Page 25 of Rafe’s Future

Lena nodded. “The rest of you should make plans to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe, as well.”

Returning to Rafe’s previous statement, Coulter asked Rafe, “Why not just let Shadow and Dig stay with you? Lord knows you have plenty of room, and that security system of yours is about as sick as they come.”

On reflex, Lena rolled her lips inward to keep her burgeoning smile at bay. Despite the seriousness of the situation, she couldn’t help but think about how easily she’d bypassed the “sick” system the night before.

She spared a quick glimpse in Rafe’s direction, finding his expression perfectly schooled. But when he turned his attention back to Coulter, she could’ve sworn his lips twitched ever so slightly.

There it is.

Rafe cleared his throat. “There have been a few . . . flaws within the system that have recently come to light, so I felt it best if they laid low elsewhere. We do, however, need someone else to take over the technical side of our investigation, for now.”

“I can get that covered for us,” Coulter spoke up again, his gaze sliding back to Lena’s. “I know a guy. Former SEAL out of Dallas. He does private security now.”

“As in, he’s a bodyguard?” Lena wasn’t sure that was the kind of “guy” they needed.

Coulter put her worries at ease when he shared a bit more.

“Ever hear of Jake McQueen?”

McQueen . . . McQueen . . .

The name sounded familiar. Within seconds, Lena remembered why.

“McQueen,” she repeated. “Isn’t he the former Delta guy who started RISC?”

“What’s risk?” Bones looked to her.

“It’s an acronym,” Lena explained before spelling it out. “R.I.S.C. stands for⁠—”

“Rescue, Intel, Security, and Capture.” Coulter’s mouth spread into a prideful smile. But then, “At least, I think that’s what it stands for.” His brow dipped low, giving him the appearance of being deep in thought.

“You’re correct,” Rafe confirmed. “That’s precisely what it stands for, and McQueen and his teams are some of the best in the business.”

Lena turned her attention back to Coulter. “You said you’re friends with one of his men?”

“Derek West.” He nodded. “We’re not so much friends as former, sort-of colleagues in passing. Our paths crossed a few years ago, back before I was put under your command.” Coulter’s gaze remained on hers. “An op I was working on overlapped one of Alpha Team’s personal protection gigs. Once they realized I wasn’t a threat, we ended up working together for a common cause.”

“And you said West could help with the tech stuff?” Bones asked for clarification.

“I know we’re all partial to Shadow, and I’d never say this in her presence, but Derek West is literally the smartest person I know.” Coulter looked back at her before looking at Rafe. “If Shadow’s out of commission, this is the guy you want.”

Rafe nodded his head in approval. “Make the call as soon as we’re done here. Have West pull the CCTV footage from out front. Tell him to look for the usual . . . facial rec, shot trajectory . . . he should know the drill. And then call us as soon as you know something.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lena filled her lungs before sharing this next part.

“For transparency’s sake, I put in for two weeks’ vacation time on the flight here.”

Apollo eyed her suspiciously. “Does that mean you’re not working this in any sort of official capacity?”

Careful, now.

“Let’s just say, I learned about Kozlov’s resurfacing from my retired director, rather than my current boss.”

“You think he’s dirty?”

“My boss?” Lena gave a curt shake of her head. “I think he always puts the betterment of the agency first, and the last thing he needs is a bunch of bad press.”