Rekindled (Titanium Security Series) by Cross Kaylea

another Islamic country’s help to sway the Syrians during the negotiations if necessary. As far as she knew, even the media had no idea what was going on.
    “He’s got deep connections in the military and police, and apparently one of the cops responding to the accident yesterday snapped a picture of us together. Someone leaked it to Hassani’s network, and we got a tip that someone was looking into your background.” He grabbed his phone from his pocket, and as he did the hem of his dress shirt lifted enough for her to see the ballistic vest and the holstered pistol at the back of his waistband. Her pulse went up another few notches. She knew it was necessary for him to be armed, especially now, but ever since Mombasa she hated guns. “This is what he saw,” Alex said as he held the phone out.
    Grace sucked in a breath when she saw the picture of Alex embracing her. The look on his face as he stared down at her was intense, concerned. And the possessive way he was holding her was pretty damn hard to mistake. She swallowed, glanced up at him even as the memory of his arms around her sent a flutter of desire through her body. “So he knows…”
    “At this point we have to assume he knows everything, from your relationship with me, to the attack in Mombasa, and you being here with the UN chemical weapons team to meet the Syrians.”
    She gasped. “Wait, how did you—” She stopped herself as the obvious answer came to mind. He was with the NSA after all. But it begged the question, who the hell else knew about the so-called secret meeting? Suddenly she felt exposed and unsafe. Because of the security team placed with them by the UN, she’d felt secure. Now she realized how naive she’d been.
    “He’s been attacking my team for weeks now,” Alex continued, “and we’re all on his hit list. One of our members is still in the hospital from an IED blast some of Hassani’s TTP cell contacts hit us with a few days ago. He may never walk again.”
    Grace swallowed, didn’t know what to say. She was here to make the region safer. She’d mistakenly thought she’d be much safer in Pakistan than she had been in Kenya.
    Alex’s eyes were grave, his jaw set. “Hassani wants me bad, and he now knows you’re a way to get to me. So until he’s behind bars again, I’m not taking any chances with your safety. You’ll be staying with me until the threat’s over.”
    Her eyebrows shot up. Of all the things she’d imagined him saying, that wasn’t one of them. “How’s that going to make any difference to my safety, if he’s targeting you already?”
    “Because your team’s security isn’t good enough anymore, not even close, and they don’t know what kind of threat Hassani might pose to you. My team does. So until I can get something better arranged for you, my guys and I will act as your personal security detail.”
    Okay, that did make her feel slightly better, but… “Isn’t that against some sort of regulations for you?” The NSA had to have rules about that kind of thing, and she was pretty sure her safety didn’t matter when compared to Alex’s or capturing Hassani.
    He raised a defiant eyebrow. “I don’t give a shit. I care about you , and making sure you’re safe.”
    In spite of the threat level facing her, her gullible heart melted a little at the conviction behind those words. He meant it. She felt it in her bones.
    Alex shook his head slightly, the way his jaw flexed revealing his inner turmoil. “I screwed up the first time with you, acted too late on the intel and you paid the price.” Regret burned in his glittering eyes. “I can’t change what happened in the past, but I can damn well make sure you’re protected this time. If Hassani wants to take a run at you, he’s gotta find you. And even if he does, then he’s gonna have to get through me first,” he said, stabbing a finger against his chest for emphasis.
    Grace could only stare at him. Though she was still wary of his