Closing his eyes, Nic buried his face in Cam’s big palm, wanting it to all work out that simply.There was no one he trusted more to find Lette than Cam nor anyone he trusted more to try Vaughn’s case than himself.But so many of the other players on the board were wildcards.He ignored them for the moment, ignored reality, and drew what comfort he could.
It didn’t last for long, Cam’s vibrating phone interrupting the silence.Dropping his hand, Cam pulled it from his pocket, flashed him Lauren’s face on-screen, and activated the speaker.“Hall, what’s up?”
“Vaughn’s not coming.”
“Why not?”
“Cole tracked the sedan you checked out of the pool.He told Vaughn where you were headed.”
“Fuck.”
Nic shook his head.“Doesn’t matter.”Cam had made his argument convincingly.Paying off Vaughn wasn’t the way to rescue Lette.At least now they knew for sure who the mole was inside the FBI.“How’d you confirm it was Cole?”
“I pretended to turn on you.”
Cam lurched forward in his chair, matching Nic’s posture, bent over the phone on the end of the table.“You did what?”
“I know where they’re holding Lette.One of Vaughn’s properties down in Cambria.”
“You did know he was the mole.”Nic let every bit of admiration he had for her color his voice.
“Of course I knew.I was playing him the entire time.I told him I wanted in on some of his share of what Vaughn promised to pay him.Which was the bullshit song and dance he gave me, because we all know he’s up to his eyeballs in hock to Vaughn, like everyone?—”
“Lauren,” Cam clipped, cutting off her ramble.“What happened tonight?”
“He wanted to win points with his boss.Told him I’d help divert you.”
“Divert me?”
“From where they’re taking Lette.”
“Nice end around.”
“Thank you,” she said.“And I’ve already called in the tactical team.”
“I’ll be there in twenty.”Cam ended the call and pushed to his feet.
Nic rose beside him.“I’m coming with you.”
“No.”Before he could object, Cam’s hand flattened over his lips, pressing back the argument.“Cambria’s four hours south.No way you’ll make it there and back in time to present to the grand jury tomorrow morning.”
He wrenched his face away and slammed a palm on the table.“She’s my sister, goddammit.”
Cam didn’t back off.He crowded closer instead, backing him up against the table, both hands wrapped around his neck.Nic fought to get free but Cam held him steady.“I know, baby,” he said, more gently than Nic deserved.The de-escalation worked, calming him a measure.“I know more than most what that means.”Both thumbs scraped over his rough cheeks, the noise loud in the otherwise quiet night.“You brought my sister back to me.Let me bring yours home to you.I won’t let this be another regret.”
His lips brushed against Nic’s, sealing a promise Nic knew Cam never liked making.The fact that he would, together with his kiss, wiped away the last of Nic’s arguments.
“Okay,” he breathed before drawing Cam into a deeper kiss, getting a last taste of that certainty, that confidence, to buoy him through the hearing tomorrow, through the hours he’d have to stand by doing nothing.Standing down was against all his training, but also right in line with it in this instance.No running to his death or his sister’s.He had to trust Cam to do his job while he did his in the courtroom.
“I’ll bring her home,” Cam promised again.
Nic needed more than that.He rested his forehead against Cam’s, holding tight while he still could.“Both of you come back to me.”
Nineteen
“Everyone knows their approach routes and positions?”Cam straightened from where he stood, huddled over the topographical map of Vaughn’s seaside property.Each team leader around the table nodded.“Great, we move out at the top of the hour.”
The agents scattered, debriefing their individual groups and checking their gear.With Danny’s help, they’d secured an empty hangar at the municipal airport in Paso Robles about forty minutes east of Cambria.They could have set up base closer but vans full of FBI agents would have been too noticeable in the smaller seaside towns near Vaughn’s fifteen-acre estate.Word would reach Vaughn before they did.
