Arms crossed, Derrick scowls at Robertson’s pet. “How am I supposed to take you seriously? You look like a Bond villain right now.”
“Don’t bring Peanut into this,” Logan says, smoothing the cat’s fur. “She’s not the reason you’re unqualified to run military-grade protocols.”
Carter watches them both, glancing from time to time in my direction. I’m pretty sure he caught me staring back at Adam a couple of times.
Robertson lays a hand on his son’s arm. “Jackie’s life is more important than your ego.”
“Are you sure it’s not Hall behind all this?” Adam shifts everybody’s attention.
Carter’s eye twitches, but he keeps his rage contained. He’s been looking for the man who almost took Eliza from him for months now.
“We don’t think so. Neither does the FBI,” Derrick says reluctantly. “Cyberattacks are way outside the scope of their activity.”
“Criminals adapt to the times,” I say before I realize I’m finally speaking again. It earns me a surprised look from Adam.
“Derrick’s right.” Logan says it like it cost him a piece of his soul. “The more we dig, the more it’s clear the attack was a distraction. It had no real purpose other than to shock and make us look in that direction. While they sneak through the back doors.”
Adam tilts his head, unconvinced. “What about the threats to Jackie?”
“Possible it’s part of the same plan,” Derick says, flicking a pen against his files in a repetitive motion that has my nerves fraying at the edges.
“I’m sure that helps her sleep better at night.” Adam leans back in his leather chair, still looking intently at me.
“Don’t you worry about how she sleeps,” Logan bites. Maybe having a mini breakdown when he had a short contract in London, and telling him parts of what happened, wasn’t the brightest idea. Ever since, he’s been looking for any excuse to torment Adam.
Logan is as much a brother to me as he is to Carter, but Adam looks like he’s chewing on nails.
Their voices warp, distorted. I’m watching the exchange like I’m submerged in a water tank.
Until Robertson says my name, and I’m pulled out, suddenly uncomfortable with everyone’s attention. “Maybe Jackie has something to say about all this,” he says encouragingly, smiling at me.
Before I can gather my thoughts and put into words what I need, Carter cuts in. Again. “You should lay low until we figure out who the hell they are and how to bring them down.”
A rebellious urge rises from the depths of my being. Screams for me to stand my ground. Prove I’m not scared. That I’m still in control.
I open my mouth to tell Carter off. “I’m not leaving.”
“Jackie.” Adam’s voice calmly cuts across the table. I look at him, at the crease between his brows, the way his green eyes lock onto mine. “I know you want to fight,” he continues softly. “It’s who you are.”
He leans forward, forearms on the table, palms open, like he’s asking me to take the unexpected care he’s offering.
“But it might not just be you at risk,” he says, never taking his gaze off me. “If you keep going to the office. If you stay in the city for too long.”
My chest constricts painfully, the pressure on my temples so intense, my palms become clammy. Damn it! How does he still know exactly where to press?
What if my defiance puts somebody’s life at risk? What if another attack is worse, more violent, all because I couldn’t bring myself to step back?
His voice mellows, drops low, as if we’re the only people in the room. “It won’t be forever. We’re all doing everything humanly possible to speed the investigation along.”
All the fight drains out of me. “Fine.” It tastes like giving up, even if I know it’s what Carter’s been hoping for. “Whatever keeps people safe.”
Even though I avoid looking at Adam again, out of the corner of my eye, I see it anyway. The way his jaw clenches, and his fingers flex on the armrests.
My brother’s smile comes too quickly. It’s so broad alarm bells instantly start ringing in my head.
“I’ve already worked out the details with Logan,” he says, extremely proud of his foresight. Of course he has. They discussed it behind my back, like I’m a child.
But he’s not done. “You’ll come back to Maine with us for the summer.”
