Wilds reached under her arms and lifted her out of her seat. “Did I hurt the Princess’s feelings?”
Cassie kept her promise. Surprise and small stature were on her side. She rolled to her left, breaking free from his grasp. With lightning speed, she dragged one of his arms behind him. A swift kick to the back of his knee followed, compelling his body forward against the table with an audible thud. She lifted her knee, placing it perilously close to his male anatomy.
“I hope this quashes anyone’s doubts. I just wanted to make sure my teammates feel secure with me watching their backs.” Cassie scanned their faces. “Thank you, Mr. Wilds, for generously participating in this exercise.”
Snickers of laughter broke out.
“I think this is a good time for a fifteen-minute break,” Agent Quinn Marcus announced.
Steam billowed from Wilds’ head. With a curt smile, Cassie released the man. Grabbing her file, she left the room.
* * *
The glass and bronze ten-story building’s sky-lit penthouse stood over the heart of the District of Columbia. Eagle’s Talon’s leaders sat together, poring over a new covert government contract. The Eagle’s Talon was a clandestine sub-division of Chase Security.
Ian pulled on his chin. “Have our technical analysis people dig a little deeper. The information we have is wrapped with a bow—too perfect. I smell a brewing ambush. We cannot put any of our people at increased risk; I don’t care what Uncle Sam is paying us.”
Kieran Chase circled the item in question in red. “I agree. I will contact Mike and let him know about the delay. They can all enjoy another day in the Keys before heading south.”
“I’m sure another day of fun will just break their hearts.”
Kieran glanced at his watch. “I am wheels up in two for NOLA.”
Esther buzzed. “Mr. Milton to see you, sirs.”
Ian pressed the door release. Tiki Milton, a tall, ebony-skinned, model-handsome man, and one of Chase Security’s talented technical analysts walked in.
“Ian, here’s the info you requested on Cassie Modine. It’s bare bones. Her life is encrypted. You told me she’s FBI, but her earlier info should be available. Everything from grad school forward is blacked out. How deep do you want us to go?”
Kieran raised an eyebrow at his big brother. Looking deeper might cross some legal lines. “Anyone I should know about?”
Tiki stood expressionless, waiting for the answer on the background check.
“Take it to the next level.”
“Yes, sir.” Tiki disappeared from the room.
“New contract, bro?” Kieran dug again as he grabbed his go-bag.
“Someone interesting. You have everything you should need on the Bombardier. Watch your six. Bring Susie home to her mom and dad.”
The brothers slapped each other across their backs.
“You got it.” Kieran headed out to the airport. “Hey, take care of my girl.”
“Always.” Ian planned to talk to his brother upon his return. Kieran didn’t need to get his hands dirty anymore. Now that he was married; leading a team into harm’s way wasn’t worth the risk.
* * *
The sun warmed Cassie’s face while she sat on a bench in front of FBI headquarters. “I hate Greg Wilds!” she mumbled under her breath. Clenching and unclenching her fists, she rolled her shoulders. It felt good, but decking her supervisor was not her smartest choice. A quick press of a button and her phone recalled the unrecognized number that interrupted her morning briefing.
“Ian Chase.”
Cassie gasped at the smooth, baritone voice at the end of the phone call.Oh gosh, Wilds thinks he’s my boyfriend.“Mr. Chase, this is Cassie Modine. I think I am returning your call, although I am not sure how you got this number.”
“Call me, Ian, please. I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble when I called this morning. Greg sounded a bit perturbed, for lack of a better word. I want to take you to dinner tonight.”
Cassie hesitated. “Umm.”
