I wanted to watch her all night. I wanted to keep her in my purview so that I knew she was safe. But, a woman needed her privacy, and I wasn’t going to rob her of that. I walked over and picked up the oil lamp, which was damn near about to go out. And as I made my way for the basement door, I took one last look at her over my shoulder.
Before the door opened for me instead of at my behest.
“What the--?”
Trooper stood on the other side, grinning from ear to ear. “Well, then.”
My face fell. “What the fuck are you doing?”
He pulled a bottle of water out from behind him. “Figured you could use this.”
I snatched it out of his hand before shoving him away from the door. I reached for the knob and eased it closed behind me, watching as Trooper’s smile grew on his face.
“Shut up,” I grumbled as I cracked open the bottle.
He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I didn’t say shit.”
I chugged some of the water back before cracking my neck. “So, what gives? You got a reason for being here? Or, are you just being a perv?”
“He’s not the one playing with his food,” Ranger said as his shoulders blocked out the light filtering through from the top of the steps.
I looked up at him. “I don’t like the sound of her voice. What’s going on?”
Ranger tilted his head. “We’ve got work to do. Come on.”
Trooper held out his arm. “After you,lucky boy.”
I gnashed my teeth at him. “If you ever so much as utter that to anyone—including her—I will jam my fist down your throat and--.”
Ranger cleared his throat. “We have to shore up the security issues you allowed to infiltrate our system. Think you can focus on something else other than your dick while we get it done?”
My nostrils flared as Trooper flashed me the most mockingly stupid smile I’d ever seen in my life. I shoved his face with my hand, pushing him into the wall before I scaled the steps two at a time. Ranger followed my every move, turning with me as I got to the top of the steps. And as I slid between him and the doorframe, I took another swig of water.
“You have to admit,” I said as I shoved the bottle into Ranger’s chest, “her being attentive enough to figure out our patterns is pretty impressive.”
“Says the man who allowed the vulnerabilities in the first place.”
“The last thing I recall,” I said as my gaze hardened on his, “you had to approve each and every move these men make. Did you see the vulnerabilities then?”
Trooper whistled lowly as Ranger’s face darkened. “Are you trying to lay blame?”
I moved away from him. “Give me an hour. I’ll have them fixed.”
Because as God as my witness, I’d never allow anything to happen to her. Naomi wouldn’t get hurt because of an oversight on my part. I had underestimated her. We all had. But, now that I understood her abilities and what she was capable of, I knew how to protect her.
Especially from herself.
17
RANGER
A FEW DAYS LATER
“Are you fucking serious?” Bury asked.
Lancer stood to his feet. “A cop? That bitch’s fiancée is a cop?”
“Watch it,” Trooper warned.
