Free Eye for an Eye, an (Heroes of Quantico Book #2): A Novel by Irene Hannon

service elevator ahead.
    “Why?” She looked up in time to catch the glance Mark exchanged with Coop over her head, and her puzzled frown eased.
    “Never mind. It must be a security thing.”
    “That, plus we’re trying to avoid any press that might be hanging around. So far we’ve managed to keep your name out of the paper.”
    “I appreciate that.”
    At the basement service entrance, Mark handed Nick his keys. The agent exited first, depositing Emily’s case in the trunk of his car and propping the flowers on the passenger seat. He did a quick sweep of the parking garage before motioning them out. They didn’t linger getting into Mark’s car.
    As Coop put the car in gear, Mark spoke from his place beside Emily in the backseat. “To the coffee shop, driver.”
    Coop glanced at Mark in the rearview mirror. “Watch it, buddy.”
    “What? You don’t like being a chauffeur?”
    “I prefer to think of myself as a chaperone. So behave back there, or I’ll have to ground you both.”
    “Restricted to quarters with Emily. I’m not sure that would be such a bad thing.” Reaching for her hand, Mark entwined his fingers with hers.
    She laughed and shook her head. “Are you two always like this?”
    “Like what?”
    “Funny. Irreverent. Sparring. I didn’t expect that, considering the serious nature of your work.”
    In truth, that lighthearted banter was what got them through their toughest, most serious jobs, Mark reflected. It was a good technique for diffusing tension in stressful situations. And Emily was stressed to the max. If they could help her relax for an hour or two, she might be able to regroup and regain her equilibrium. To feel a bit more normal.
    Even if her life wasn’t. And wouldn’t be for a while.
    Soon, Mark would have to remind her of that. And he hoped this brief interlude of laughter and teasing would help make the hard stuff to come more palatable.

6
    As she took the final sip of her double chocolate chip frappuc-cino, Emily smiled at Mark. “Thank you for following through. And for giving me a pleasant interlude in the midst of all this craziness. It’s been fun to reminisce.”
    He leaned back in his chair and returned the smile, flicking a quick glance at Coop, who sat a few tables away. His partner had chosen a seat close enough to allow him to respond instantly if the need arose, and far enough away to be discreet, with a clear line of sight to the front door and a good view of the coffee shop overall. Mark had placed himself against the wall, where he, too, had a comprehensive view. Emily sat across from him, her back to the comings and goings in the shop.
    “I never break a promise.”
    “Oh, I don’t know about that.”
    He redirected his attention to her but remained alert to the activity in the shop. “What do you mean?”
    “I remember a young man telling me once at Wren Lake that I was the only girl he’d ever love. And that no matter what happened, we’d never lose touch.”
    Although Mark didn’t recall making that exact promise, there were quite a few gaps in his memory when it came to the hours they’d spent at Wren Lake. His most vivid recollection was Emily’s silky hair tangled in his fingers, her supple lips stirring beneath his, her soft skin tantalizing his fingers. Twenty years later, it was enough to stir the embers of that long-ago attraction.
    “Did I say that?”
    “More than once.” Her gentle smile told him she didn’t hold his lapse in memory against him.
    “I can only offer two excuses in my defense. Youth and hormones.” A soft laugh whispered at her lips. “It’s hard to argue with that rebuttal. Those are powerful forces.”
    “Can I say I’m glad our paths crossed again? And mean it this time?”
    “You can.”
    He leaned forward to rest his elbows on the small table. Linking his fingers, he studied her, liking what the passage of years had done to her eyes. The sweet innocence of youth had given way to compassion, diffused