“Means I messed up.” He stopped in front of her. “Means they’ve figured out we’re…” He cupped the side of her face then lowered his hand as it slowly fisted at his side. “They think they can use us against each other as leverage.”
When they’d first met, he talked about the CT list and leverage. The concept and reality hadn’t sunk in like it did now. “That’s bad, right?”
“That’s more than bad, Liz. I’m sorry I let this happen.”
The other men stared at the floor, at the wall, anyplace but at them.
She bit her lip to hold back all the emotions struggling to come out in tears then tucked her hand inside his. “Well, I’m not. I’m not one bit sorry.”
Mitch briefly gripped her hand then let it go. He raked his fingers through his hair. “CT is so damn close. And I don’t just mean that boat sitting out there in the water. I mean on a whole different level.” He returned to the open window, peered through the scope, and flipped off the man who continued to red-dot him from the boat.
Reese laughed as he lowered the binoculars. “I do believe he just called you a—”
“Yeah, I think he did, too. But there’s not a damn thing he can do, because he needs me alive.” Mitch closed the window panel then looked around the room.
Taking time to zero in on each person, even her, he pushed the button that closed the blinds over the wall of windows. His gaze seemed to bore right into each of their souls.
No one blinked. No one moved. Slowly, she realized he was appraising each one of them for the coming battle. And, sure as she was standing there, she could feel a fight was brewing. Nobody said a word. The men already knew the drill, and she followed their lead.
Finally, Mitch walked to the fridge and set four power juices on the counter. Plus one sparkling water. He opened his and lifted it in a toast. “Here’s to staying alive.”
Everyone else did and said the same, clinking containers as if they were drinking from fine crystal.
“Now, who’s the damn leak?” Slow and deliberate, he scrutinized each of them again. “CT couldn’t get this close, this fast, without help. There’s a rat in OPAQUE. Who?” He downed the rest of his drink. “I already know it’s nobody in this room. Outside this group, no one is above suspicion.”
“We need to know what’s happening on that boat,” Stealth said.
“I agree.”
Reese headed to the door. “Give it another thirty minutes, and it should be dark enough to take a couple PWCs out.”
“Too risky. The CT boat’s already on alert. They’d hear even the silencer-enhanced OPAQUE Q40.” Mitch headed up the stairs. “I’ll swim out. Let me get into the Neoprene.”
“Give me ten minutes. I’ll grab my swim gear from my place and go out with you,” Reese said.
“I go alone.” Mitch stopped on the balcony landing. “Later, if you need it, there are extra Neoprene, goggles, and tanks in the storage lockers downstairs. And if—”
No. Just no. He couldn’t go alone. Who’d have his back? Who’d be there to help him if he got tired? Or wounded? She must have gasped louder than she thought, because all the men looked at her.
“You can’t go out there alone.” She shook her head rapidly. “I won’t let you. Just. No.”
The stoic stare on his face said don’t get emotional on me. Don’t doubt my leadership. Don’t doubt my capabilities. Don’t. Doubt. Me!
“Liz. We’re in protector mode again. At this point, you are nothing but the client. Our job. The one we were sent to keep alive,” he said, his tone back to the first time they’d met at the Mariner’s Bar and Grill. Determined. Unyielding. The leader. “You aren’t in on this decision. Got it?”
A cold shiver trickled from her face to her stomach to her toes. This was why he’d been sent. Why they’d all been sent. To protect her. The only way any of them stood a chance at survival was if she did everything expected of her. And they took all the risks. Possibly…even the bullets.
She blinked and stepped back. “I’m sorry, guys. I was out of line.”
Mitch leaned toward his team. “As I started to say, if I’m not back in an hour, notify law enforcement I’ve been captured.”
Reese nodded in acknowledgment.
“CIA and FBI?” Josh asked.
“Yeah. And somebody check the water patrol while I’m suiting up.” Mitch hustled toward his room.
All she could think to do was make a pot of coffee, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember if she’d ever seen him drink any. Still, she made the coffee. Before the coffee was finished, Mitch had already gone in the water.
