Friendly Fire (The Echo Platoon Series, Book 3) by Marliss Melton Page A

purposefully in his direction. When she tapped him on the shoulder, he feigned surprise and swiveled around to face her. "Hey, there."
    "Hi." She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth.
    "How're you feeling?" he prompted.
    "Good. I wanted to say thank you," she uttered in a quick staccato of syllables.
    "No problem." He was tempted to say something about the life vest, except her mother had already chastised her—and she'd doubtless learned her lesson.
    "I was wondering if you wanted to watch the Cirque du Soleil show with us in the Stardust Theater. It's starting in fifteen minutes," she offered unexpectedly.
    Warmth burst over him like a sunrise. "Does your mother want me to come?"
    Her wide eyes became impossible to read. "Yeah."
    "You sure?"
    "Mm-hmm. Come on. The theater is filling up." She gestured for him to follow her as she strode away.
    "See you here at nineteen forty-five for our talk with Lawlor," he said, clapping Tristan on the back as he stood.
    He trailed Sammy down the corridor. She disappeared through the theater's door without a backward glance. Following her, he stepped into a cool, semi-darkened theater and spotted her mother by the fiery length of her hair.
    Emma glanced up as Sammy reached her seat. The surprise that widened her eyes as she spotted him let him know he'd been duped. Emma hadn't been expecting him, but she recovered quickly, sending him a smile of welcome.
    Sammy stepped over her mother's knees, leaving room for him on the aisle. Jeremiah eased into the seat. They sat in silence for a moment. He stared at the red velvet curtain and the spotlight sitting like a sun in its center, wondering what to say.
    Emma spoke quietly into his ear. "You said that you can see things that are going to happen?"
    He turned his head and caught a whiff of her honeysuckle scent. "Sometimes," he admitted.
    "When you tightened Sammy's life vest in the drill, was that... prescience?"
    He had asked himself that very question right after the incident. "Probably." But if it was, he'd been too preoccupied by his visions of mayhem to pay attention. "I'm sorry. I don't always cue in on it."
    "Don't apologize," she implored, her eyes wet with powerful emotion. "You saved her life."
    He sent her a slight smile. He would rather have her love than her gratitude. "That's sort of what I do," he said.
    "I think it's very admirable."
    Well that was something, anyway. "Thank you."
    "Would you consider going to Tulum with us tomorrow?"
    The offer caught him utterly off guard. Delight broke over him at the prospect. "Don't you think your sister's going to want to go?"
    "I think she'd rather swim with Tristan—I mean, with the dolphins," Emma amended, rolling her eyes.
    "You did tell her he's been single for about a week."
    "Yes, I warned her. But don't worry—my sister doesn't do relationships. She's never been close to anyone but her family. So you're coming?"
    He searched her hopeful expression, wondering if she wanted him for his companionship or for his training. "If it's okay with Juliet and with Sammy," he added, aware that the little girl was listening in. "I'd love to."
    "It's fine with me," Sammy piped up.
    "I'm sure Juliet won't mind," Emma insisted.
    How badly do you want me? Jeremiah was tempted to ask. But what really mattered was her and Sammy's safety. Given the violence he still sensed, it would be better if he accompanied them wherever they went.
    A dark cloud drifted past his consciousness, too remote for him to grasp.
    What was that?
    The dimming lights accompanied the intuitive hit, making it that much more disturbing.
    As a striking brunette unfurled herself from a crossbeam overhead, spinning and twirling down a length of diaphanous material, Jeremiah willed himself to grasp what dangers lay ahead. But all he could see was the mesmerizing beauty of the gymnast as she made her graceful, hair-raising descent to the stage. And all he could think of was how little time was left to persuade Emma that love