“Trevor came to me, asked me for my help when the guys—my guys—were after Ripper. I pulled a few strings, buried some intel—because it was the right thing—the honorable thing—to do, and that whole crew…they’re kind of like my extended family now.”
When he squeezes my hand and does that amazing thing with his thumb along the inside of my wrist, I feel like nothing will ever hurt me again. I know it’s an illusion. That Austin can’t really stop anything and anyone who might ever want to hurt me—but he stopped Arturo and Martín, and for now, that’s enough.
“Well, when I meet Dax, remind me to thank him for this. I’ve never been on a nicer plane.”
Austin’s brows shoot up. “When?”
“Yes. When.”
Chapter Eighteen
Mikayla
Before we even unbuckle our seatbelts in Baltimore, the cabin door opens, and a dark-haired man, on the wiry side, enters and nods in our direction.
“Pritchard. Ya’ look a bit thinner than the last time I saw ya’,” he says with just a hint of an Irish brogue.
“Hiking more than five hundred miles through Mexico will do that to a guy,” Austin mutters as he wraps his arm around my waist. “Ronan, this is Dr. Mikayla Salim.”
“Hi. Mik is fine.” Austin’s body language gives me the impression he’s not thrilled with Ronan’s presence, and when a second man, this one a little bulkier with dark blond hair and blue eyes ducks through the door, Austin narrows his eyes.
“Are we having a party?” he asks, his voice tight.
“This is Clive. Works at Second Sight? Cut me some slack, mate. Did ya’ really think I’d bring someone on board I didn’t trust?” Ronan scowls, then nods to Li and Isaiah, who stand off to the side, both looking like they want to shrink into oblivion. “Clive is goin’ to handle settin’ up the outside surveillance.”
Clive shakes my hand, then Austin’s. “You’re a bit of a legend around the office.”
With a snort, Austin shakes his head. “I’m no legend. That’s Dax. And Ry. Maybe Trev.”
Ronan leans closer and lowers his voice. “Call him, mate. You disappearin’ did a number on him.”
“I’m working on it.” Austin guides me to the stairs and practically carries me down to the tarmac. “Ronan was on the mission in Venezuela,” he says quietly. “But I think this is the most I’ve heard him talk at once…ever.”
“And he and Clive work for Dax.”
Nodding, Austin waits for the two of them to retrieve all the luggage and join us—along with Isaiah and Li—close to two black SUVs.
“Hey Perry White. Catch,” Ronan says as he unlocks the closest vehicle to load up the bags, then tosses Austin a set of keys. “That one’s yours. We’re takin’ the other two home, then I’m droppin’ Clive off at his cousin’s place. Oh, and there’s somethin’ in the console for ya’.”
Austin nods. “Thanks. You’ll be on days with Mik if I can’t be?”
Staring back and forth between Ronan and Austin, I ask, “What?”
As he opens the passenger door for me, Austin lowers his voice. “I can’t be with you twenty-four hours a day, Mik. Not and try to find out who these assholes were, how they got to Corey in the first place, and whether or not you’re still in danger. When I’m not with you, Ronan will be.”
“You got me a bodyguard.” The words escape on a whisper, and though I’m scared the cartel will somehow follow me back home, I believed Austin when he said we’d be safe. But now I wonder…doesheeven believe it?
Ronan clears his throat. “Mik, ya’ won’t need to worry. We protect our own, and Clive has contacts here. He vetted the locals assigned to your two grad students. All we need now is for Pritchard here to tell us what we’re protectin’ ya’ from.”
“A Mexican cartel involved in the illegal sale and trade of endangered orchids,” Austin says. “We don’t know much more than that. They operate out of Chiapas, and they’re not exactly happy with any of us for disrupting their operations. Once I get Mik home, I’ll call Wren and see if she can find out anything more.”
“Roger that,” Ronan says. “Text Clive the address so he can take care of the cameras. We’ll take care of these two first, then head your way. After that, you’re on your own until mornin’. But I’ll find the closest hotel to Dr. Salim’s place.”
“Dr. Mik?” Li has her arm around Isaiah’s waist, and her brown eyes blaze with confidence. “Isaiah and I don’t need separate people. I’ll be staying at his place from now on.”
“Our place,” Isaiah gently corrects.
Despite the constant stream of worried commentary running through my head, I grin at them. “So, when we get back to work, does this mean you’ll stop arriving at the lab in two cars, exactly ten minutes apart?”
