“Sounds good to me,” Riley replied. He didn’t like leaving the others, but he was willing to bet they had a good idea that Riley and Erin were safe. Brenden would have volunteered the facts of their escape at the earliest possible moment.
Zain hung up the call, leaving them in silence.
Riley tossed the phone on the bed and let go of Erin. He undid the Velcro holding his vest on and shed it, grateful for the cool air. Erin turned away from him and paced toward the tinted, floor to ceiling windows, worry following her like a shadow. The borrowed dress swirled around her feet, making her seem to float.
He crossed the room to stand next to her, staring out over a park in the heart of Erbil.
“We’re going to figure this out,” he said.
“How?” She glanced at him. “Whoever these people are, they’re organized. They have equipment and tools. What did I do to piss them off? If this was directly related to NexGen, wouldn’t there have been something else? An attack on them? Other employees?”
“Zain will find out.”
“You think?”
“I know.” Riley snorted. “I’m glad he’s on our team because that bastard can uncover shadows under a rock. If there’s something to find, he’ll have it for us. Just give him time.”
“How’d you get into this line of work?” Erin nodded, but the weight was still firmly on her.
“I was invited to interview. Aegis Group never takes applications. They don’t do open hires. You have to know someone or be recruited by someone up the chain of command. It’s how our boss makes sure our guys are good people.”
“Guys? No women?”
“We have a few, but this isn’t the line of work many want to go into. We’ve got a waiting list for female bodyguard assignments. The plush kind. The ladies never make it onto the teams before they’re offered a fat bonus for taking one of those gigs.”
“A job like that’s sounding real good right about now.”
“You interested in switching careers? I bet I can put a word in for you.”
Erin chuckled and shook her head.
“Anyway, I was approached about the job, told them I was interested, and we started the process. I had a sit down with Zain and our boss, Admiral Crawford. He’s retired. I thought this was going to be an easy, shooting the breeze sort of thing. I’d interviewed at a few places by that point, shopping for the best salary. Zain starts trotting out pictures, records of stupid shit I did in high school. Before social media was even a God damn thing. He even asked me about my baby brother, the cop.”
“How many brothers do you have?” Erin turned to face him, her face scrunched up.
“Three. Two are still at home running the place. The youngest got out of there the day he graduated and is currently a cop down in Ransom, Texas. He went as far as he could get at the time in his POS car.” Riley shook his head.
“Were you that mean to him?”
“He hated baling season more than I do.”
“Baling...season? What the hell is baling season?”
“It comes after cutting season.” Riley shrugged and grinned. He’d managed to distract her.
“What are you cutting and baling?”
“Hay.”
“Hay?”
“You know, for livestock. We grow a lot of alfalfa hay, cut it, bale it and ship it to other places. Sometimes our dad, who is a trucker, will deliver a load down to Texas and stop in to see Casey. Totally unannounced, which drives him nuts.”
“My mom does that to my sister, and she hates it. Mom comes in and starts cleaning, putting things where she thinks they should go.” Erin shook her head.
“Family, right?” Riley grinned.
“Yeah.” Erin pushed her hand through her hair. “I have to start preparing myself to go home, I guess. No more, hey mom, the call is breaking up, when she starts harping on me to settle down.”
“I tried that on my mom once. Didn’t work. She just kept calling, talking to my voicemail, and quizzed me about it later.”
“Oh, my God. I swear, your mom would drive me nuts.”
“She’s not that bad. She makes up for her annoying quirks in cookies, cards, little things you don’t think matter until you can’t have them.” He’d learned how much he loved his rowdy family the first time he went on a sensitive, four week op. God, the box of cards and random shit he’d gotten when he made it back was the best present ever.
Riley leaned on the window and turned his gaze to Erin. The strain of the day wore on her. He could see it in the way she stood, slightly hunched, arms wrapped around herself. The weary way she stared into space.
“What’s the story with Grant and Melody?” she asked.
“Well that’s an out of the blue question.” Riley didn’t know where to start on that one.
“They don’t seem to like each other very much.”
“Grant is a control freak. Melody’s role on the team means she has to make decisions he’s not involved with and he no longer talks directly to clients without Melody being part of it. She’s barely been with us six weeks. We’re still working the kinks out, that’s all. They just need to figure out how to play nice with each other.”
“Grant wasn’t good with clients, I’m guessing?”
“I guess it depends on who you’re asking. Grant’s a good Team Leader, don’t get me wrong. We had a few clients who needed to be handled with kid gloves, but the truth is when we’re out on a job he doesn’t always have the time to think before he speaks.”
“I can see that. You’re in a tense, combat like situation and someone needs to be coddled. We had a few journalists with us who were that way.” She rolled her eyes.
“See what I mean?” Riley chuckled. “You want to shower? Get something else to eat?”
“All of the above?”
“Why don’t you look over the menu and I’ll take care of that while you shower. Then we can get some rest.”
Erin pulled the dress up over her head. She still wore yoga pants and her t-shirt underneath.
Riley was torn. He liked Erin. She was his kind of girl. Which made being her shoulder no hardship whatsoever. On the other hand, she was a client. He had no business getting involved with a woman he’d never see again.
Was he creating a problem for her by going along with this?
“Wow, wow, wow.” Erin pointed at him. “What the hell does that face mean?”
“What face? My face? It’s the only face I have.” He pinched his cheek.
Erin glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest.
Fuck it.
She was a big girl. They were adults.
“I’m wondering if this is a good idea. For you,” he said.
“What’s a good idea? Room service? A shower? Sleeping?”
“Sleeping together.”
“Because we’re not two consenting adults? Or are you not into me like that?” She narrowed her gaze. He could feel the hot lick of her temper and he didn’t like it.
“That is not it. All I’m saying is—you’ve been through a lot. It’s worth talking about.”
“I don’t need the kid glove treatment, Riley.”
“I’m not saying you do. That’s why we’re having this conversation. Fuck.”
“Then what are you worried about? That I’m going to fall madly in love with you and you’re going to have to break my heart?” Erin clasped her hands in front of her, face creased.
“You know what? You can order room service, and I’m taking a shower.” He turned and strode back to the room door.
“Riley? Riley, stop.”
He flipped the lock on the door to the room and turned to face her.
Erin had followed him halfway across the room. She stood at the foot of the bed, her face partially in shadow.
“Look, I don’t get to be a relationship girl. The way I live, with most of my time here, it’s not good for anything permanent. I’m always coming back here. I don’t usually have to explain to someone that t
he most I can offer is a no strings sort of arrangement.”
“You were kidnapped. They held you hostage for days. Now you can’t be in a room by yourself or in the dark without getting wound up. I’d be a real piece of shit if I didn’t pause and wonder what was best for you.”
“Ouch.” Her gaze narrowed again.
“I’m not trying to take shots at you, Erin. Fuck. I’m just... I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
She shoved the bags aside and sat on the corner of the bed. For several moments they stood there in silence.
“I might be a little defensive,” she finally said.
“And that’s okay. In your shoes, I’d probably be the same way.”
“I just want to feel something else. Normal even, you know?” She glanced at him. “I didn’t—last night wasn’t just about me. It wasn’t supposed to be. I didn’t have a plan or anything.”
“I don’t think you did, but it’s also worth asking ourselves if we shouldn’t keep our hands to ourselves.”
“Well that’s no fun.”
“I know.” He chuckled. “For the record, it’s not like I can offer a woman much either. I haven’t been home in...three weeks? I’m shit at this stuff.”
“It’s okay. I’ll try to be a good girl. Girl Scout honor, or whatever.”
“Go take a shower.” He jerked his head at the door. A little space would do them good.
“And here I was going to say we should save time and shower together.” She sighed and pushed to her feet.
“I did not hear that.” He squeezed his eyes shut. He was human, male and very aware of his attraction to her.
Erin chuckled, and he listened to her pad across the carpet into the bathroom. It took every bit of Riley’s self-control to not watch her slow stroll into the bathroom, but he managed. He remained seated there until the shower turned on, and even then, he waited for a count of five before standing.
He turned his attention on their little shopping spree for something to keep him busy, emptying the bags out and dividing them into toiletries, clothing and other essentials. When he got to the box of condoms he paused. He sure as hell hadn’t picked them off a shelf, which only meant one thing.
Riley dropped the bag on the floor and took a few steps until he was facing the wall. He let his forehead thump against the wall. Fucking good intentions were a damn cock block.
7.
SATURDAY, MARK FOREST residence, Erbil, Kurdistan.
Mark paced his living room and stripped off gear.
Everyone had reported in. All his men were out of the danger zone. Thomas was, possibly, still imbedded with the targets where he was supposed to be. How long would that last?
This was supposed to have been taken care of already.
He’d given those desert dwellers the tools. He’d cleared the way for them to get in and out without getting caught. He’d done everything except pull the damn trigger. How hard was it to kill one woman?
They needed another plan. Some way to trap her and end this before things got out of hand. If she left Kurdistan, it would be harder to get to her, not to mention his team would grow more desperate to protect themselves.
He could cut them all loose and offer a bonus to the person who brought him Erin Lopez’s head. The problem there was, what would it do to future business? One or two incidents the government could cover up, but more than that and they’d be forced to take action or lose ground they’d gained.
The phone on the table vibrated and flashed. Thomas’ name blinked.
Thank God.
Mark snatched the phone up and continued pacing.
“Where are you?” he asked
“Some hotel in Ankawa,” Thomas replied.
The Christian district then.
“And Lopez?”
“No idea. The others claim she and one of theirs up and left with no warning.”
“We saw them leave.” Mark wasn’t sure there was a reason for the team to split and remain out of contact. Unless they suspected Thomas.
“What do you want me to do?” he asked.
“Stay with them for now. Do you still have your NexGen badge?” Mark had to think about the bigger picture.
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I’m working on something. Keep your phone near you. I’ll call when I have more.”
Mark hung up and continued to pace.
It was possible for Thomas to get to Erin’s office. If he could get rid of her files and whatever evidence she had on him, while the others made sure tomorrow was her last day on earth, this could be wrapped up nice and neat. It would all have to happen quickly and in perfect order, or else nothing would work.
First, someone had to find him Erin. Without knowing her location, nothing else could happen. Once they had eyes on the target, Thomas could use whatever excuses were necessary to take care of the evidence at her office. Then Mark could set the hounds lose.
They all had something to lose if Erin started digging. It made for a particularly motivating aspect of the job. No one would care if his team were simply doing what they’d been hired to do. They’d killed full well knowing what they were doing. It was why they’d been hired, after all. Mark hadn’t known they were caught on security cameras, and then he’d barely managed to silence the whistle blower before he took the evidence up the chain.
Mark had to get to Erin, no matter the cost.
SATURDAY, ERBIL ROTANA, Erbil, Kurdistan.
Erin lay in the big, plush bed. It felt as though she were being pulled down through the mattress. She was weary to the point that keeping her eyes open was a strain, and yet a growing part of her wanted to get up and pace the room. She wanted to move. To do something. Laying here cocooned in a robe, her belly full of rich food, lying next to a snoozing man seemed like the worst way to handle their current problems.
She turned her head and stared at Riley’s profile. The bathroom light cast a dark shadow on this side of his face, but it highlighted the ridge on his nose, that probably came from breaking it a few times if she had to guess. Despite the imperfection, he had a kind face.
She’d looked at him in those gray sweatpants last night and known she was a goner.
She could only lie to herself for so long.
Erin couldn’t do no strings attached. It wasn’t her. She cared too deeply, too soon. And Riley was a good man. He thought about her needs first. His focus wasn’t just the job, it was doing all parts of the job well. How many companies would have come in to save her and still considered the threat to locals? Not even the US military would have been that careful.
Was the attraction pulling her toward him born of feeling? A real connection? Or was he right? Did some part of her want to use him as a balm to her invisible wounds? This was the first time she’d ever had to evaluate her emotions, wonder at her motives.
She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
Riley didn’t move at all.
Erin got to her feet and crossed the room to the lounge chair by the window. She eased down onto the cushions and curled her legs under her, staring out the window onto the city.
When she’d first been recruited by NexGen it was for a specific set of projects. They’d pitched the idea to her and trotted out all the theorized good they could do. She’d seen the opportunity as a five-year plan. Get these things up and going, be the middle man between the company and the locals, make everyone’s life better—then she could go home.
Four years into this, and she finally saw the truth. There would always be pitfalls. There was no world where a perfect solution cured everything and made all sides happy. She’d naively thought that by doing her job on those projects, it would carry over and fix the whole system. In reality, all she did was steer the water flow so they avoided major disasters.
Maybe it was time she did something else. Something that didn’t put her life in danger just to make money for people in another country. If she died, the only people who would care weren’t even b
enefitting from what she was doing.
“You want to talk about it?” Riley asked.
Her head whipped around, and she stared at the dark lump that hadn’t moved.
“I thought you were asleep.” She considered throwing the decorative pillow at him, but then she wouldn’t have it.
“Not until I knew you were.” He sat up and scooted back to lean against the headboard.
“You could have at least said something.”
“And get my head bit off again? No, thanks.”
“I did say I was sorry.” She slouched farther down on the chair and turned back to the window.
“I wasn’t sure if I should still be afraid for my life.” There was a thread of humor in his voice, but it didn’t stop his comment from rubbing her raw pride.
“I have stuff I need to figure out.”
“I’m here if you want to talk about it. I’m a hell of a lot cheaper than a shrink.”
She chuckled. He’d probably understand her a lot more than a shrink would, too. After a few days, she’d never see him again, so what was the point in pretending she had any pride left? She was going to fall head over heels for the man, pour her heart out, and cry when he left. She wasn’t anywhere near as strong as she liked to pretend, but that was her secret. No one else had to know.
“Just...thinking about earlier. I like bitching about my mom, but I love her and everyone else in my family.”
“Yeah, don’t get me wrong. My mom knows how to be obnoxious as hell, but I don’t know what I’d do without her in my life. Or my dad. Even my fucking brothers.”
“Literally fucking brothers?”
“No.” Riley laughed. “No, not like that.”
“I know.” She chuckled. “I was just thinking...if I died, if I wasn’t alive when you guys found me, the only people who’d really miss me are my family. And I don’t even see them but once a year. That’s screwed up, you know?”
Dangerously Taken (Aegis Group Lepta Team, #1) Page 8