Once the cab opens, Axel pulls me into his arms. “What the fuck? Can’t I leave you alone for one second?”
The dog woofs his agreement and wags his tail while Wulf leans over to pat his head. “Braver Hund.”
Back inside our hotel room, Bear sits beside Trever while my husband tugs me into the bedroom and slams the door. “What the hell happened?”
If I tell him about Ledbetter, he’ll call off the mission, hire a bodyguard, and send me packing. Because of me, Wulf and his team will miss the opportunity to arrest one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals. The evil man who brokers innocent girls and sells them into sex slavery will go free. I can’t be responsible, even if it means I must dance like a worm on a hook.
“He told me not to trust Britt.”
Sensing the truth, my husband’s neck muscles calm. “Not much of a news flash.”
After he cups my face, I scrunch my eyes closed and hold forth the crumpled paper. “Danbury also said I was to give you this.”
“Fuck.” Axel unfolds the note and reads in silence.
Nerves maxed out, my upper teeth bite my lower lip until I can’t wait any longer and pop open my lids. “Well, what does it say?”
“Coordinates.” His penetrating gray irises search mine, then lock on. “Why did our informant rush you from the room?”
“He was worried for my safety.” As I start to confess the rest, Brittany opens our bedroom door and struts in.
“What did Danbury want?” Her demanding tone makes me want to slap her into the next galaxy.
Uh-huh. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.Shoulder angel nods her approval.
Axel, sensing the impending fight, tips his head at me and turns to Ms. Coitus Interruptus. “Your rat sent us a place and time. Go to the kitchen, we’ll be right there.”
Once she leaves, he whispers in my ear, “Retract your claws, kitten. For the time being, we need her.”
“Like a hole in the head.” My childish comment ignored, he laces his fingers through mine, tugs me back to the tableful of laptops, and sitting, pulls me onto his lap.
“You need to see this.” He plays a video of me and Danbury. Hidden from my view, Rhonda and Ink sit in a dark corner. From this perspective, it’s clear I was never in any danger.
I don’t know whether to be insulted or impressed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Sorry, it had to be real.” Sounding truly contrite, the red-head lifts her eyes from her computer screen.
“You all knew he would approach me?”God, I feel so stupid.
I expect Axel to respond, but the man covered in tats beats him to it. “We figured Danbury would be most comfortable approaching you.”
“Why didn’t you pick up Ledbetter while you were there?” While my question seems perfectly rational, the others stare like I've grown another head.
“What?”Am I missing yet another critical puzzle piece?
While I glance around the room, Axel clears his throat. “No one knows what he looks like. Did Danbury say he was there?”
Anticipating my response, Trever’s fingers fly over the keyboard.
I don’t want to give away all my secrets, so I take my time crafting an answer. “Yeah, he might’ve mentioned the dealer was nearby.”
“Fuck. Why didn’t you lead with that?” Wulf never shouts, at least not until today.
His anger makes it necessary to defend myself. “Well, if you guys would clue me in, perhaps I would’ve. You can’t keep me in the dark and expect me to be a useful team member.”
Not wanting any of them to see me cry, especially Brittany, I swivel on my heel and exit stage right. The bedroom door slams using more force than I intended, but hey, it's all good.
Once I calm down, I call Callie and explain what happened, leaving out the part about how I am the deal Danbury wants to broker. “I have three fucking doctorates, and I'm so tired of being treated like a moron.”
