Carson ignored him and went down the stairs to the heart of the ship.He had his gun out and ready as he made a sweep through the ship.Yurgio had to be here.They’d all seen him.Carson wasn’t letting him get away again.He made his way to the cargo hold when he saw a shadow move.Carson quickly pursued.“Someone is in the cargo hold.I’m in pursuit.”
“God dammit, Carson, wait for backup.That’s an order,” Luke snapped at him.
“No time.I can see them.It’s Yurgio.”Carson chased after Yurgio as he searched for an escape hatch.“He’s headed for the waterside.Jack, Greg, be on the lookout.”
Carson rounded a corner as a bullet ricocheted off the pipe next to his head.He ducked down as he saw the sparks fly.
He scanned around him, looking for the direction of the source.He thought it had come from the left side.He stayed low as he made his way over when he bumped into Luke.
“What the fuck?”Luke snapped.
“Where is he?”Carson looked around, but only their team was there.“He was here.I saw him.”
“We have him,” Luke assured him, pointing down at Yurgio who was on his knees looking up at him.
“That’s not Yurgio.”
Luke looked back down at Yurgio and cursed.“It’s a goddamn look-alike.”
Foiled again.Carson lowered his weapon and shouted in anger, needing an outlet for his frustration.
Chapter 29
“What the fuck happened back there, Carson?”Luke snapped.They were now back in Vegas at their office.Everyone looked angry and defeated.Twice now, Yurgio had slipped through their fingers, and they couldn’t even blame the police this time.No one had even known they’d been there.It had been an in-and-out mission like it was supposed to be.
At least it wasn’t a complete loss.They’d apprehended many of Yurgio’s men and turned the boat over to the local authorities with an anonymous tip, but the queststill remained; where was Yurgio?
“Nothing.I was doing my job,” Carson grumbled, not wanting to get into it with Luke.He didn’t think he’d been in the wrong.He’d seen the suspect andpursued.Nothing more.
“You endangered yourself and your teammates.I told you to wait.You disobeyed a direct order.You’re lucky, I don’t have you dismissed from this group for your insubordination.”
“I saw Yurgio and pursued him.Anyone else would have done the same,” Carson insisted, his fists slamming down on the war table.“There was no time to waste.”
“And yet it wasn’t even Yurgio you were chasing,” Barry said sardonically.
Carson ignored the snide comment.“The real Yurgio was probably still on the ship, the look-alike buying him time.I don’t know how he got past everyone.Who wasn’t watching?”He looked around the room for a culprit though he knew he wouldn’t find one.He was being a dick, but he needed an outlet for his frustration.
“Dude, ease up,” Barry remarked with narrowed eyes, glaring his own frustration at him.
“We were all where we were supposed to be,” Rob protested.
“What’s up with you?You’ve been acting off since before you left,” Jack accused.“You’re grumpier than you were before you hooked up with Allie.”
“I’m fine,” Carson grumbled, not wanting to talk about Allie and her breaking up with him.He hadn’t told anyone about their fight and break up when he’d boarded the plane.His focus had been on the mission.
“You aren’t fine.You’re snapping at your teammates over things beyond their control.You’re being reckless.The only plus was that a few of Yurgio’s contacts were apprehended, and we confiscated weapons.The Colonel was pleased, though we aren’t off the hook for Yurgio.”
Carson gripped the edge of the table so tight, his knuckles turned white.He blew out a harsh breath.“You’re right.I’m sorry.I’m sorry, everyone,” he addressed the group.
“What’s with you?”Luke asked, but Carson just shook his head.“We work better as a team.That was not teamwork.You went in half-cocked, chasing after Yurgio, not knowing if he was armed or had a squadron of men waiting around a corner to blow you to bits.Getting yourself killed wouldn’t have helped this team.If something is going on in your life that could compromise this team, youhave to tell us.”
“Allie broke up with me.”No one said anything.They just waited for him to sort through his thoughts and get everything out.“She knows I’ve been keeping secrets.She saw me meeting with my contact.”
“And you still didn’t tell her,” Greg stated; it wasn’t a question.
Carson shook his head.“No, I figured the less she knew, the better.It gets worse though.She saw my contact kiss me.”
Several teammates groaned.Jack looked at him, confused.“A guy kissed you?”Then his features smoothed out.“I mean, that’s cool if you swing that way, I just never would have guessed.”
