Son of a—
“I’m getting a guard put on Juliana, too.” Because Juliana had been instrumental in bringing down Guerrero—and because Gunner knew that Logan would never risk the woman he loved. “If someone is looking for some payback, they aren’t getting it,” Logan vowed.
No, they weren’t. Gunner would make sure that no one hurt Sydney.
Not on his watch.
She was too important. The baby was too important. The life that he might just have with them—if he hadn’t already screwed things up too much—it was too important.
* * *
SLADE ORTEZ STARED across the city. He’d chosen this apartment deliberately, though no one seemed to have realized that fact. The EOD. They thought they were so smart.
Clueless jerks.
Once upon a time, he’d wanted to be one of them. But he hadn’t made the cut into the precious program. Good enough to risk his life on freelance missions, but not good enough to be brought into the fold.
Sydney had made the cut. Gunner had. Of course Gunner had.
But not Slade.
Never as good as big brother.
The EOD was paying for his apartment. Actually, Uncle Sam was paying for anything he wanted right now. After what he’d been through, they were giving him...what had they called it? Compensation.
There’d never be enough compensation.
He stared through the window, looking out at the city, and looking right over at the building that housed his brother.
Yes, he’d chosen this location for a reason.
To keep a watch on Gunner.
The fools at the EOD didn’t realize what a threat Gunner was. They thought he was a hero. Their mistake. He’d make sure they fully realized the error of their ways.
Sydney had made a mistake, too.
She’d turned from him. Refused to go back to the way that things had been.
She should have been grateful to be with him. Of all the women—and he’d been with plenty—he’d agreed to marry her.
Sure, he’d kept a few girls on the side, the better to stop the boredom of being with just one woman, but he’d offered to marry her.
As payback, she’d slept with his brother.
At first, the rage had been so strong that he’d been sure it would consume him. Last night, it had come close. He’d given in to his darker urges.
But now, with the rising of the sun, he realized that there could still be hope for Sydney, if she could be made to see Gunner’s true colors. Gunner would slip up, Sydney would turn from him, and Slade would be there.
It was all a matter of time.
He kept staring across at Gunner’s place.
He tried not to think about the light that had flashed on in the middle of the night. He’d been watching then, too. Through his binoculars, he’d seen that light come on. The blinds had been open. He’d seen Sydney...
Gunner...
His jaw locked.