With a long, laborious sigh, Hugh set her on her feet. But one broad hand remained on her hip. Solid and secure.
She drew air into her chest and then released it, trying to keep from completely losing her temper. “Hugh comes with us. Period.”
Deke’s eyes widened slightly. “What did you say?”
“There you go,” Hugh said, his voice warm.
She rolled her eyes. “Deke, I understand you don’t know or trust Hugh, and that’s fine. I’ll find those records that clear him. But I do trust him, and we need him on this op. There’s a threat against the nuclear power plant, and we don’t have time for you guys to dick around. This is serious.”
Deke crossed his muscled arms. “I’m in charge.”
“Then make the right damn decision,” Ellie snapped. “We sought him out for a reason, and that hasn’t changed.”
Deke smiled then. Slow and threatening. “I guess it’ll be just as easy to shoot him in Pennsylvania as here.” With that, the Brigade leader turned on his heel and prowled out of the room.
“I think he’s really starting to like me,” Hugh said, releasing her hip.
She turned and poked him in the chest. Hard. “That was your one chance to act like a bozo. No more, or I’ll shoot you myself.” Yeah, she might’ve liked him getting a little possessive over her—nerdy Ellie Mae—but she couldn’t let him get away with it long term. “Got it?”
He stepped into her then, his entire long and lean body warm against hers. He gripped her chin, tilting her head back so he could meet her gaze. “I don’t remember you being so bossy.”
She swallowed, finding breathing a mite difficult. Her body flared wide awake. She tried to speak, and only a croak came out, so she cleared her throat. “Just behave.”
His smile was a little lopsided and a lot charming. “Not a chance.” Then he kissed her.
Chapter Nine
Why does the world have to start ending when I finally found something worth fighting for? It’s enough to drive a man nuts.
—Hugh Johnson, Brigade Notes
Hugh’s body finally began to relax as Deke drove the car through town and toward the Pennsylvania nuclear power plant.
The plane ride from Missouri had been stifling, with Connor and Deke arguing about who got to shoot him as soon as Ellie proved he was a terrorist. Finally, Connor had challenged Deke to a rousing game of rock-paper-scissors.
As of nine out of ten, Connor got to shoot Hugh.
It put the soldier in a good enough mood that he hummed all the way from the airport to the plant in the dark SUV. It was nice to make a soldier happy.
Ellie had ignored them all on the plane and had buried herself in some book about masters and mercenaries. Hugh had skimmed the back cover, and whoever author Lexi Blake was, she’d probably spent some real-life time as a soldier. Perhaps she was undercover with Homeland Security as well.
Ivan and Nora had stayed behind in Missouri to work on compiling other crucial threats.
Now, looking around the parking area, Hugh sat in the middle seat with Ellie at one side and Connor at the other. He reached for her hand and took it, surprised again at how small she was. She kept sending him worried glances, so he winked at her.
She blinked twice and then fidgeted in her seat.
“They actually like me a lot,” Hugh stage-whispered to her. “All of this posturing is just to stay loose for the op to come.”
“Nope,” Deke said cheerfully, meeting his gaze in the rearview mirror. “I really want to shoot you. If Connor misses, I get the second chance.”
“I never miss,” Connor said absently, keeping point out the window.
Hugh grinned. He was actually starting to like these guys. They reminded him of his brothers. He leaned forward to see around Connor. People were bustling on the sidewalks, boarding up businesses and shops. “Looks like everyone is heading to ground for a while.”
“Smart,” Connor said, his gun resting lightly on his thigh. “Scorpius ain’t going anywhere. Getting away from people is a good idea right now.”
“You don’t think they’ll find a cure?” Ellie asked quietly.
