Gabe drew in another slow, deep breath, barely managing to keep the vomit from working its way up at bay. All he’d ever done was try to protect her. He’d fuckingleftto keep her safe and away from the evils he knew existed. But they’d found her, anyway.
I can’t do this.He opened his eyes and looked up at whisps of clouds etched across the graying sky. “I can’t lose her.”
“You won’t.”
The unexpected sound of Kole’s voice startled him. Turning only his head, Gabe struggled to speak for the emotion clogging his throat. “I will if I let her go along with this crazy plan.”
“Let?” The other man chuckled. “Dude, if your wife is anything like mine, you’d better pray she didn’t just hear you say that.”
“You know what I mean.” Gabe faced him directly. “No offense, man, but you don’t get it.”
Kole’s brows arched high. “No? You must’ve forgotten what happened to Sarah.”
Shit.“I don’t mean to downplay what you two went through with that psycho stalker from her law firm. I just meant…” Gabe blew out a breath and grabbed the back of his neck. Pushing hard against the tight muscles there, he tried to make his teammate understand what he was trying to say. “You’re the only one on the team who hasn’t had to deal with that asshole on a personal level.”
“Which is why I’m the one out here.”
“You defending him, now?”
“I’m not defending shit.” Kole scowled. “I just have a more objective outlook than the rest of you do, so I can see this for what it is.”
“Look, Gabe…I get what you’re saying. I do. But you’re wrong to think I don’t have a personal stake in this, too. No, Walker didn’t take Sarah from me, and no, he didn’t shoot me. But he did shoot my friends, and he did put their wives…yourwife…in harm’s way. So don’t think I’m not as pissed at him as everyone else on the team. I’m beyond pissed. At him and Ryker.”
Gabe studied his younger teammate closely. “But?”
“But I think they’re right.” When Gabe shook his head and started to argue, Kole cut him off at the pass. “Just hear me out. After that, you don’t like what I have to say, you can tell me to fuck off.”
Begrudgingly, he gave Kole a curt nod.
“You’re the team leader. You’re like our—”
“Swear to God, you say the word ‘dad’, your ass will be on the fucking ground.”
Kole chuckled. “I was going to say big brother. And with that role comes a sense of responsibility.”
“You gonna make your point sometime today, or…”
“You feel responsible for us, Gabe. Something happens to one of us, you take that shit on. And don’t try to deny it, because I’ve seen it. After what happened to the others, and now with your wife’s involvement in all of this, it’s no wonder you can’t wrap your mind around working alongside Walker.”
“No.” Gabe raked a hand through his hair. “I can’t.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t think we have much choice.” Regret filled Kole’s expression. “Walker’s right. One way or another, Radcliff is coming after Ellena. At least if we go this route, we have a say in how shit goes down. We’ll be there, ready to take the fuckers out before they can have a chance to hurt anyone else.”
“He’s right.”
Both men turned to see Matt walking toward them.
“You, too?” Gabe was surprised. “Figured you’d be fighting tooth and nail to tell Walker to shove his plan right up his ass.”
“Believe me, I’d like to.” He stopped next them. “But what Kole said makes sense. Last time, Walker took us all by surprise. Doing it this way, we’ll be able to keep an eye on Ellena and him. He tries to double-cross us, we’ll all be there, ready to take his ass down.”
“And Ryker?”
Matt shrugged. “Like it or not, the man was just doing his job. We know what guys in those positions are like. Hell, most of us got out of the military for that exact reason. All that red tape, need to know bullshit drives me insane, but it’s the price we pay for doing business with a government agency like Homeland.”
Staring back at him, Gabe asked Matt, “Can you honestly say you’d be okay working with Walker on this?”
“Okaymay be a bit of a stretch. Do I trust him?” Matt shook his head. “Hell no. But your girl’s in there right now, talking with him and Ryker. She wants her friend back and out of this mess as soon as possible, so she’s already agreed to the plan.”
