“If you go, I go. I’m going to be right beside you under the dash on the passenger’s side.”
“No,” A.J. barked.
“What is with you two?” Norton looked from A.J. to Sienna and back again. “How did you ever agree on anything in this investigation? Camacho, you drive the truck. Parker, you cover him. Discussion over. Let’s suit up. There will be a briefing in thirty minutes.”
Sienna walked out of the captain’s office, still not happy about Norton’s decision, but at least she’d be A.J.’s backup.
When they reached the tactical room to pick up their vests, A.J. grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into an empty room.
“Is this about the grenade injury? Don’t think I can pull my own weight?”
“No. It’s not about that and I would never hold that against you.”
“Then, why?”
“You’re not a cop!” she said, feeling the passion, the love, and the fear well up inside her.
“I’ve logged an enormous amount of mission time. I’ve led operations. I’ve gone into hostile environments and rescued hostages and took shrapnel. What is it about your stringent rules and regulations that you just can’t let of? Do you have to control everything?”
“This isn’t about control,” she shouted.
“What’s it about then?” he yelled back.
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” she cried.
For a moment A.J. just stared at her, then he grabbed her and pulled her against him, his mouth consuming hers in a wild kiss that left her breathless.
“I don’t want you to get hurt, either, but we’re both professionals. We can handle it.”
“Just don’t do anything stupid or heroic.”
There was a knock on the door and Norton stuck his head in. “If you two are finished yelling at each other, could you please join us?”
* * *
The night was pitch-black with barely any moon. Under the dash in the truck, Sienna could hardly see a thing.
“We’re almost there.”
“Good, I’m getting a cramp.”
“Lady, you’ve been a cramp in my butt from day one.”
“Shut up.”
“Not good,” A.J. said softly.
“What?”
“Two of the streetlights are off.”
“That should work to our advantage. Taylor won’t realize you’re not David until it’s too late.”
The truck ground to a halt and A.J. put the vehicle in park and shut off the engine. They waited in the darkness. Two bright headlights cut across the gloom and illuminated A.J.’s face for just a moment. Sienna drank in the sight of him, vowing that she wouldn’t let him down.
“Showtime,” A.J. whispered as headlights flashed over the truck.
“Are they armed?” Sienna asked, her stomach fluttering.