“Franklin’s car is approaching,” Ren said.“He’ll be inside in 3 minutes.”
Hadley took a deep breath.“I’m nervous.”
“That’s normal.Just keep breathing, slow and steady,” Cole said, taking her hand.
She scowled at him.“If it’s so normal, why aren’tyounervous?”
“I’m better at hiding it than you are.”
It was only a partial lie.Truth was, the key to not being nervous in dangerous situations was not giving a shit about yourself.But hewasdoing his best to make sure she didn’t know he was actuallyterrified.Not for himself, of course, but for her.
“CIA fuckwit entering in 3, 2, 1,” Ren said.
Hadley flinched when Franklin shoved the warehouse’s metal door open and started walking toward them, his cheap dress shoes clickety-clacking across the concrete floor.
“I can’t wait to wipe that stupid smug smirk off his stupid fat face,” Hadley muttered under her breath.
“You and me both.”
Franklin stopped a few feet away from them and stuck his hands in his pockets, very purposefully letting them see his service weapon in the holster on his side.Cole almost snorted.Did this dumb motherfucker really think agunwas going to stop him?He could drop this asshole before that gun ever cleared leather.
“Well, aren’t you two looking closer than ever,” Franklin said.
“Your fly is down,” Hadley said, giving him a disgusted once over.
Cole huffed out a laugh as a now red-faced Franklin yanked his zipper up.“You said you had an update, so let’s have it,” he grumbled.“I don’t have all day.”
“Oh, I’d say you haveplentyof time to hear what we have to say, Franklin,” Cole said dryly.
He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.“Spit it out, Clayton.Before I get bored and decide to sayfuck itto this entire mission and let the Irish have their way with her.”
Hadley lunged for him, but Cole looped an arm around her waist and hauled her back against his chest while Franklin cackled.“Well, well, well, who knew she had that kind of fire in her?”he said, flashing that ugly smirk again.“But I’m guessing you figured it out pretty quickly, huh, Clayton?”
“Get fucked, asshole!”Hadley shouted, struggling against Cole’s hold.He was lucky she didn’t decide to use any of the escape tactics she’d learned onhimfor holding her back.Taking a hit to the nuts didnotsound appealing.
Cole leaned down and whispered in Hadley’s ear, “Don’t let him get to you.We’ve got him right where we want him, yeah?”
She huffed out an exasperated breath and stopped struggling.Her muscles were still tense, though.If he gave her the go-ahead, he imagined she wouldn’t hesitate to kick Franklin’s ass.It made himobscenelyproud of her.
“Sorry,” she muttered.“I didn’t mean to lose it.”
“Not gonna lie.It was hot.”
“Really?”
“Yep.I’ll show you just how hot I thought it was later.”He kissed her temple before letting her go.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“So,” Cole said to Franklin, “you’re sure you gave us all the information we needed to get the job done before sending us in, right?”
Franklin gave him a bored slow blink.“Of course I did.I’m not an amateur.”
Cole nodded.“I knew that about you, Franklin.You’re corrupt, lazy, andwaymore confident than you have any right to be, but one thing you’renotis an amateur.”
He slapped a hand over his heart dramatically.“You wound me, Clayton.And here I thought we were going to get together for a slumber party and braid each other’s hair when this whole thing was done.”
