Since it was too late last night to go anywhere, I spent the entire night lying awake and staring up at the ceiling, almost hoping that Tessa was going to come out, and also terrified that she would.
She didn’t. Which is definitely what was best for both of us. I meant what I told her. The next woman I take to bed will be my wife, but that doesn’t mean that I feel like testing that particular temptation. Especially when it’s been building for eighteen years.
Anastasia offered for us to stay with her, but with the risk to our lives right now, I thought it best to take Garrison up on his offer to have us stay in his apartment right next door to the community center where he works. Which is exactly where we went as soon as he texted that he was awake.
Tessa is currently reading in the guest room, while the team and I have gathered in Garrison’s office to discuss the orders Brenda dealt out last night.
“So, we’re back on mission. Fantastic.” Sarcasm drips from Sawyer’s words as he takes the folder from me and studies the transcript. I know my team is just as tired as I am of being at Brenda’s beck and call. “I’ll get to work on prepping the bugs.”
“It should be a quick one. Get in, place the bugs, keep watch, record, and leave. A week max.” I cross my arms as I lean back against the cabin of my boat. My mind should be on formulating a plan to obtain the information Brenda has requested, but instead, it’s on Tessa.
Is she reading the Bible?
Is she thinking about last night, too?
Of that kiss that incinerated me from the inside out and left me desperate for more?
“Do we know what kind of friction we’re going to hit when we get there?” Ryker questions, pulling me back to the present.
“Unknown for now,” I reply. “But we’ll be setting up an OP and getting eyes on them as soon as we get there.” Establishing the operational post is only one part of the puzzle. We have to get in and get out without being spotted. Something that we’re good at—but considering this mission is on US soil, and if we’re caught, there’s no one coming to bail us out—it’s a risk.
Add to that, whoever is running this show has ties to the CIA; well, there’s no telling how much trouble we could hit.
“I’ll pack what we may need should things go sideways,” Garrison says with a nod.
“Great, but—” I trail off as I prepare for his push back. “I need you to stay here and watch Tessa while I’m gone.”
Garrison arches a brow. “You’re grounding me?”
“No. I’m just assigning you to a different post. She’s at risk, and I need someone I trust to watch her.”
“Aww, poor Demo. He won’t get to blow anything up,” Sawyer says with a sarcastic pout.
“You sure about that?” Weston questions. “We’ve never done an op with one man down.”
“I know that. And to be honest, no, I’m not sure. But we don’t have a choice. I won’t take Tessa on mission, and I don’t have anyone else I can call in on such short notice. We need Sawyer for communications, and you and Ryker for a Plan B. We shouldn’t need to blow anything up.”
“Shouldn’t and won’t are two different things,” Ryker comments.
“If you have a different suggestion, I’m all ears,” I reply dryly.
“I don’t mind,” Garrison says quickly. “I’ll pack you what you need just in case, then keep an eye on things here.”
“Thank you.”
He nods. Since Garrison’s day job is as a counselor for high-risk teens at the community center, I know I can count on him to keep Tessa safe—and calm. The guy may set charges for us, but he diffuses for everyone else.
“If everything goes well, this is nothing more than an information gathering mission,” I say.
“And if it goes sideways?” Weston asks.
“Then we’ll be prepared for that, too.” I take a deep breath. “Look, I don’t like it either, but something that FBI agent said last night has me concerned that this isn’t what it looks like.” It was another reason I couldn’t sleep. I kept running over everything he said in regards to Brenda and Tessa.
“When he had you go outside with him?” Weston questions.
I nod.
“What did he say?” Garrison asks.
