It proved I’d lied about her death. It meant she could be useful to Vitale if he wanted information on me. And she had witnessed Gio murder Renzo. Both Abramos would want her.
I sure as shit couldn’t protect her from inside a jail cell.
33
ETHAN
I was ledthrough the side door back into the hangar, under the watchful eye and grip of a man built like a linebacker. The handcuffs weren’t tight, but I wished Olivia and my friends didn’t have to see me in them.
MorePolezeiarrived every second, and some were trying to pry open the hangar doors so the ambulance had better access to Jason.
Laurel knelt on the ground beside her husband, her hands pressed to the wound, her face determined. His hand covered hers, his wedding band wet with his blood.
“It’s okay, L,” he said. “It hurts less than getting shot with the vest on.”
His lie sounded convincing, but I knew better. I’d learned how painful a gunshot wound was, in almost that exact same spot, during my botched op in Syria.
Kara and Shawn stood close by, her hand resting on Laurel’s shoulder as if to offer comfort and connection. I had to put my focus elsewhere.
It landed on Olivia, and her gaze swept down over my body as if evaluating me for bullet holes. She noted the hands behind my back and the officer attached to my arm. Her gaze slowly worked its way back up, meeting mine, and her green eyes were full of relief.
“Are you okay?” she asked. When I nodded, her eyebrows pulled together. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either. Something’s gone wrong.”
The hand on my arm squeezed and reminded me inGerman to produce the permits and ID. That was going to be difficult to do since it was a lie.
“Is this man,” the officer asked Shawn in their native language, “part of your security team?”
“Yes,” Shawn said instantly.
“Where is his documentation?”
His gaze flicked to mine, silently asking what he should do. What he could do to help me. But there was nothing. It was a fucking mess, and I’d only gotten thePolezeito bring me here to do damage control.
“What can I do?” Olivia asked. “What do you need?”
“I don’t have any documentation,” I announced in German, then switched to English. “Get out your phone and start dialing this number. Tell the man who answers everything that just happened.”
I spat out the number for Daniel, and then I was seized with an emotion that was much stronger than I’d felt in years.
Fear.
What was going to happen to us now? My handler was going to know I’d broken protocol. He could be furious enough that he’d make sure I never saw her again.
The angry hand tugged on my elbow, wanting to pull me away.
“Stay at the hospital. Stay with Kara and Shawn,” I ordered, but it sounded oddly like a plea. “I will find you.”
Her worried expression was haunting, but she nodded in acceptance.
I spent my time in the holding cell considering what could have happened, and what the Abramos’ next move would be. The attempt to assassinate the Dunns had failed. My cover was blown, revealing I stood against the Abramos. And Olivia was back on the table.
Which of those would attract their attention first?
Two hours after my booking, an officer appeared at the cell door, handcuffed me, and led me down a hallway.
“What’s happened?” I asked.
