Free Avenged (Hostage Rescue Team Series) (Volume 5) by Kaylea Cross

significant threat of their own.
    “I’ll give you two some privacy,” he said in a quiet voice. “If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”
    Unless he could find Chloe and rescue her before her kidnappers ended her life, no, there was nothing he could do for Taya at the moment.
    The door shut quietly behind him. She released a ragged breath.
    “Taya…”
    She turned back around to face Nathan. He was watching her, his green-gold hazel eyes full of torment. The lump in her throat suddenly magnified, all but choking her. She didn’t care that they were in his commander’s office or that he had a professional distance to maintain from her. He’d seen firsthand how she and the other female captives had been treated, and he knew Chloe’s story. He understood Taya’s pain better than anyone else could have.
    Taking a step toward him, she exhaled a shaky breath of relief when he reached for her and pulled her close. Warm, strong arms closed around her, one banded around her ribs, his other hand cradling the back of her head. Taya leaned into him and held on, letting his heat and strength soothe her. When he held her like this she felt truly safe, for the first time in forever.
    Tears burned the back of her eyelids as she focused on regulating her breathing, using every technique she knew of to find her center. Concentrating on Nathan’s clean scent and the strength of his body helped calm her.
    But after a few moments she became all too aware of all the hard muscles pressed against her. She melted a little when he began stroking her hair, his fingers catching in her curls.
    Tingles spread out across her skin, spiking her pulse rate and making her nipples tighten. The pull she felt toward him was powerful, and not something she could hide for long if she didn’t put some distance between them. Gently easing away from him, she immediately regretted the loss of his warmth.
    Rather than step away he surprised her by reaching out and brushing an errant curl from her cheek. “Just to play it safe we’re gonna get you out of town for a couple days, okay?”
    She frowned up at him. “We?”
    He nodded. “Me, Cruz and Vance.”
    “You’re on my detail now too?” She hoped it was true.
    Nathan exhaled and nodded. “All the guys have been placed on protective details for the remaining witnesses when they arrive in town during the next few days. I spoke to Matt and my team leader about things, and unless you have any objections, I’ve been added to your detail, along with Cruz and Vance. You’ll have the three of us for the time being, and we have the option of adding in more guys later on. The trial’s going to be delayed, we just don’t know for how long.”
    She got the feeling there was something more to it than he was telling her. There had to be rules and protocol about this kind of situation, him protecting a witness he knew personally. Was he volunteering out of a sense of obligation? “You’ve already done more than enough for me, Nathan. You don’t need to do this.” DeLuca was aware that they knew each other on a personal level, and she didn’t want to be the cause of any sticky situations for Nathan that might either hurt or jeopardize his career.
    His mouth tightened and he shook his head. “Yes, I do.” He dragged a hand through his hair, looking slightly agitated. “Cruz and Vance are both more than capable of guarding you, but you’re too important to me to stand back and do nothing. I need to make sure you’re safe.”
    He thought he owed her, she realized. She shook her head, adamant. “You already saved my life in Afghanistan. You don’t owe me anything.”
    “Yes, I do, but that’s not what this is about.” He paused, searching her eyes. “Unless you don’t feel comfortable having me on your detail.”
    The uncertainty in his eyes took her by surprise. She wouldn’t let him doubt her trust in him for one second. “Of course I am. I’ve put my life in your hands before and I