My team.
Her chest grew tight. Nearly three years had passed since she’d first joined Homeland. Three years since Jason Ryker hadtaken pity on her by offering her a job when no one else in the U.S. government would.
Part of that job included being the R.I.S.C. teams’ handler. The point of contact for Homeland both in and out of the field. And for the past three years, Natalia had been heading up Ryker’s original—and highly coveted—team.
Based out of Texas, the clandestine group of Homeland agents worked with R.I.S.C. to protect the innocent. With the security company’s expansion, however, Ryker felt the need to make a shift, as well.
Most recently, Natalia had finally made the cross-country move to bring her physically closer to Delta and soon-to-be Echo. And though it had been several weeks, she was still settling into her new office and townhome in D.C.
And the sooner you get this meeting started, the sooner you can enjoy the deep, jacuzzi tub waiting for you back at the hotel, here in Chicago.
“Gentlemen.” Natalia greeted the rough and ragged group with a single nod. “I’d say ‘good morning’, but since y’all look like death warmed over…”
More like hung over.
A deep, southern drawl sounded almost immediately from the far end of the long, oval table.
“Not our fault you called a last minute, early-as-hell pow-wow the morning after our boy’s bachelor party.”
Natalia pulled in a deep breath through her nose as her back teeth ground tightly together. She couldn’t see the man’s face, but there was no need. She knew that voice well.
Jagger Brooks.
Thirty-nine years old. Six-feet tall. And far more attractive than Natalia would ever,everadmit.
A former Air Force Combat Controller, or CCT, Jagger was once a member of the military’s deadliest and most highly skilledgroup of operatives. This meant that, among other things, he was an expert in weapons, explosives, scuba diving, and even snow mobiles.
If that wasn’t enough, Jagger was also a licensed pilot and FAA certified air traffic controller.
In a nutshell, Jagger Brooks was for all intents and purposes, a Jack of all trades. And despite his juvenile attitude and unusually high attention to fashion, he was one of the most impressive and successful operatives—private or otherwise—to have ever crossed Natalia’s path.
The problem, you might ask?
He was also the sexiest, most intriguing man she’d ever met.
“Sorry you didn’t get an invite,” Jagger spoke up again. “It was a no-girls-allowed kind of thing.” He leaned forward. “I’m sure you understand.”
It was the smirk and the wink that left her fingers twitching with the urge to reach for her gun. But rather than shooting the sexy smartass—and boy, was she tempted to do just that—Natalia kept her expression schooled.
“Your team’s contract with Homeland requires you to be ready to roll with twenty-four-hours’ notice,” she reminded him calmly.
“Well, see now, that right there’s your problem.” His hazel eyes flickered with a sense of clarity. “You only gave us a fraction of that. So what do ya say, we all go back home, use our remaining twelve hours to get some much-needed rest, and then we can meet back here refreshed and ready to…how did you put it? Oh, yeah.” A quick snap of his fingers. “Roll.”
Don’t shoot him. Don’t shoot him. Don’t?—
“Sorry, Mr. Brooks, but naptime is going to have to wait.” Natalia managed to keep her cool.
The former Air Force Combat Controller lifted his eyebrows high. “Mr. Brooks? My, my, aren’t we in a formal mood this morning.”
Okay, maybe go ahead and shoot him a little bit. Just a nick. A small graze right there, across one of his rugged cheeks. Something that will leave a scar so he’ll stop being so damn irresistible.
But even as the thought drove through Natalia’s mind, she knew full well a scar would probably only make the inexplicable pull she felt toward the big jerk that much stronger.
“What do you have for us?” Christian Hunt’s question disrupted her inappropriately murderous thoughts at the exact perfect time.
It was the mental slap to the back of the head she needed.
Refocusing on the real, much moreimportantreason she was here, she retrieved the remote from the table and pointed it at the large, white screen on the wall behind her.
