Josh and Stealth drank an entire pot, even though Josh complained about it not being strong enough. When they asked if she’d make more, she did. Anything to not count the minutes that were ticking by.
All the men would tell her was that Mitch was one hell of a swimmer. A decorated SEAL. More than that, he loved the water. Yes, the water was probably cold farther out. Yes, it was a long way. And, when she asked if he’d have to go on the boat to check out what was happening, they had finally even said yes to that. At almost the hour mark, Reese and Stealth went outside to pull the PWCs and Q40 into position for a quick drag to the water.
She struggled to keep herself under control. This was the part—the waiting—that determined whether Mitch and she had any chance in the future. This was the part—the danger, the fear, the strength to be what the man she loved needed—that her mother hadn’t been able to face. She would. But one thing she’d already learned—an hour could seem like an eternity if you were waiting for someone you loved. She straightened, ready to face whatever happened. Ready to do whatever was needed when he returned.
The door burst open, and Mitch staggered in with Reese supporting him on one side. Stealth had their backs.
Mitch knelt on the floor, braced on his elbows, winded. Gasping for air, he rolled to lie on the floor for a minute before sitting up and shucking out of the Neoprene jacket. Liz pushed a power juice in his hands. He gulped it down in three swallows.
Liz handed him another one. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. We’ve got a problem, though. A big problem.” He motioned that he needed to eat. “I was right, it’s CT. They’ve got Drake and Russ. Best I could see, they’ve drugged them both.”
Josh handed him protein bars and fruit. “How should we proceed?”
“Reese, see if any of your CIA buds are in the area. Josh, check on FBI help.” Mitch got to his feet. “Looks to me like this is going to be more than just OPAQUE’s involvement. Coercion Ten may have stepped on a lot of toes this time.”
The men fell into their dialogue of protector jargon. Ever since they’d run inside from the beach, she’d felt less and less like a person to Mitch and more and more like a client. This time she was okay with that. This was what they did for a living every day of the year. Her only job now was to do what Mitch said, when he said.
Josh reported that the CIA and FBI were happy to be part of the fracas. They’d already had the boat under surveillance for some shady dealings back in Miami.
“We’ll be on our own the first five or ten minutes,” Mitch said. “We have to lead the assault in order to give the CIA and FBI credible denial of not instigating the situation. They’ll rush in at first sight of the skirmish.”
Stealth moved in closer. “I lined up a perimeter guy for the house.”
“Reliable?”
“Yep. I’d trust him with my life. Works dark-ops.”
At least they’d have additional backup. And the OPAQUE agent who’d headed in from New Orleans would take the OPAQUE boat out a mile away. He’d wait and watch for any problems.
“Josh and Stealth attack aft on the PWCs. I saw you guys already pulled my Q40 out from the storage unit below. We’ll leave it on the beach for emergency backup.” Mitch knew surprise was the way to go, but a little diversion would help, also. “Reese and I will use the raft and come in starboard. Your PWC noise should divert CT long enough for us to get on board.”
Now, each of the men seemed alone, each in their own process of getting ready. Mitch was so zoned in on the upcoming assault she doubted he even remembered she was there.
She walked over and touched his hand. He jerked in her direction then huffed out a breath, along with a slight grin. The blue of his eyes held the touch of a knife’s cutting-edge silver gray. He lifted her hand to his lips, his kiss fast and unthinking, but also sweet and gentle.
Looping his arm over her shoulder, he tugged her close. “I need all the guys with me. So, when we leave, you’ll be here by yourself. There will be a man on patrol of the perimeter of the house. Okay?”
“Sure.” Looking up into his face, she let her palm rest against his chest. “I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will. Don’t let anyone in. Not anyone. Understand?”
She nodded.
“The door will lock when I close it behind me. Each of us knows the code and will use it to get back in when this is all over. Got it?”
She nodded again. “Don’t forget your jacket.”
He pulled it on and flexed his shoulders. Jabbed his arms out to the side. Moved into two uppercut motions. Shook his head. “Nope. Not this time.”
Keeping herself from imagining him wounded or dead was a hard thing to control when he stood in front of her preparing for the battle to come. Preparing to fight. Hard and fast where even the tiniest restraint of movement could mean everything.
“And remember, we’re not leaving you alone.” Yanking the jacket off, he tugged his compression shirt back in place. “There’s the guy Stealth lined up watching the outside of the house. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Casting aside his words, she was more worried about these four outnumbered men heading out to take on CT than her own safety.
He walked away to help the men double-check their equipment. “Okay, looks like we’re ready to roll.”
