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Royce eyed Murphy "You, me, and my man Kyle, on the island?"

Murphy nodded "Works forthe rest of the task force out of this?"

"Until we knoho Dragonfly is," Luke said "Yes"

"I say Luke wears a wire," Blake said \

Luke shook his head "They’ll pat me down I’ll have to try and record withof approval filled the room

"This call could co now"

Murphy ran a hand over his hair "I just hope this really is a test If Luke is in Arel’s circle after this, then ent and shut hi killed, how about it?"

Luke didn’t plan on dying and he knew thathis head clear If he went to his apartet worked up over Julie, he wouldn’t

Julie spent the afternoon with Lauren, who offered her a much-needed distraction by way of honeymoon stories and pictures, especially since Luke hadn’t soat Luke’s kitchen table, where Julie had her laptop open, trying to do a bit of work, when Lauren’s cell rang Julie listened to her talk to Royce, and watched how her friend glowed just talking to her new husband

Lauren ended the call "They’re still working on preparation I’ to head out to stay with Royce on the island later"

"Okay," Julie said, rising to her feet and refilling her coffee cup, trying not to think about how badly she wanted to see Luke and talk to him

"You want to talk about Luke?"

"Not yet," she said "But eventually"

"That’s closer to talking about hiotten, so I’m pretty pleased with that answer You normally shut me dohen Luke comes up Just know that I’m here when you need me"

"I know," Julie said "And thank you"

The door to the apartment opened and shut Luke appeared in the doorway and Lauren got up "I need to go unpack" She hugged Julie "I’ll be back in a bit"

Julie and Luke stared at each other The door opened and closed again They were alone "I had to go last night I didn’t want to lose you Luke, I–" She set her cup down and ran to hi her arms around hi to back down "I don’t want to lose you Don’t shutI didn’t I’ like this You’re not just some ‘bedroom buddy’ I don’t kno to prove that–"

He kissed her, oh god how he kissed her Hot, passionate, deliciously possessive She lifted to her toes, trying to getto show hiled his hand in her hair and stared down at her "I’ to protect you at all costs"