August didn’t hesitate. “I trust every person on my team.”
I scrubbed the back of my neck, the nerves and contained rage making me itchy. “I still don’t like it. Why would he think it’s safe to strike here when he knows how secure this place is?”
August didn’t miss a beat. “He broke in here last night,” he said. “I think it was a trial run. He wanted to see how long it would take for someone to notice…and how quickly we could respond.”
My nose wrinkled. “I thought you said he came in here to plant a bug.”
August shrugged. “Maybe that was part of it. But I think he also wanted to know if it was possible to break in and how long he’d have before the alarm went off.”
Reid stepped forward, coming to stand beside him. “If he thinks you’re here alone with Palmer,” Reid said, “and he knows the jammer works to a certain degree…and he figures out how much time he has, I think he’ll feel comfortable enough to try.”
I gritted my teeth. “You think he has enough balls to break in here when I’m alone with Palmer?”
“He already did,” Graham said from the table.
I turned toward him.
“There’s also a possibility,” Fox said, “that the bug was here before the break-in.”
My heart kicked harder against my ribs. “How would he have gotten a bug in here?”
“We don’t know,” Graham replied. “But it would explain how he knew you were in the shower. Maybe he knew it was a good time to try.”
Pressure built behind my temples. It was too much. Too many moving pieces and things that could go wrong.
“How do we know there isn’t another fucking bug in here somewhere?” I snapped. “How do we know he’s not hearing every single word we’re saying right now?”
“We’re pretty sure.” Fox nodded. “I did a thorough scan, Roman. I couldn’t find any other transmitting devices.”
“There are too many variables,” I gritted out.
“There are always too many variables.” August cut in. “But it’s still our best bet. I can’t think of a better way to draw him out when he’s going to assume the entire town is distracted by the fundraiser.”
“And what if he doesn’t take the bait?” I muttered.
“I think he will,” Graham said.
He sounded far more confident than I was.
“But even if he doesn’t,” Graham continued calmly, “we’ll come up with another plan.”
I felt so helpless. The urge to grab her, throw her in my truck, and drive until Anderson was nothing more than a distant memory clawed through my chest.
Palmer spoke before I could. “I want to do it.”
My heart dropped, but she gave me a small smile.
“You already saved me once, Roman,” she said gently. “I have no doubt you can keep me safe again.” She shrugged, like it was a simple decision. “It’s my turn to help you now.”
Silence settled over the kitchen.
I stared at her, searching her face for some hint that she didn’t mean it or some crack in that quiet determination.
There wasn’t one.
My brothers were watching, waiting for my answer.
This was a horrible idea.
