Page 45 of Tangled With You

Ollie pulled out his radio, contacting the first car. “Movein,” he ordered. “Team two covering the exits.”

Trevor eyed him. “We’re not the first team?”

Ollie shook his head. Just one firm shake, and Trevorrealized that Ollie feared what the team would find in there. Knowing that, itwas all Trevor could do not to pull him close for a hug. Not now, though. Notwhen Ollie was focused on the mission.

Not when Ollie seemed to be pulling away minute byminute, second by second.

He forced the thought down, along with the knot that wasonce again blocking his throat. Dammit, he didn’t need this shit. He was pastthis shit. He’d taken administrative leave after Greg walked. He’d gottenhimself under control. And there was no fucking way he was losing that controlagain.

“Come on,” he said to Mario and Leah. “We’ll take the rearof the house. “Ollie, you and Brax cover the front.”

“Roger,” Brax said, as he and Ollie opened their doors. Trevordidn’t look back. Didn’t want to think about Ollie not brushing his fingers ina silent goodbye. Not watching when Trevor disappeared around to the back.

Not caring about anything but the mission.

Yeah, he was an asshole, all right. Because right then, themission was all any of them should be caring about.

“You okay?” Mario’s whispered question caught him bysurprise.

“A little off my game,” Trevor admitted. “Not enough sleep.I’ll be fine.” He glanced back, saw Mario’s eyes narrow before the tech geniuscrouched in front of the back door as he lifted the snap gun to unlock thedeadbolt.

“If the man says he’s fine, he’s fine,” Leah said firmly,then added, “We’re going in,” as Mario shot them a thumbs up and put his handon the knob.

“Roger that.” Ollie’s voice. And then Trev and Leah were oneither side of Mario. Mario counted it off, and on three they entered, Trevorhigh and Leah low, their weapons at the ready.

“Clear,” Leah said, leading the way through the kitchen towhere it opened into a living area. They maneuvered in further, clearing therooms as they went, Trevor praying they’d find the son-of-a-bitch. Even better,that they’d find Courtney.

They didn’t. Not thewoman, anyway. But they found her purse, and the moment they did, Trevor watchedas Ollie’s stoic expression crumbled, and the man he loved fell to his knees,the tears flowing like water.

ChapterFourteen

“It’s going to be okay. We’ll find her. We’ll do the drop.We’ll follow his rules, and we will find her.”

Trevor’s soft words surrounded Ollie, but he found nocomfort in them. All he could think wasthat this was his fault. He’d kept drawing her back to him, and then ripping itall down again. And each time this guy must have been getting more and morefrustrated. Bitch, you think you can just use me in between? You think I’llput up with that?

He could practically hear Bobby’s voice in his head. Theangry words. The violent temper, hidden under a surface that seemed so even andpersonable.

He knew the type. For that matter, he’d taken classes on thetype when he was in training.

The type was dangerous.

And now Bobby had Courtney.

“Dammit, Ollie, look at me,” Trevor demanded. “We will gether back.”

“All of this,” Ollie said, feeling like he was being suckedinto a deep, dark pit. “I can lay it all at my feet. If I hadn’t kept pullingher back—”

“You know better, Agent McKee,” Trevor snapped. “Don’t youeven think about going there. This is about his particular psychosis, not aboutyour relationship with Courtney, and you damn well know it. So quit feelingsorry for yourself, Agent. There’s a woman out there who needs your help. Youdon’t have the luxury of melting down.”

Ollie nodded, Trevor’s words finally pounding through thefear and self-loathing that had washed over him like a tsunami.

“I know. I know. I just—I just need a moment.” He had topull himself together. Had to shut down the emotions, rely on his training, anddo the job.

Trevor reached out to take his hand, but the moment theirfingers brushed, Ollie drew back sharply. He couldn’t—not right then. Trevorwas his refuge; the place where he could break down and pour out all his fears.All his guilt.

But he didn’t have the luxury of doing that right now, and asingle touch could start the boulder downhill, and then he’d never stop. He’dbe lost in grief, and that would be no help to Courtney.

No, he had to be professional. He had to concentrate on histraining.