to ear.

"I love you, too. Both of you." I kiss her hair and hold her tighter.