Other people were coming out into the hallway to see what the commotion was about. But evidently a Branson brother lying on the floor wasn’t much cause for concern, because most headed back the way they’d come without much real interest.
Sawyer reached down to help his brother up. “And what point was that?”
“That Juliet isn’t ready. She can’t stand to be touched. She’s unpredictable.”
Juliet could still feel tension coursing through her body. Fight or flight instincts, although neither were needed now.
Evan just shook his head. “I think all you successfully proved, you moron, is that your sister can kick your ass.”
Cameron dusted off his clothes. “What is she going to do, flip everyone who touches her at Vince Cady’s house?” He clenched his jaw, his exasperation clear.
“Well, then they’ll learn pretty darn quickly not to touch her if they don’t want to end up staring at the ceiling, wondering what the hell happened,” Evan retorted.
“She’s not ready, Evan,” Cameron all but growled. “You’re forcing her into something she doesn’t want to do.”
“I’m not forcing her into anything, Cam.” Evan’s rigid posture spoke volumes. “The situation sucks, I’m the first to admit it. But people are going to die if we don’t get the drone codes out of Cady’s hands, or whoever he plans to sell them to.”
Juliet had had enough of this. All of it. “Why are you guys talking about me like I’m not even here?”
Cameron began to answer, but she cut him off. “You zip it. You lost your right to speak when you were lying on the floor. You’re lucky I didn’t break your nose.”
Sawyer snickered. Juliet turned and pointed at him. “You be quiet, too. Just because you weren’t stupid enough to try something so asinine doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.”
Evan wisely made no sound at all.
“I know this situation isn’t optimal. I know I’m not a good candidate for undercover work. Believe me, I’ve been thinking about that every day for the past eighteen months.”
Both Cameron and Sawyer began to speak, but she held out her hand to stop them. “However, we don’t have any other options that won’t end up costing other people their lives. So I’m going to do it.” She glanced at Evan. “And hopefully not get both of us killed in the process.”
Evan nodded with a half smile, still smart enough to keep quiet.
“You two—” she waved at her brothers “—need to either get behind me on this or completely out of the way. No more trying to point out my shortcomings. I need your support.”
With that, Juliet turned and walked down the hallway toward her office. She knew she didn’t have to say anything more. Her brothers were hardheaded and often pretty stupid—Cameron’s little stunt was plenty of proof of that—but she knew they loved her. And now that they understood she was serious about this, she knew they would stop their antics and help her and Evan in any way they could.
Juliet just hoped it would be enough.
CHAPTER NINE
Evan watched Juliet walk down the hall.
“All right. I guess this is really happening,” Cameron muttered. “I didn’t expect her to drop me like that.”
“Yeah, she’s in top shape. I saw her sparring yesterday. If anything, she’s even more quick and strong than when she was an active agent,” Evan said. It was damn impressive.
“But she’s not consistent,” Sawyer told him. “Yeah, she took Cameron down, but was just as likely to freeze up and do nothing.”
“She’ll get her rhythm back. She just needs more time to get used to being an agent again.”
Sawyer slapped him on the back. “Well, unfortunately, that’s the one thing you don’t have—time.”
Evan nodded. “Then I better not waste any more of it talking to you guys.”
Sawyer stopped him. “Evan, you know we only said all that because we want to protect Juliet. I don’t know if she’d survive another—” Sawyer lowered his voice “—incident. Like what happened before.”
“Nothing like that’s going to happen. I’ll make sure of it.” That was the one thing Evan knew he could promise.
“If she’s made up her mind, then we want to help any way we can,” Cameron added. “We can clear our schedule, work with you for the next couple of days if you want.”
Evan shook his head. He knew what needed to be worked on first and foremost with Juliet, and her brothers couldn’t help. “Thanks, guys. I’ll let you know if we need anything. Besides, she’s pretty pissed at you two right now. I think you better steer clear.”
“Yeah, the demonstration maybe wasn’t such a great idea,” Cameron mumbled.
“I could’ve told you that if you’d asked me beforehand, dumbass,” Evan declared. “It’s amazing you ever got your gorgeous fiancée to agree to marry someone as stupid as you.”
“That’s the truth,” Sawyer said in agreement. “I never would’ve done something so dumb.”
Evan didn’t have much mercy for Sawyer, either, even though they’d been best friends since elementary school. “Yeah, I recall you saying some pretty stupid things to your own fiancée a few months ago, so you can’t talk much either.”
The Branson brothers began walking down the corridor, grumbling at each other about who was the most stupid when it came to women. Evan turned in the direction of Juliet’s office. One thing was definitely true: they didn’t have much time. They needed a crash course in working together, and it had to begin immediately.
Because if Lisa Sinclair jerked away every time her loving husband touched her—or flipped him over her shoulder—everyone in Cady’s operation was going to get suspicious real fast.
She had to learn to let “Bob” touch her, to be around her. To kiss her.
Seeing that she had withdrawn from even the slightest physical contact with anyone over the past year and a half, undoing it in a little over two days wasn’t going to be easy.
Plus, Evan wanted to do some surveillance on Cady’s house, at least the outer grounds, before they went in
