“I just wanted to touch base and see how life was treating you. Did you enjoy your shopping trip?”
This time she laughed. It was met by silence.
Good, maybe he’s turned on too!
Stop it, stay on task.
“How come I’m not surprised you heard about my trip to the mall? Tell me, just how many cars were following me? More than the two that I spotted?”
“Nope, just the two.”
How did he manage to sigh and laugh at the same time?
“I thought the CIA only wore windbreakers in the movies.”
“I wouldn’t know about that. I don’t own a windbreaker,” Leo said.
“Yeah, but you’re special forces. A SEAL, right?”
“I thought we covered that at lunch,” Leo said.
“We covered the fact that you’re really good at side-stepping questions. Just like you did now. Since you’re going to play that game again, I don’t see any reason to stay on this call, do you?” She knew she was being a bitch, but she didn’t have time for this shit. She needed to talk to Rayi and Alistair, then find out what the hell Jim was up to with Deyvid, because that could be scary as hell.
“Here I thought I was being cute.”
“Nope. It was getting old. Are you going to start being straight with me?”
“Daisy, I’ll be as straight as I can. Yeah, I’m a SEAL. Yeah, we’re looking into how we can help your father, but I can’t say much more than that.”
“Help my father or rescue my father?”
“What’s the difference?” Leo asked.
A brick that had been sitting on top of her chest lifted. The idea that Navy SEALs were planning a rescue had her breathing easier. It didn’t mean she wasn’t going to look at things from all angles though. Hope for the best and plan for the worst, that was her motto.
“Earlier you said it was bad. Are you going to act quickly?” she asked.
“That’s another thing I can’t answer. The when and how are need-to-know.”
“So if you can’t tell me anything, and I answered all of your questions at lunch, why the call now?” she asked him.
“Because you shook your tail this evening.”
Daisy barked out a laugh. “I think that’s a dance. ‘Shake Your Tailfeather’. Or did you mean something even more, shall we say, evocative?”
Leo snorted. “Don’t get me started, Ms. Squires, I would like to be all sorts of evocative about your tail.”
Daisy rolled her eyes; this was so inappropriate, but it felt good. “Look, Leo, let’s get down to it, what do you want?”
I did not say ‘get down to it.’ How long has it been since I’ve been laid, anyway? Holy hell! Two years! No wonder everything coming out of my mouth sounds like a cheesy porn movie.
“Daisy?”
“Hmmm?”
“What did you do when you got away from the CIA?”
“It doesn’t matter. I haven’t found anything out that will help yet. Now that I have your number, I’ll call you if things change.”
I have to get off this call now. God knows what will come out of my mouth next!
“Daisy, we need you to stand down. We’ve got this under control. The last thing we need is you getting into trouble too.”
“Leo, you know who I am. You know what I do. I’m careful. Thousands of women around the world depend on me. I’m talking about their very lives. I’m not going to screw this up. You can trust me.”
“Then tell me what you were doing today.”
“I told you, it came down to nothing.”
“So far. There’s a part two, right?”
Shit, how does he know that?
“There might be, but who in the hell knows. This is Afghanistan.”
He laughed again. Daisy shivered…again.
“Can I get you to promise to fill me in if you hear anything that might make a difference? And I’m serious, Daisy, I need you to stay out of trouble. I also need any information that you might have that could help this situation.”
“I don’t plan to do anything that will put me in harm’s way.”
“I’m holding you to that.”
7
Leo had tried to get ahold of Daisy that morning, but no luck. The only good news was that Tom Ludlum had put a camera outside Daisy’s hotel room and she hadn’t left her room all night. She’d actually let in room service that morning, so Leo at least knew she was safe. Still…
“Perez, are you listening to me?” Kane wanted to know.
“Sure, you were going over the topography between where the Blackhawk is going to land tonight and where the cave is. It’s hilly and rocky. I got it.”
“Since you know everything, how about you telling us what you know, like what’s so goddamn interesting on your phone?” Max asked sarcastically.
Leo thought he might lose it, which was just fucking stupid. He’d only met the woman yesterday, but he was acting like she mattered. Not that she shouldn’t; everyone should matter, but she mattered.
“I’m seeing if Dr. Squires’ daughter has tried for another escape, or if she has contacted me with any new information she might have found.” At least he kept his voice level.
Nic laughed. “It was great that she gave the CIA the slip. I like her already.”
“I’m right there with you, Kid. Any woman who can be that good, and that sneaky, is aces in my book. Hell, Kane, she reminds me of A.J. or maybe Eden,” Cullen said as he turned his head to look at Asher.
“Not Carys?” Nic said.
“Carys would be in their face and demand they stop following her. It wouldn’t occur to her to
