Navarre mustered a smile that he hoped appeared genuine.“Thanks.”
It wasn’t that he disliked Essie.After a rocky start, they’d made peace with each other, and things had gone fairly smoothly ever since.And any woman who made Jackson so happy was okay in his book.
But he and Jackson had been roommates for quite some time, had served together in the Army for much longer than that, and adding another person to the dynamic had left him with a case of Third Wheel Syndrome that was getting under his skin.Trouble was, he didn’t know what to do about it, so for the time being he’d suck it up and keep his big mouth shut.
A harsh buzzing sound rent the air as the belt lurched into motion, and people crowded around the baggage conveyor like buzzards around day-old roadkill.Luckily, they didn’t have too much to pick up, just the long, hard-sided cases they’d used to transport the weapons, ammunition, and tactical gear needed for the event.And now that they’d burned through most of the ammo, the cases would be a lot lighter.Navarre and Wade had brought their own supplies, while Rosario had used equipment from the Six Points armory for the event.Each case was secured with four separate locks and two GPS tracking devices, just in case anybody got ideas.
Like the pudgy, greasy-haired punk who was reaching for one of the cases.
“Touch it and I’ll break your wrist,” Wade all but growled.
The guy’s hand jerked back as if he’d touched a scalding-hot stove.Wade had that kind of effect on people, even when he wasn’t threatening them with bodily harm.As the guy scurried off, Wade grabbed two cases, handed them to Navarre and Jackson, and then lifted a third case off the belt.
It took a few more minutes to claim the final case that contained their tactical gear, as well as the trophy they’d won at the tournament.Then they exited the terminal and piled into a van that would bring them to one of the off-site parking lots.
“So what else did we miss?”Rosario asked as she fastened her seat belt.
“Not too much,” Jackson said, his arm draped along the back of the seat where Essie sat.“Austin’s still working on something big, but he’s being tight-lipped about it.I tried to pry it out of him, but he said he didn’t want to say anything until it was a done deal.”
Thatsomething bigwas presumably what caused him to give up his spot on the team.Whatever it was, it had to be important, because Austin was one of the most competitive people he’d ever met.He lived for shit like this.It must have damn near killed him to let Rosario take his place.
“Oh yeah, that.”Wade reached for Hope’s hand and laced his fingers with hers.
The van continued to navigate through traffic, its turn signal making a strange clunking noise as the vehicle merged into the turn lane.
All eyes turned to Wade, but he ignored them.He bent his head to whisper in Hope’s ear, and she let out a soft laugh in response.
“Well?”Navarre asked.
Wade’s gaze cut to him.“What, you think I’d narc on my own brother?”
“Come on, at least give us a hint.”Navarre knew better than to press him any harder.It would only make him more intractable.
Wade stared at him for a few seconds, and then sighed.“Let me see what I can do.”
He pulled out his phone and typed a short message, most likely to his older brother.A minute or two passed, and as the van pulled into the off-site lot, his phone buzzed to announce an incoming text.
“Nope, can’t tell you shit yet.There’s one final detail that needs to be addressed.He said if things work out the way he wants, he’ll make an announcement tomorrow morning.”
SloaneWelkerwasalmostfinished writing up the final report of the day, her feet propped up on the corner of her desk while she typed away on her laptop, when she noticed movement from the corner of her eye and nearly jumped out of her seat.
Her gaze flicked up to the source of the movement, and her breath hitched at the sight of her boss standing in the doorway.
Technically, Larissa Falco was her direct supervisor, but her brother Austin Flint was the head honcho at Six Points Security.The oldest sibling of the Flint family, he was the founder and CEO, and she usually tried to fly under his radar.Not because he was mean to her or anything like that.To the contrary, during the few instances where they’d interacted, he treated her with courtesy and respect.But he always looked so stern and serious, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and the last thing she wanted to do was get in his way…or on his bad side.
“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to startle you.”His voice was a deep, heavy rumble.A Marine veteran, he still kept his black hair cut high and tight, while the beginnings of a five o’clock shadow darkened his strong jaw.He wore dark-blue slacks over brown shoes and a white dress shirt that had been tailored to accommodate the deep V of his torso.
“It’s okay, I’m just…” She slid her feet off the desk in an attempt to salvage some semblance of professionalism.As it was, she felt way underdressed in her combat boots, faded jeans, and old T-shirt, but that kind of attire was fairly common among analysts in the cyber security division.“What can I do for you this afternoon?”
“Mind if I come in?”he asked, and nerves skittered down her spine.“If you’re in the middle of something, I can come back later.”
Like she’d ever tell her boss to come back at a more convenient time.“No, it’s fine.I was just finishing up.Make yourself at home.”
Sloane slid on her hoodie and zipped it all the way up in the hope that Austin hadn’t already read the front of her shirt:You Should See My Active Bitch Face.Larissa wore shirts like it all the time, and she never had a problem with other members of the team wearing whatever made them feel comfortable.
As he stepped into the room, Austin glanced back to the open doorway and called out, “Are you coming or what?”
“Be there in a minute,” Larissa called back.
