Page 75 of Under Fire in Big Sky

Hesitation crossed Brandon’s face, his brow furrowed as he stood with Eli near the table. “I’ll wait right outside in case you need me.”

“I won’t,” Sean said.

Brandon went back outside, shutting the barn door.

Sean yanked the hood off Eli and set it on the table.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

Blinking, Eli looked around, his gaze landing on her for a second before settling on the man in front of him. He narrowed his eyes and grimaced. “Sean Gannon. Back from the dead and with an awful makeover.”

“Aw, your tone hurts my feelings,” Sean said. “You don’t sound happy to see me.”

“Happy is definitely not the word I’d use.” Eli looked back at Olivia. “I’m fine. Did he hurt you?”

“I would never,” her former partner said. “Unlike you. Still treating her like a yo-yo. Only seeing her when you want to play.”

The criticism was unfair. Her relationship with Eli wasn’t conventional and not exactly what she wanted it to be, but he never treated her like a toy.

Eli clenched his jaw. “A new look but the same old Sean. Still speaking for her instead of letting her decide what she wants.”

“That’s the difference between you and me. I know what she wants and needs. From a vodka martini dry to her salmon cooked medium well to having a real man by her side who can be a true partner in every sense. Unfortunately, you don’t measure up. And you never will.”

Eli’s cheeks reddened. “I need to hear it from her whether she’s okay before we go forward with the transaction.” He moved toward her, but Sean stopped him by putting a hand on his chest.

“He didn’t hurt me,” she said. “I’m all right.”

“Satisfied, Lover Boy?” Sean’s tone was designed to taunt, but fortunately, Eli didn’t take the bait. “Where’s the list?”

“Give me an email address where I can have it sent, and I need to make a call.”

Sean scribbled something down on a piece of paper, held it up for Eli, and took out his phone. Eli told him the number. Sean dialed, putting the call on speaker.

“This is Takoda.”

“It’s me. Olivia is pristine,” Eli said, using an odd word to communicate that she was all right, and she assumed it was to let the team know he wasn’t under duress.

“We’re good on our end.” Tak’s voice was tight, his tone sharp. “I just need the go-ahead.”

“Transmit.”

The word transmit was code for unleash hell.

They were ready this time. After Eli was picked up from a remote location, patted down, checked for transmitters, blindfolded, and restrained, the team tracked him with a drone flying high in the sky, and stayed one mile behind the van, to avoid detection.

By now, they were in place. Bo and Takoda were aiming through the scope of high-powered rifles, prepared to target different angles of the farm. Chance and Autumn were armed and waiting nearby in a vehicle, to launch paint ball smoke

grenades—an idea they’d taken from the incident at the park—to cover Eli’s exfil with Olivia.

Sean moved behind the laptop, waiting for information that was never going to be sent.

“Once you get the NOC list and let us go,” Eli said, playing along as though he believed Shepherd’s, or Sean’s, false promise that they’d be released, “we won’t say anything about who you really are.”

“I know.” Sean stared at the screen. “I’ve already given Olivia a compelling incentive to remain quiet. Now, I’ll give you one.” He glanced up at Eli. “The last mission I was on was of a highly sensitive nature. If it’s discovered that I’m alive and I’m caught by the authorities, I’d have no reason to honor any of the nondisclosure agreements Aegis made me sign. I’ll tell the world exactly what I did on that operation and for whom. That’ll make Aegis and the CIA very, very nervous. Then they’ll eliminate the low-hanging fruit who can corroborate my story. Chiefly, the two other agents who were on that mission with me.” Sean looked back at Olivia, and Eli saw in her eyes that Sean was telling the truth. “You won’t say anything. Not if you want to protect her.”

Gunfire erupted outside, drawing Sean’s attention.

That was Eli’s cue.