THE SUN WAS barely peaking over the horizon. Grit was still stuck in Paxton's eyes. He'd barely slept between wanting to keep an eye on Coco and listening for danger. He shouldn't have played with the kids. The visions of danger were all the more terrifying when he could put names to the precious faces in those nightmares.Coco squeezed Paxton's hand as they walked the distance from the main road toward the old resort where she'd made her home.There was going to be a lot to account for once they crossed through the gates. He needed to enjoy these fleeting moments of calm before the storm. Somehow, despite all the bad going on, they'd landed in a really good place. Sure, they'd had to sleep on the floor of someone's kitchen on a thin mattress, but the atmosphere and kindness had made up for that. The only other place he'd ever felt welcomed like that was with Silas' family. Paxton had been a stranger to those people, and they'd treated him like a long-lost friend. And then there was

PAXTON COULD HAVE used seven more hours of sleep. Hell, he'd have taken seven more minutes in bed curled around a soft woman. She'd done that thing again, where she used him like a human blanket. Paxton hadn't minded one bit. Too bad they had to get out of bed.It was time to address why someone had set a trap and then waited days to spring it.He opened the door to the former resort turned research facility and held it for Coco. Since the powers that be wanted to keep yesterday under wraps until they'd properly dug into it, they weren't heading to the tent. No, they'd been instructed to report to the conference room. At least that meant cold water and air conditioning.Coco led the way down a hall and to the spacious room with its long table and chairs. Several familiar faces were already seated, including Shane and Lacey, Zain, Daluxolo and his team, plus a woman at the head of the table Paxton had only seen in passing.At a glance, he knew this was a person he didn't want to tan

PAXTON STRODE TOWARD the tent while his mind was still back on the little porch looking into Coco's eyes. He didn't know what was happening there, but he wanted it. Life was too short to ignore the good when he had it.He pushed through the flaps into the tent. Someone had pulled out chairs and a little over a dozen men were gathered facing the wall with the projector casting a square of light. Zain stood to one side, frowning at a tablet. Shane caught Paxton's eye and waved him over."Where we at?" Paxton asked."Can you confirm this timeline?" Shane nodded at the tablet."Sure." Paxton took the tablet from Zain and glanced over it, noting the times and pieces of information Zain had collected onto one screen.And right there, at the beginning was Utata's death followed by the wedding.Shit."I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner." Paxton glanced up. "This wasn't how Coco wanted Lacey to find out.""That news was never going to be easy." Shane shook his head. "Thanks for keeping

Coco pulled his boxer briefs down, freeing his erection. Paxton groaned and tugged at her knees, but not hard enough to move her. No, she intended on taking her time.She wrapped her hand around his length and bent once more to kiss his stomach then the deep slash of muscle at his hip. He tipped his head back, his body coming to life under her. The tendons on either side of his neck stood out, and she watched his mouth move.This was her chance to make him crazy. Give him a bit of his own medicine.Coco pumped his length and shifted farther down his body. She watched his throat, saw the flex as he swallowed. He was putty in her hands. This big, strong man, he was hers. She licked the head of his cock. His back bowed up off the bed and she heard the hiss of his breath.She wasn't the only one who could be undone by sex.Before she could continue her attentions, Paxton sat up, all that intensity aimed at her. She stared, her breath frozen in her lungs at the way he stared at her. He

MIA NEEDED TO do something. The files she'd copied weren't the right ones, not that she had any idea what those might be. Luke was in a rage. Mia didn't know how much longer she could keep this going if she didn't land on something.She stood at the window and stared out on the balcony. He'd let her plant a few things there. She'd done it in the beginning of their farce of a relationship to give her a moment to breathe. Now the progress of the plants only tracked the length of this sham.What was she going to do?Cane was a good man. There was no doubt in her mind about that. Which meant her only solution was to create a trap. The weakest link in the De Jong family was Cane's twin sister.The question was, how did she bully Cane into fixing a divide that had spanned years with his twin just so Mia could use the relationship against him?She picked up her cell.Cane had been in meetings in Pretoria most of the day. Chances were he'd have stopped by to see his dad and half-brothers