“His name.” Van abandoned the woman he’d been obsessively watching to turn and look at his friend. “She also said Akimi told her the person behind everything was an American.”
Lucky’s crystal blue eyes widened with surprise. “Seriously?”
He gave a slow nod to avoid aggravating his aching head. “Someone with powerful political ties.”
“You believe her?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Yes, you do. The truth was right there, staring back at you through her gorgeous eyes.
Van ignored his inner voice and slid his gaze back to the woman in question. Almost instantly, she turned her head his way.
His heart kicked hard when their eyes locked through one of the door’s small squares of glass. And for a moment, they both just stood there and stared.
“Uh…Van?”
He blinked before turning Lucky’s way. The expectant expression on the other man’s Hollywood handsome face made him realize he’d apparently missed something his teammate had said.
“Sorry, what?”
Lucky’s dark brows dipped together in the center. “You sure you’re okay? Maybe you should call it a night and get some rest.”
“Can’t.” Van pushed himself away from the railing behindhim and started for the door. “Not until we figure out our next steps.”
He was halfway there when Logan opened the door and stepped outside. Archer and Chase joined them a few seconds later.
Logan waited until they were all gathered together, standing in a small circle in the middle of the deck. “So, I just got off of the phone with Webb,” he announced.
“Let me guess.” Chase spoke up next. “He dropped whatever he was doing, and he’s on his way here.”
“Actually, no.” Logan gave a quick shake of his head. “He wants to, believe me. But whatever he’s got going on is keeping him away for at least another couple of days. Possibly more.”
“What about Kam?” Lucky asked their former team leader. “We never did decide where to stash her until Webb and his guys can take her off our hands.”
“She’ll have to stay with one of us for the time being.” Logan glanced around at the group. “Anyone want to volunteer for the job?”
“Gee, let me think…” Lucky pretended to consider the question. “Watch over a woman accused of killing Hunt and Farzad Akimi, as well as putting a knife to our friend’s throat? Yeah, I think I’ll pass.”
“He’s right.” Chase nodded. “For all we know, those bombs were meant for her and not us.”
Van’s gaze immediately went to the door in search of the woman who continued to steal his focus. His gut tightened with dread at the thought that either of those incidents could have easily ended with her death.
Not that he cared. Not about her. Because…he didn’t.
Yeah? Then why were you trying so damn hard to get to her when the jet first started to fall? And why did you tell her to stay in her seat instead of letting her unbuckle her seatbelt so she could try to help you?
“No.” He rebuked the possible scenario Chase had just described. “The hotel, maybe, but the jet…” His head slid from side to side. “No way anyone could have known she’d be with us when we flew back to the States.”
“Wedidn’t even know for sure she’d be with us.” Archer backed him up.
“Could’ve been her,” Lucky mused, though the man’s face didn’t appear as though he believed that was true. “She did admit to watching you in the coffee shop for several days. If we go by Webb’s intel, it’s possible Kam had someone else plant the bomb.”
“But who?” Chase asked, looking around as he waited for an answer. When none was given, he continued by making another fair point. “We keep hearing about these so-called ‘men’ she has working for her, but she was alone in the coffee shop. Alone in the alley. No one burst into our hotel room, or?—”
“No, they just shot an RPG through our window.” Lucky rolled his eyes.
Chase shot the guy a look. “That could have been a coincidence. Or she could have been their real target.”
