Maybe I liked it a little too much.
Someone cleared their throat. I cut my eyes in the direction of the noise and was surprised when a few chuckles floated through the air.
“Right.” I gave a serious nod as I got us back on track. “We need him alive,” I stressed.
“What if something happens?” Kent spoke up from Reed’s team. He was so new that this was my first time working with him.
“Then we’ll figure it out,” I said with a shrug. There wasn’t much I could do if someone got into a situation where it was them or Lipton. I’d never blame them for that. “Lipton is considered armed and dangerous. I’ve been here a few times, but I’m not sure if he’s built a safe room or has any hidden rooms.”
“Or a bunker,” Austin added with a knowing smirk.
“Or that,” I said with a shake of my head. “Be prepared for anything. This,” I pointed to an office on the west side of the house, “is the room that holds the largest gun cabinet. And this,” I slid my finger over to the largest bedroom on the southeast corner of the house, “is where he keeps his service weapon locked up.”
I cleared my throat. It was all starting to feel real. That time between gathering information and taking action, when your brain flips from research mode to action mode.
It was time to wrap this up and get moving.
“Save everything from inside the house too. We’ll need all his electronics and anything that will show his association with The Sons of the Holy Fire.”
Reed and I shared a look. Hopefully, we’d be one step closer to this being over after.
“Get geared up,” I said with a stern nod to the group.
Everyone broke off, going to different vehicles to grab their gear. Most of my team sent me respectful chin nods that also told me they had my back. Keller and Harlow clapped me on the shoulder as they passed.
“Milo, Kyle, and I will hang back,” Reed said as he raised his hand to grab my shoulder.
“Keep as far away as you can,” I told him, patting him on the back. “You have to stay alive. You have to keep working to take them down if I don’t make it.”
“Don’t talk like that,” he said, face hard.
“I have to be realistic.” It was the brutal truth, I might not make it out. Hell, none of us might make it out. There were a hundred scenarios where we could end up fucked. “Clear my name.”
“I’m fucking serious, Ford. You’re going to make it out and this year, you’re coming to every single holiday dinner.”
“What, not going to demand I turn up for brunch too?” I said teasingly. Hell, if I made it out and was able to clear my name, I’d go to all the brunches. I’d even offer to babysit his kid so he could take his men out to a nice dinner. And I sure as hell looked forward to it.
The thought gave me pause.
On the other side of this was a different life.
There was no way around it, my life as an agent was over. I didn’t give a shit if they took me back after I proved my innocence, I was done.
“Think someone’s waiting for you.” Reed had humor in his tone, effectively snapping me out of my thoughts. I followed his eyes as they shifted away from me to Austin, who was a respectful distance away looking much like a puppy waiting to be called.
Fuck, he was so adorable sometimes.
I couldn’t contain the smile spreading on my face as I looked at Austin.
“I’ll give you two a moment,” Reed said. He laughed under his breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I barely caught him shaking his head as he walked away.
With my gaze zeroed in on Austin, I began walking in his direction. He startled once he realized I was coming for him, and then he was taking wide steps to get to me, meeting me halfway.
We stood there for a moment, silence swirling around us.
“I don’t really know how this should go. Usually, the guys just clap each other on the back with a grunt or a nod, then we’re off,” he admitted with a shy smile.
A low chuckle rolled out of me.
