“But it’s probably worth?—”
“Break the fucking thing, Tommy.” Snake’s voice cut through like a blade. “Coop said destroy it.”
Tommy brought it down hard against a support post. The lens shattered, plastic and glass scattering. The body split open, exposing electronic guts. Memory card ejected into shadows.
Mia made a small sound. That camera was probably her livelihood. Her art. Gone.
But at least she wasn’t fighting me.
We moved toward the vehicle. I kept my hand on her arm, guiding more than controlling, though it wouldn’t look that way to the others. She stumbled once on the uneven ground. I caught her, steadied her, kept her moving.
“In.” I opened the rear passenger door of the SUV, practically shoving her inside. She scrambled across the bench seat to the far side, pressing against the door like she could disappear through it.
Diesel leaned against my door before I could get in. This close, the stench of cigarettes and sour sweat was overwhelming. “Better be worth the trouble, Coop. Oliver don’t like complications.”
“She will be.” I met his eyes steadily. “One way or another.”
“One way or another,” Diesel repeated, laughing as he headed for the driver’s door. “I like that. Maybe when you’re done, you’ll share. I ain’t picky about seconds.”
The words hit like acid on exposed nerves, but I made myself grin. “We’ll see how well-behaved she is first.”
I climbed into the middle of the back seat, positioning myself between Mia and Tommy, who was taking the other window seat. Snake rode shotgun while Diesel drove. The arrangement was deliberate—I could control who had access to her, could shield her with my body if needed.
The engine rumbled to life, and we pulled away from the barn. Three hours to figure out how to keep her alive once we reached the compound.
Tommy kept stealing glances at her around me, his youth making him obvious. “She’s real pretty, Coop. Never seen anyone look that good out here in the middle of nowhere.”
“Sometimes fate just delivers.” I kept my tone casual while my thigh pressed against Mia’s, trying to offer comfort through contact. She shied away. I couldn’t blame her.
“Fate.” Snake’s voice carried enough skepticism to fill the vehicle. “That what we’re calling it?”
“What would you call it?”
“Suspicious as hell.” He shifted to look back at us, examining Mia like she was a puzzle to solve. “Real estate photographer just happens to show up at the exact barn we’re scouting?”
“You think I set this up? Brought her here? For what possible fucking reason?”
“Could be lots of reasons.” Snake’s hand shifted on his weapon. “Maybe you’re getting soft. Maybe you knew her from before.”
I laughed, harsh and ugly. “Jesus, Snake. You really think I’d compromise the best gig we’ve had in years for pussy? You think I’m that stupid?”
Mia flinched at the word, shrinking smaller against the door.
“I think everybody’s got pressure points,” Snake said carefully.
“My only weakness is that I haven’t gotten laid in nearly two months.” I grabbed Mia’s wrist, yanking her against my side. She came reluctantly, her body rigid with fear. “But that problem’s solved now.”
“Still seems convenient,” Snake muttered, but he turned back around.
Diesel laughed from the driver’s seat. “Snake thinks everything’s a conspiracy. Remember when he thought that waitress in Billings was FBI?”
“She was asking too many questions.”
“She was trying to get your order right, you paranoid bastard.”
Tommy leaned forward again. “So what’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Don’t talk to her,” I snapped. “She talks to me or not at all.”
