Gabe’s eyes slid to Nate’s then back to their boss’s. With a bob of his head, the big guy made his way to the door.
The space became incredibly uncomfortable during the long seconds it took for the other man to leave. It wasn’t until the door had completely shut that Jake finally spoke again.
“It’s just us, now, so no bullshit. How are you? Really?”
Surprised he didn’t fire him on the spot, Nate told his boss the truth. “Shoulder hurts and I’ve got the headache from hell.” He quickly added, “But, my vision’s clear and there’s nothing wrong with my shooting arm.”
Jake started to shake his head, but Nate refused to be shot down on this.
“Look, I know I fucked up, Jake. So, let me make this right. Let me work with the team until we take down Yavuz and his crew. I need to bring Gracie home. I’ll resign the second that happens, if that’s what you want, but please. Don’t cut me out. Not until I know she’s safe.”
“I’m not firing you, Carter.” One of the man’s dark brows rose. “Not yet, anyway.”
It wasn’t the response Nate expected, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to argue. “Thank you. You should know, even if you had, I’d still be going after her.”
“I know. It’s one of the reasons you still have a job.”
“Boss?”
“I’m not gonna have you running off half-cocked with no real plan or any backup.”
“How’d you know that’s what I’d do?”
Jake sighed and shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “Because it’s exactly what I would do, if the situation was reversed. Hell, I almostdiddo that last year when Liv was taken. Thankfully, I have a kick-ass team on my side who offered their support. And so do you.”
Yeah, Nate thought. He did. He also had one hell of a boss.
Needing Jake to know, Nate said, “I didn’t lie to you.” When Jake’s brows turned inward, he explained. “Before, when I told you Gracie and I weren’t together. We weren’t, then.”
“But you are, now.” It was a statement, rather than a question.
“Yes,” Nate answered honestly. His heart ached. “I have to find her, Jake.”
The other man tilted his chin. “I’ll get you signed out of here, but before I do, we’re going to get a few things straight.”
Damn it, they were wasting so much time with this shit.
“Boss, I already told you I’m fine.”
Jake put his hand palm-up. As hard as it was, Nate understood he needed to shut his mouth and listen.
“First, as Bravo’s team leader, Gabe will decide how active a role you’ll play in this.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, if he doesn’t feel you’re up to it or he believes you’re going to be a liability, either to yourself or your team, your ass sits on the sidelines while the others go in after her.”
Nate clenched his jaw. No way in hell he’d sit back while his team risked their lives for his woman. Unfortunately, he wasn’t really in the position to argue.
“Fine. What else?”
The other man’s tense expression softened with a painful understanding. “What you’re feeling? That fear and guilt swirling in your gut? The uncertainty of what’s happening to Gracie? I get it.”
Nate thought back to what Olivia said to Jake before leaving the room. As if reading his mind, Jake explained just how well he understood.
“You know about what happened to Liv last year, right?”
Nate’s chest tightened. The idea of anyone as sweet and caring as Olivia going through what she had cut him deep. “I know she was taken by a drug lord, but your team found and rescued her.”
