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“I’m out.” Tai paced the wooden floor, prowling like a caged panther. “Using a civilian puts her at too much risk.”
“Getting the guy riled up is our best shot for ending this quickly,” Kate reasoned. “This wacko’s obviously a powder keg. All it’s going to take is one spark.”
“Exactly.” Graham said, emphatically.
Tai dragged a hand over his stubbled jaw, radiating objection. But Graham’s approving nod seemed to change his mind. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
His piercing gaze locked with Tenaya’s, telegraphing that this was for the sake of the mission alone. Her pulse stuttered under that intense regard, a confusing rush of reluctance and anticipation twisting her stomach.
The team hashed out their strategy. They’d head back to Los Angeles first thing in the morning. Tai and Tenaya would make small public appearances together around town—coffee shops, restaurants, the market. Just enough to fuel Victor’s jealousy and lure him out of hiding.
Tenaya’s knees shook as she watched Tai lean over a map, planning “date” locations most advantageous for grabbing Victor. This scheme was terrifying yet brilliant. If they could end this nightmare once and for all, she had to be brave enough to see it through.
Bridger moved to roll up the map when her father stepped back, shaking his head. Bridger stilled. “What’s on your mind, Gunny?”
“This isn’t enough,” Graham said. “The security plans are great, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t just want eyes on my daughter at all times. I want someone at her side every second.”
Tenaya toyed with the silver cross around her neck, sawing it back and forth on the delicate chain.
Tai watched her, transfixed. “I can’t be with her 24/7. She’s a Christian. No one who knows Tenaya is gonna believe we’re suddenly shacking up.”
“An excellent point.” Bridger blew out a breath. “We could have Kate hang out with her, pretend she’s an old college friend, maybe?”
Tenaya and Kate and Paige traded incredulous looks.
“A mystery boyfriend and an out-of-town friend?” Kate shook her head. “That’s stretching things.”
“It’s got to be marriage,” Fenn said.
“What?” Tenaya and Tai exclaimed in unison.
Tai raked a hand through his hair. “That’s totally overkill.”
Expression brightening, Graham waved off Tai’s comment. “It’s our best shot at keeping her safe. We have no idea who Zhezhnov has on his payroll. The Red Hand will have spies watching for cracks in your story.” He leaned forward, tone insistent. “Marriage makes your story bulletproof. Unassailable.”
Tai shook his head vehemently. “You’ve lost your minds. No one’s going to buy that we just up and eloped out of the blue.”
Bridger chimed in, “They will if you sell it.” He pinned Tai with an earnest look. “You’re gonna have to make even Tenaya’s closest friends and colleagues believe this marriage is one hundred percent real.”
Tai speared frustrated fingers through his hair and shot her a pleading look. “This is ridiculous.”
She didn’t disagree, but still, his continued objections stung. “It’s not like I’m looking forward to it, either.”
After a strained beat, he exhaled harshly. “Fine. Truce?” He extended his hand.
She shook it reluctantly. “Truce.”
The danger, the sheer audacity of this plan, and the fact that she’d be shoulder-to-shoulder with the handsome former Marine, trying to sell a fake love story, seemed far too daunting to contemplate.
“This,” she said, pointing at Tai with a circular motion, “is not going to fly.”
He shot her a wary look. “What’s not gonna fly?”
“You need a makeover,” Paige insisted.
Fenn agreed instantly. “Dude, you need suits.”
“What? No!” Tai backed away. “How about I play a casual trust fund baby? That’s a thing, right?”
