"I'm the closest thing you have to a partner," he said, "because I am your partner. For however much time we have left."
"Don't die on me," she whispered. "And definitely don't tell anyone I said that."
Maxim cupped her chin, leaned in, and kissed her passionately. Then he pushed her down beneath him as he rose, gun cocked and ready. "No promises," he said. He bolted out into the open, levelling his arm to fire. Two shots, and he managed to take out both gunmen in the backseat as he slid into the space beside the stranded agent. He heard the tires of the unmarked car churn wildly. Whoever they were, they hadn't expected him to fight back. They were retreating, but they could run as far and as fast as they wanted-he would find them, and when he did …
"Keep your head down, asshole," Maxim growled.
Agent Andrews, to his one and only credit, did as he was told.
Savannah had had just about enough of unmarked black vehicles for one day.
That didn't appear to stop the bureau from sending out an inordinate number of cars, license plate-bearing and otherwise, to the scene of the day's shootout. She stood back, side by side with Maxim, scanning over the sea of exhaust fumes and swirling lights. Men and women clad in every uniform imaginable walked purposefully between cars, exchanging information and double-checking the stories of eyewitnesses. Tom Andrews was currently held up by the ambulance, but his uncleared status didn't prevent him from shooting frequent looks over his shoulder at Maxim and Savannah. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head as the agent tried to work out exactly how much credit he owed the man he still intended to arrest. She heard Maxim's quiet, amused snort beside her, and knew that he was noticing the same thing.
"You know what happens next," she said in a low voice.
"You find a way to put all the blame for this on me and give me a pair of pretty bracelets to wear," Maxim guessed. "You know, I'm almost getting used to being your patsy. Still not used to driving with a taillight out, though."
"I'll look into it," Savannah promised. "Who knows? By the time you get out of jail, you might just find one magically installed."
"Don't know if I'll be getting out this time," Maxim admitted. Savannah cut an abrupt look his way, trying to read his expression, to no avail. Was that resignation she detected in his tone? No way. It was unacceptable to give up now, especially when the department owed him a rare debt. Didn't he see that?
"You're not taking the fall for this. I won't let you," she said. "And I promise that doesn't mean either of your brothers will get picked up as a result. Maxim, look at me."
He did, turned to gaze down his strong, handsome nose at her. Savannah was a woman who prided herself in her steel, her resolve, but seeing Maxim offer her a glimpse now into his private turmoil was almost enough to undo her. "You believe me, don't you?" she stressed.
"Da." The handsome lines of his face flexed in a weak grin. It was something she could work with, at least. "But if this is how the day ends, I'd rather you be the one to do it."
She thought she knew what he meant. Tom was shooting another fervent look their way, and it looked as if the paramedics were getting annoyed enough with his uncooperative attitude to dismiss him. Savannah reached into her back pocket and unhooked her handcuffs. Maxim turned away from her, offering up his wrists without a word. She clapped the cuffs on him and secured them, running the pad of her thumb along one of the pronounced veins in his wrist to let him know how close she was.
"I'm not going anywhere," she promised. "I'm your woman on the inside now. Your fight is mine. We do this together, all right? No more flying solo, and definitely no more risking your life for me. We're partners now."
"I'm in love with you, Savannah."
Savannah felt her throat clench and her eyes flutter at his admission. Any potential response she had been busy concocting flew from her mind as she gazed into Maxim's dark, earnest eyes. She wanted to fall into them as much as she wanted to fall into his arms. She wanted to wrap herself in the words she had heard before, but never once allowed herself to believe. Lovers had breezed in and out of her life, but none had ever made her soar the way Maxim did now as he held her with a single, enduring look. She didn't need to pretend she hadn't heard him correctly; she didn't need to ask him to repeat what he had just said. It was the only confession that mattered to her.