Why was it all the jobs lately weren’t the usual get in, get the asset and leave kind of gigs? Was there some cosmic reason? Or was it because the Aegis teams had pulled off the impossible enough times that people were taking notice?
It wasn’t Riley’s job to figure it out.
He finished gathering their things and stacking the room service for easy pickup.
The shower turned off. She’d be out momentarily. He wanted to be ready to leave when she was.
“How much time do I have?” she called out.
“Couple of minutes.” He glanced at the clock again.
She muttered to herself, words he couldn’t make out, but after this much time together he had a good idea what she meant.
“When this is all over, I’m spending a week in Florida at the beach,” she said, her voice reverberating off the tile walls.
“That sounds nice.” Riley, on the other hand, would probably head north to see his family and help wrap up baling.
“Okay.” The bathroom door opened and Erin stepped out. She pushed a hand through her wet hair. It was already beginning to curl and poof out after only a few moments. “I look like a fucking flower.”
Riley chuckled. Despite her protests, she’d had to take one of the flowing, flower print tops from the shop downstairs. Even the bright pink pants were a nice touch. It was by no means something that fit her personality, but the draping white fabric and bright colors brought out her feminine side. The one she tried to hide. He’d known enough women like her to guess at her motivations.
“You look nice. Come over here.” He sat at the small table where they’d shared a quiet breakfast instead of the lounge chair.
“Has Zain said anything yet?”
“Nope. He’ll wait till we’re all on, so he doesn’t have to repeat himself.” Riley couldn’t begin to imagine the hours Zain and the rest of the behind-the-scenes team between the two offices were putting in. Grant might not like hearing it, but having Melody part of that loop was probably going to save their ass someday.
Erin speared him with a look that almost cut. “I’m going to the office today, with or without you.”
“Where you go, I go, baby doll.” Those last two words popped out without conscious thought.
“Baby doll?” Erin’s nose wrinkled, and she made such a disgusted face that Riley laughed outright. “Just because I’m wearing something that looks like a muumuu designed to show my ass does not mean I’m anyone’s baby doll.”
“I’m just pulling your leg.” Pet names were a no go. Note made. A few more hours, and with any luck, they’d be at the airport and headed home to end this job soon.
The screen lit up with the main Aegis Group Seattle number.
“There they are.” Riley tapped the phone icon and flipped it to speaker phone. “Morning. Hope everyone got some sleep.”
“Is Erin still with you?” Grant asked. His tone was all business.
“Present and accounted for,” Erin said.
“Oh, thank God,” Melody muttered in the background.
“We need to keep this brief, so if everyone could please mute themselves and keep an eye on your phones?” Zain’s tone was weary. There was no telling how long it’d been since he’d slept.
Riley tapped the mic.
“Thanks, everyone.” Zain blew out a breath. “First, Grant and Melody—are either of you on speaker?”
“No,” Grant and Melody answered in unison.
“Good. Keep it that way,” Zain said.
Erin glanced at him, the lines around her mouth betraying her attempt at calmness.
“Second, is Thomas still with your team?”
“He is. Vaughn is sticking with him,” Grant replied.
“Erin, two years ago you were working on a project where there was an accident, and due to your report, the current defense contractor handling NexGen’s security got fired, correct?” Zain’s tone was building to something. Something Riley didn’t like.
He tapped the mic button.
“That’s true. Allied Security.” She glanced at him, the lines deeper now.
“Our buddy Thomas worked for Allied back before that incident,” Zain said.
“Shit,” Erin muttered.
Zain sighed before continuing. “It was a brief gig, but the guy has next to no on-the-books employment information, and he’s been in this region for the better part of five years. That tells me that Thomas has been working for someone before he got hired by your current security provider.”
“You think Thomas wasn’t there when the attack happened intentionally? I was a target.” Erin sat back in her chair.
“It’s pretty damn coincidental that a guy who worked for the company you campaigned to let go is now your personal bodyguard and never mentioned a damn thing about it,” Zain said.
“Erin got dragged through the mud for that, and we think the people holding her were related to the victims.” Riley stared at Erin’s face. He could read the lines of worry.
“Exactly,” Zain said. “If Thomas is in contact with Allied, then he’d be able to tell them where we were at all times and coordinate their attack on the safe house. We’re all lucky Riley and Erin went for a joy ride when they did.”
Erin winced and Riley glanced away even though Zain and Grant couldn’t see him. They all knew it wasn’t just a turn around the block, but this time breaking the rules might have saved their lives.
“NexGen hired us to bring Erin home. That’s it,” Zain said.
Erin opened her mouth. Riley shook his head.
There was a note in Zain’s voice, the kind that said he was about to go off the rails and do whatever the fuck he wanted to do. The thing that had brought Riley to Aegis was their dedication to doing the right thing. If they were on an op and they could help people, they did it. When they could bring people home safe and do the right thing, they got the job done. It was what set them apart.
“I am making NexGen aware of Thomas’ connection in the next half hour, but all that will do
