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Felicity let out a humorless laugh. “Look, I certainly won’t mourn him.” Her gaze held his. “But no, I didn’t pull the trigger.” She reached for Ronan’s hand. “And neither did Ronan.”

She dropped her hand and stepped away from him the moment the door closed behind Agent Barker. “I need some time. Alone.”

He gave her a long, considering look. “I’ll go to the gym. Push some weights.” Punch a bag or three.

She nodded and retreated to the bathroom. The door closed with a decisive click. A moment later, the shower started.

Ronan stood there for several seconds, staring at the closed door.

His chest ached.

He slipped into gym attire, gathered his phone, keycard, and headed for the door.

At the threshold, he paused, wondering if she’d still be here when he returned.

The gym did nothing to quiet his thoughts.

An hour later, sweaty, exhausted, and no closer to finding peace, he let himself back into the room.

He knew before he called her name that she was gone.

The room still held the faint scent of her shampoo.

It was the only trace she’d left behind.

A muscle worked in his jaw.

This was the price.

He’d known it from the moment he’d made the call to Wraith.

Vasily was dead.

Felicity was gone.

And if he had to make the choice again, he’d make the same damned one.

Surrender

39

On the road

Felicity hauled her suitcase up the porch steps and let herself into the house.

The pugs went ballistic.

Millie let out a series of hoarse barks, Maisie spun frantic circles, and Maggie launched her squat body at Felicity’s legs, wheezing her excitement. Laughing despite herself, Felicity dropped her suitcase, keyed in the alarm code, and sank onto the floor.

Instantly, she was buried beneath warm bodies, wagging tails, and sloppy kisses. “You'd think I’d been gone for five weeks, not five days.”

For a few precious moments, the ache in her chest eased.

The dogs didn’t care about betrayal.

They didn’t care about secrets.

They didn’t care that she’d walked out of a hotel room and fled halfway across the country because looking at Ronan Murphy hurt too damn much.