“Impressive,” Sin said.
Greystone liked the ribbing. Creating a team was critical to their success. While he’d just met them, they knew each other well. Their comfortability, along with their trust, could be the difference between a mission win or an epic fail.
Failure’s not an option.
“Addison, I read you jumped off a fifteen-story building onto a helicopter rope,” Greystone continued.
She nodded. “That was a stressful day.”
“My badass wife,” Hawk said, and the two exchanged smiles.
Greystone regarded the woman farthest from him, and his pulse skyrocketed. “Austin.”
“Hey, Grey.”
As he peered across the table at her, everything shifted. Determination calmed the rage, confidence replaced the frustration. With her by his side, they’d get it done.
“We hand-picked Caroline Austin,” Dakota explained. “You requested her for every mission. I read a report where someone assigned you a different handler. You appealed. They said no. You refused to work the mission, threatened to return to the Navy, and forced their hand.”
“That was my last assignment in Karakistan,” Greystone said. “I’d be a dead man if it wasn’t for Caroline. She got me out. If she hadn’t been in this meeting,” —he slid his gaze to her— “I woulda asked for her.”
“He’s knows I’m the boss,” Caroline teased.
“I trust her, one-hundred percent.”
As they peered across the table at each other, the air shifted, the energy palpable.
Working with her wasn’t a matter of choice. It was a necessity. Her skills were second to none. She was lightning fast, able to switch strategies in seconds, and she stayed calm when the insanity raged around him.
Bella—his Bella—was the perfect choice… and also the worst. He didn’t need a distraction. If anyone could take him off center, it was her, especially since they’d gottenclosein the past twenty-four hours. A very naked, very sexy Caroline splayed on a bed clouded his thoughts.
After pushing it out, he said, “Good to have you onboard. Are you my second?”
“Your call,” she replied.
“That’ll work,” he said trying to keep things chill.
In truth, he was damn thrilled to see her.
Focus up.
Greystone eyed the team. “Lemme update you.”
He began by explaining the set-up with his most-recent mission. “We got ambushed. One of the protective agents and the asset were taken out.”
“Where did you meet the asset?” Caroline asked.
“San Diego,” Greystone replied.
Caroline followed up with, “Were you made?”
“No idea,” he replied. “We saw security cams on some of the houses.”
“We?” Caroline asked.
“I had a partner.”
He pushed out of the chair, walked to the front of the room, and pointed at the screen. “These three are dead.” After eyeing the photos of the terrorists, he singled out one of the mug shots. “This is Muhammed Haqazzii. He’s the son of slain Haqazzii leader?—”
