She gave him a look. “I’ve been accused of a lot of things, sir, but never of being stupid.”
“Reckless, then. Sir Jeremy Greene is in the hands of U.S. and British intelligence. They wouldn’t look kindly on any quest for revenge that would have a negative impact on their operation.”
She smiled, but it didn’t ease the tension rising inside Leeds. “I can promise you that I would never go after Greene for revenge,” Kendra said. “There, does that satisfy you?”
He searched her face. When the tension inside him didn’t dissipate, he could only sigh. He couldn’t pinpoint his anxiety, but there was something in the very stillness of her expression. Or maybe it was the smile . . .
Whatever it was, he could hardly challenge her. Instead, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Shutting the door, Kendra clutched her bag, and stepped back. She waited as the BMW drove down the lane, disappearing from sight. Only then did she drop her smile.
She would keep her promise. She wouldn’t go after Greene for revenge.
But she hadn’t said anything about going after him for justice.
5
Three months later
“You’re a dead woman, Kendra.”
“I . . . don’t . . . think . . . so . . .” It wasn’t easy to push the words out, since the man had his sinewy arm wrapped tightly around her throat. His breath puffed in her ear. She managed to turn her head so her windpipe wasn’t crushed, and put all her power behind an elbow jab. The puff in her ear became a grunt. His hold loosened, only fractionally, but she pressed her advantage, grabbing the thick wrist, twisting. Within seconds, she’d reversed positions, pivoting and taking him down. She could’ve taken him out, with her knee hovering above a sensitive area.
He knew it, too. His eyes widened. “Have mercy!”
She grinned and released him, letting him flop back on the mat. “You’re lucky I’m feeling generous, Nate.”
His broad chest rose and fell. “Yeah. Generous.”
Feeling winded herself, Kendra snatched the towel off a chair and swiped it against her sweaty face. It’d been a long process, but she was finally feeling like her old self. She’d regained the weight she’d lost in the hospital, and her body felt limber and strong. Her hair had even grown out long enough for her to have it styled with blunt cut bangs and a sleek bob that curved an inch below her jaw.
She was almost ready.
The errant thought brought her up short, chest tightening like she was having an asthma attack.
“Hey.” Nate pushed himself to his feet, his eyes on her face. “What’s wrong? You’re looking pale, even for a white girl.”
“I’m fine.” She began stretching. “I took you down, didn’t I?”
“That’s only because you’re tricky.” Snatching another hand towel, he mopped up the sweat from his gleaming ebony skin. “When are you going back to the Bureau?”
Kendra’s hesitation was so slight, he might not have noticed it if he hadn’t been watching so closely. Her face went carefully blank. “Soon.”
“You’re ready.”
She ignored him as she went through the stretching routine followed by some intricate yoga moves. After a moment, he joined her. “You know, several of my clients are in the Bureau. Sam White mentioned you the other day, said you’ve practically fallen off the grid.”
“Please. Phillip Leeds was at my door just the other day.” She didn’t mention that he’d shown up at her door because she’d let six of his calls go straight to voice mail. She was tired of him urging her to see a psychiatrist.
“Asking you to come back?”
She straightened out of the warrior position. “He wants me back, yes. There’s a case in Florida. Someone’s been killing college girls.”
“I saw that on the news.” He followed her as she walked to the locker room. “They need you, Kendra.”
“And I need time.” She opened up the door to the locker room, hesitating on the threshold. “The FBI has other profilers, Nate. They can do the job without me.”
He frowned. “You sound like you’re never going back.”
“Of course, I’m going back,” she replied easily, tossing him a smile over her shoulder. “Where else would I go?”