Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

"YOU'RE NOT GOING into this mission without me," Teagan said, voice soft. "I know you're a veteran cop who also has years of experience in the military, so I don't doubt your skills. You still need someone to watch your back."

"I'll have Noah."

A slow smile from the woman he was crazy about. "He might be an excellent cop and your best friend, but he's not your smoking hot girlfriend."

Noah gave a bark of laughter. "She's got you there."

She did, indeed. Even better, she hadn't refuted his insistence on claiming her as his. Now, if he could just convince her to keep him around, life would be excellent. "What's your point, babe?"

"I'm the box jumper for the magician."

"The box jumper?"

"The distraction. Violet and I will be window dressing until you need us to be something more deadly to protect you and Noah."

Until, not if. He was prepared for the worst, had been there before with undercover assignments. Hated those assignments, especially if it meant taking someone he cared about into danger. And he cared for Teagan so much this early in their relationship. If she knew, would she run?

"So, are we doing this?" Noah asked.

Violet extended her arms over her head in a luxurious stretch. "How could we say no to an invitation laid out so nicely by the feds?"

"I'm in if you're in," Teagan insisted, her gaze locked on Seth. "If you go in without me, I'll find a way into the militia on my own."

Dread curled in Seth's gut. That wasn't happening on his watch. At least if Teagan went in with him as his girlfriend, he had legitimate reasons to claim her as his and protect her without raising the suspicions of Richardson and Peters. "Noah?"

"I don't like it, but I'm in. You?"

"Yeah, I'm in. You and Violet go inform the others. I need a minute with Teagan."

Violet and Noah left the room, closing the door behind them.

Seth held out his hand. "Come here, sweetheart." When she was close enough, he drew her into his arms and held her close. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he murmured against her ear.

Man, she fit perfectly in his arms. He'd wanted a date with her to get to know the mysterious Teagan slowly, maybe even convince her he was necessary in her life. Now he was heading into a dangerous undercover assignment with a target on his back and Teagan by his side.

On undercover assignments, you lived a lie. Teagan would see a side of Seth Dixon that wasn't real. Although he'd do his best not to cross the line, he'd protect Teagan any way he had to. His partner would do the same with Violet.

Might be stupid to worry about Teagan's perception of him during this op. She'd reminded him more than once that this was what she did for a living. No question in his mind that she was very good at her job.

But this assignment wasn't strictly for work. Teagan was going under to protect him. He was equal parts terrified for and in awe of this amazing woman.

"Would you let me do this alone?" she asked.

"No way," he said without hesitation. Just the idea made him want to hurl. "You're mine to protect, Teagan."

"Even though I can protect myself?"

"Even though. Just because you're more than capable of pulling this off doesn't mean I want you to do this. I don't want to lose you, and this will be a dangerous assignment."

She leaned back enough to look into his eyes. "Seth, all our assignments are dangerous. You understand that, right?"

"Of course. This is different."

"How?"

"You're doing this for me. Pico was my confidential informant and a friend. I have to do this. You don't. Teagan, I don't want to be the reason you're injured or, God forbid, killed." He cupped her face between his palms. "Baby, I don't want to lose you before I know the real Teagan Paloni."

"I want to know the real Seth Dixon, and I can't do that if you're dead. Don't ask me to step aside. I won't do it."

Caving to the inevitable, Seth's mouth curved. "Is this a sign of how our relationship is going to develop for the next 50 years?"

Teagan laughed. "Planning ahead, Detective Dixon?"

"I have to stay on my toes around you, Ms. Paloni. If not, I'm afraid you'll leave me behind in the dust." He sobered. "Are you sure, Teagan? You'll see a Seth Dixon that's bitter and angry, one that may not treat his woman with the care she deserves."

She stopped him with two fingers resting gently over his mouth. "Seth, I can handle it. We may not know each other well, but I've seen glimpses of the real you during the time we've spent together." Teagan rested her palm over his heart. "I won't confuse the two men."

"I hope not." He kissed the tender skin below her ear, smiling when she shivered. "I don't want to lose you."

"Now you know how I feel. I don't want to lose out on this opportunity with you, either. Please, trust me. I can do this. I can get you through this."

Seth eased back just enough to see her face. "We have one problem."

Her brows knitted. "What's that?"

"We're supposed to go into this assignment as a couple. I haven't even kissed you yet. How will I convince anyone that you're my woman if I don't know how to kiss you properly?"

"Hmm. That is a problem. What do you propose we do to solve it?"

His gaze dropped to her lush mouth, the lips he'd dreamed about capturing with his own since the day he'd met Teagan so many months ago. "Only one thing to do. Kiss you." He flicked a glance up at her. "May I?"

Taking the first move out of his hands, Teagan bridged the gap between them and pressed her mouth to his.

Lightning sizzled in Seth's veins as he took over the kiss a heartbeat later. His arms tightened around her as he eased her against his chest. This was what he'd been wanting for months. The sizzle and burn was worth every second of the wait. Perhaps he was crazy, but Seth wanted to spend the rest of his life with Teagan pressed against him.

On and on the kiss went until Seth's tenuous control frayed to the breaking point. Although at any moment someone could walk into this conference room to see what was keeping them so long, he needed another kiss more than he needed his next breath. Man, this woman just lit him up. No surprise. He'd known they would be combustible if they ever got together.

Despite the inner warnings clanging in his head, Seth dove into another kiss, memorizing the silky feel and honeyed taste of her mouth. No other woman would do for him. He was well and truly hooked on Teagan.

After another minute of explosive heat, he slowed the kiss to one of comfort and teasing. Light kisses designed to drive Teagan crazy. He smiled as she moaned and chased his mouth for another kiss.

Oh, yeah. This was what he'd needed all these months. Teagan. When he could think and breathe again, he raised his head and stared down at her. Teagan's dazed expression made him smile. "Wow."

"Seth," she whispered.

"Yeah, I'm right there with you. If you planned to cut me loose after this op, you're out of luck, baby. I'm addicted to your kisses."

Teagan blinked, then a slow smile curved her swollen lips. "Is that right?"

"Know what that means?" He dropped a quick, hard, possessive kiss to her mouth. "You'll have to feed my habit daily. To do otherwise would be cruel and unusual punishment."

"Can't have that."

"No, ma'am." He pressed a light kiss to the side of her neck. "You are incredible."

A hard knock sounded on the door. "Conference room. Now."

Seth grimaced as he straightened. Maddox sounded irritated. "We'd better go." He trailed a finger over Teagan's cheek. "Will you tell me why your teammates are so concerned about you taking on this assignment with me, aside from the danger?" He knew something was there. Would she tell him the truth or brush him off?

"The short version is I grew up in a cult that didn't mind using violence to keep their members in line."

He froze. "They hurt you?"

"What do you think?"

The muscles in his jaw twitched. "I think if I ever get my hands on the people who hurt you, they'll wish they'd never been born." Reluctantly, he released her and wrapped his hand around hers. "I want the full story when you're ready to share it with me."

"It's ugly."

"Isn't it always?"

Seth led her into the hallway and back to the conference room. He ignored Maddox's glare as he seated Teagan at the table, then sat in the chair beside hers.

He turned to his lieutenant. "How are we doing this?"

"The ballistics report on your weapon and the bullet that killed Pico should be back late this afternoon. While the GSR test on you and Teagan was negative, chances are good the bullet that killed your CI came from your weapon. If it doesn't, we may call on Fortress to falsify the results. I don't want anyone from our lab involved in this case to prevent a leak of accurate information. We'll follow the original plan to have you return to work tomorrow, along with your partner. I'll call you both into my office, and we'll go from there. At the end of that meeting, you and Noah will be suspended."

"That's not enough," Maddox said. "In order for this to work, Dixon and Mann need to resign from the force. You can reinstate them after the mission is complete."

"Is that all?" Noah asked. "Just destroy our reputations and take our careers for the sake of an operation?"

"No." Teagan's boss glanced at Murphy. "Can you hack into the police personnel files?"

"No problem."

Burnett scowled at that.

"I already know Noah and Seth have excellent closure rates. Let's muddy their records with reprimands for inappropriate conduct, intimidating witnesses, and suspicion of tampering with evidence."

Seth and Noah exchanged grim looks. Great. Just great. What a way to mess up a clean record. Even when Murphy removed the reprimands and the news spread of their participation in an undercover assignment, their fellow cops would wonder what was true and what was false. How long would they have to watch their backs in case Ardmore cops decided on a little payback?

"Have any objections, Dixon?" Maddox asked.

"Plenty, but what choice do I have? It's the only way this ruse will work."

"Mann?"

"Same. Makes me sick, though," Seth's partner muttered. "I'm proud of our record and our closure rate. If this doesn't get cleaned up, all our cases will be under suspicion."

"We'll take care of it," Burnett said. "You have my word that you will be vindicated and your records returned to what they are right now. In fact, you can expect a commendation and perhaps a medal after this undercover operation is complete."

Seth wanted to laugh. A commendation and a medal? Right. The only catch was he and Noah had to survive to receive both awards. And if they lost Teagan and Violet? No award was worth losing either of the women.

"Seth." Burnett folded his hands on the table. "You'll have to let this play out with no one knowing this is a ruse. Do you understand what I'm saying? You can't tell your family the truth. Doing so would put their lives in jeopardy and your own. Their reaction must be natural. They won't be able to pull it off if they know the truth."

His eyes burned. This sucked so hard. "I know, sir." Seth prayed he didn't have to see his parents or his brothers before he went undercover. The last thing he wanted to do was lie to them in person. Seeing their anguish would kill him. It's why he'd quit taking undercover assignments. He hated the lies and rolling in the filth in the world's underbelly.

Under the table, Teagan laced their fingers together again and squeezed.

"Same goes for you, Noah," Burnett said. "No telling anyone you're anything but a dirty cop."

"I get it, sir. I don't have as much of a problem with it as Seth because I don't have anyone I'm answerable to."

"No significant other who will object to Violet's presence in your life?" Maddox asked.

Noah's cheeks flamed. "No, sir."

"Seth?"

"It's only been Teagan for me since the day I saw her."

Her head whipped his direction, eyes wide.

If she was expecting him to refute those words, she'd be disappointed. They were the absolute truth.

Special Agent Walters nodded. "All right. If our undercover operatives are agreeable, we'll set this in motion just after midnight, Maddox, if your tech people can create updated files for both detectives by that time."

"The files will be updated at 12:01 a.m." He turned to Iona. "Get your team ready. Pack heavy. If the operatives run into trouble, get them out by any means necessary. I'll have another team on standby in case you need help."

"Copy that, sir."

Maddox's attention shifted to Seth, Noah, Teagan, and Violet. "As soon as you cross into Ardmore's city limits, you're on stage every second. I suggest you get to know your partner well enough to convince Richardson and Peters you're established couples." He stood. "Dismissed." Maddox strode out of the conference room.

Burnett rose. "Dixon, Mann, I'll call you into my office at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Be ready."

"Yes, sir."

"I hate to ask this of you both. For what it's worth, I am sorry."

Walters pushed back from the table. "Gentlemen, ladies, know that your government owes you a debt of gratitude for your service." He followed Burnett from the room.

"A debt of gratitude?" Noah snorted. "That's assuming The Brotherhood allows us into the militia, and that's a big assumption. More likely, we'll be rejected and all the drama and mud smearing will be for nothing."

"By the time I get through with your personnel files, you'll be a perfect fit for The Brotherhood," Murphy said. "Getting Teagan and Violet along with the two of you will be icing on the cake as far as the militia will be concerned."

"Know something we don't, Z?" Rayne asked.

"The women they admit into the militia either on their own merits or with a partner are beautiful." His expression darkened. "What goes on behind the compound walls is anyone's guess, but I don't like the whispers on the Net. Promise you'll be careful."

"We always are, Zane," Teagan said.

"If you need me, I'll have my phone on day and night. Call or text if you need anything." Murphy rolled toward the door. "Watch your backs, all of you."