Tomi giggled and wrapped her arm around Cole’s neck. “Be nice tohim.”
Case grinned from behind her. “You better play nice, Cole, or Tomi’s gonna punishyou.”
Tomi turned and glared, but totally ruined the effect with her accompanying broad grin. “Stop baitinghim.”
Cole gave his brother a warning look, threaded his fingers in Tomi’s hair and turned her back to face him. The light laughter in her eyes warmed him to his toes. Cole lowered his head, sweeping a soft kiss across her teasing lips. “I don’t think I’m the one who needspunishing.”
Tomi’s breath caught and her nipples beaded through her shirt, pressing into his chest. “I think you’re right. What do you have inmind?”
Cole groaned as she snuggled up against him. “I think I can manage to come up with somethingappropriate.”
“Is that a promise?” she saidbreathlessly.
“For the rest of your life, babygirl.”
32
“Getthese damn wires off of me.” Adam Wise snarled as the nurse ran through a quick check of hisvitals.
Cole ignored his surly tone just like the nurse. “You have to wait on the doc to clearyou.”
The nurse, a tiny thing that didn’t even reach Cole’s shoulder, straightened and scanned her clipboard without the least bit of worry. “Your vitals look good, Mr. Wise. The doctor will be in shortly to give you the final clearance for release.” She hung the clipboard on the end of Adam’s bed and left theroom.
“I don’t have time for this shit. I’m fine. The poison didn’t kill me. Tara’s still out there somewhere and the longer I sit in this invalid’s bed, the further away she gets.” Tortured worry filled Adam’stone.
Guilt hit Cole square in the gut. He couldn’t imagine the fear Wise was experiencing and Cole felt partly responsible. They’d failed to find Tara. Luis had disappeared off the fucking planet and they weren’t any closer to finding El Oscuro than they had been when this whole messstarted.
“It’s not your fault, Cole.” Tomi slid a supportive arm around him and Cole accepted her comfort with relief. She didn’t make the guilt go away altogether but she soothedhim.
He dropped a kiss to her head, not correcting her even though she was wrong. “Thank you forcoming.”
Cole looked at Adam. “I’m sorry,man.”
Adam scrubbed a hand down the thick shadow of a beard that had grown since he’d been in the hospital. This was the first time Cole had ever seen the man with abeard.
“She’s right,” Adam said in a gruff tone, “It’s not your fault. It’s that dead fucking agent. What I wouldn’t give to wrap my hands around hisneck.”
“Case took care ofhim.”
“Fill me in on the rest. What’s the plan?” Adam pushed off the mattress and sat up straighter. Tomi rushed from Cole’s side to fix hispillow.
“Troy’s working on hacking the FBI’s database to gather intel on Luis and El Oscuro. Marsh, Donham and McKay are gearing up to go find Rico and Carrie.” Both of them wereMIA.
Tomi shot Cole a worried look and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Do you think they’reokay?”
Cole answered honestly. “If the cartel had her, Luis would make sure we knew. He’d make an example ofher.”
Tomi wrapped a hand around her throat and dropped into the chair next to Adam’s bed. “Oh myGod.”
“But they haven’t.” Cole didn’t like seeing the horror back on her beautiful face. He went to her, lifted her from the seat and settled in the chair, pulling her onto his lap so he could hold her. “And Rico is one of our best. If anyone could slip in and grab her, it’s him. He’ll contact us as soon as it’s safe. I’m sure ofit.”
“He’s right, Tomi. Rico’s a damn ghost. Never seen a man with that much stealth.” Adam shifted towardsthem.
She nodded and Cole drew her against his chest. “Case, Carter and Clint are out looking for Luis and any clues of where he might havegone.”
“The Frenchman?” Adamasked.
“Back in France for now. He got the hell out of the States after the attack went down at the compound,” Colesaid.
