This was the group Elias was supposed to run to for sanctuary? She shuddered. Even worse, he’d planned to run this operation by himself. No. Just no. She wouldn’t let him do this alone. Talk about a suicide mission.
“Iona?”
She glanced up to see Elias watching her.
“What is it?”
The rest of the conversation between their teammates dropped off. She glanced at the others, then back to him as though to ask if he really wanted to get into this with everyone listening in. That stubborn spark she saw so often in his eyes gleamed bright and was just as telling as his set stance.
Fine. If he wanted to talk about this with an audience, so be it. “Did you know the name of the MC with whom you’re taking refuge?”
His lips pressed into a thin line. Elias said nothing.
Well, look at that. So, he knew and hadn’t bothered to share the information.
“You obviously know.” Teagan motioned for Iona to get on with the show-and-tell portion of the program. “Spill. Which MC are we targeting?”
“Blackthorn Riders.” She could have heard a pin drop in that kitchen. Guess their teammates were aware of this group after all. Iona inched closer until she was in Elias’ face. “I was already angry at you for planning to do this mission alone. Now, knowing the reputation of the group you’re targeting, I’m even more furious. Taking this group on alone? What were you thinking?”
“Drop it, Iona.”
“Forget it. You knew how dangerous this mission would be, and you deliberately shut all of us out to protect us.”
His cheeks flushed and his eyes lit up with fury. “What’s wrong with that? You would have done the same thing in my shoes.”
“That’s another point where you’re wrong. Artemis is a team. We have each other’s backs. I trust my life in their hands, and I have enough faith in their abilities to trust their judgment. You don’t.”
“That’s not fair, Iona, and wrong. I’ve been in the foxholes many times with Echo. Too many nights I knew we wouldn’t make it out of there in one piece, yet somehow we lived to fight another day. This has nothing to do with trust.”
“Then what is your problem?”
“I wanted to protect my family, all right? I didn’t want the evil and corruption that goes along with life in Blackthorn Riders to touch what is the only good thing in my life.”
“Does that include me?”
He snorted. “Especially you.” Elias motioned to the others with a wave of his hand. “Are we going to hash this out in front of our teammates?”
She was tempted to say yes just to make him that much more uncomfortable. The truth was, Iona preferred not to have her heart broken with eight people watching. Her blank face wasn’t good enough to hide a broken heart. “No.”
“Iona.” Teagan’s gaze was locked on Elias. “Are you sure this is wise? We can stand far enough away to give you privacy and offer protection.”
Elias’ head whipped in her direction, a scowl marring his handsome features. “I would never harm a hair on Iona’s head, no matter how much she ticks me off.”
Seth shifted to stand partially in front of his wife. His eyes and body language warned Elias to back off or face the consequences.
His mouth went dry. Oh, man. He’d crossed a line, and he knew it. Elias held up both hands, palms out. “Sorry, Teagan.”
She gave a slight nod. Her gaze, however, didn’t waver.
Great. Not wise to anger the woman who kept the bogies off his back during their combined missions.
Elias turned back to Iona. “Here or elsewhere?”
“Elsewhere. You choose.”
“Somewhere we can watch and respond in seconds if things get out of hand,” Teagan insisted.
She gave a slight nod of agreement, the only way her team would allow her to go anywhere with Elias. “Where, Elias?”
