“Me, AJ, and Cate.”
“Cate?”
“She insisted.”
“You let your wife dictate how you assign projects?” G asked, just to get a rise out of him.
“Dude, my wife secured your safe house. My wife is part of my team. My wife will kick your ass six ways to Sunday while I eat popcorn and watch.”
I laughed. Gibson grinned.
“Do not underestimate my wife.”
“Thank you, Sugar Cakes,” Cate called from the other side of the room.
“You’re welcome, Snookems.”
Half the room made gagging sounds; the other half laughed.
Nina watched with a look of fear and revulsion on her face.
She hadn’t spent enough time with mission ready operators to know this kind of bullshit was normal.
Chapter 51
Austin
The windshield wipers swiped back and forth in a rhythm not at all timed with the country music Gibson had turned on for Nina.
Nina and I sat in the back seat, with Gibson driving. She fidgeted with the neckline of the bulletproof vest John had given her.
“Cherry,” I said, gently pulling her hand away, “try not to think about it.”
“It’s heavy,” she said. “If the windows are bulletproof, why do I have to wear it?”
“We’re all wearing one.” I knocked on my chest.
If she thought hers was heavy, she should try on Cate’s. She, Jay, and AJ were in full kit, ready to provide backup if needed.
“You have company,” Cate relayed over comms from the second car.
I turned and looked out the tinted back window. “Copy that.” We’d only been on the road thirty minutes.
“I can’t see a plate,” Cate said. She was in the front with Jay; AJ was in the back with his rifle in his lap.
“Color me surprised,” G said. “Should I lose them?”
“Not yet. Give SSI a chance to intercept,” I answered.
“Change course?” G asked.
“Affirmative.” We’d drive until we couldn’t, but we wouldn’t lead them to the safe house. “Nina, I need you to lie down,” I said, wanting her out of sight. Not that it mattered; they knew she was with us.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re being followed.”
She opened her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief, and shut it without asking her question. When Nina reclined in the seat, her head had no choice but to rest on my thigh. I placed my hand on her shoulder and caressed it as she clutched her hands to her chest and prayed.
