“Boss, I’m?—”
“I know.” My gaze locks on his because while I’m pissed, we can’t control everything. “Figure out where you messed up and do better.Bebetter and don’t let it fucking happen again.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The Blues are on a winning streak.” I meet each of their eyes and wait for a nod of acknowledgment.
It’s a last resort.
A code.
And one I’ve only had to use a handful of times. Usually we can work with a contingency plan somewhere in the middle, but not this time. Kat and I will be off the grid.
Untraceable.
Secure.
I can hear the detachment in my voice, compartmentalization the only thing keeping me fromabsolutely losing my mind in this moment. “Ozzy, go check Kat over. She definitely got whipped around, but I didn’t see anything at first glance.”
He nods and does an about-face toward my SUV. We all have some medic training, but his remains the most extensive at this point.
“Phone.” I hold out my hand and Grimm places his in my palm. “Royce, give me something.”
“Grimm scanned the car and there’s definitely a tracking device somewhere in there that’s not ours. Guys will get it back to Kat’s house. Tow truck is already en route. We’ll bring her car back here and rip it apart. They’ll sweep her house again, then lock it down and put eyes on it.”
“Good.” I rub my hand over my jaw. “I’ll let you know when we arrive. Call Samson and see if he’s ready to make the jump.”
“He didn’t give you his number,” Royce says.
“That’s what I have you for,” I tell him and he chuckles.
“I’ll let you know.”
“Hook him up with Ozzy if he agrees.”
I say the words to Royce but I’m looking over my shoulder at Ozzy and the grin spreading across his face as he nods at me from the SUV. It’s been a while since he’s gotten to train anyone. And that’s a shame because even if they’ve been a good candidate, one week with the man in front of me could have them running for the hills.
Saves us the headache.
And paperwork.
“You got it.” Royce disconnects and my skin feels too tight.
It’s time to go.
“Boss.” Jace takes a step forward, the apology clear in his expression, but I shake my head.
“You fucked up. But we got lucky.” Knowing we all need a reset, I add, “Once you take care of the car and the house, headback to base. Get one of the other guys not on a case to take the first shift at the house and then all of you grab some gloves and take a couple of rounds in the ring.”
“Dibs,” Ozzy calls as he rejoins our little circle, and Jace hangs his head but snorts out a laugh because he knows what’s coming.
“How you handle this,” I tell Jace, “determines if you stay here. I can’t keep you if you second-guess every decision you make.”
Instead of cowering, Jace stands taller, his shoulders back. “I’ll get my head on straight.”
“Good.”
“Oh, come on,” Ozzy whines, “I was hoping to knock him around a bit before the self-reflection kicked in.”
