Page 70 of Nixon’s Promise

“McKenna,” he growled. “You have no idea what you’re getting involved in.”

“You’re right. I don’t. But from what little I could glean from that message and the fact that an off-site team is being put together, and taking into consideration I’m pretty fucking smart, I don’t think you’re looking for a Girl Scout troop who forgot to turn in their cookie money. Sheesh. Give me some credit.”

Jameson nearly busted a gut, he was laughing so hard at McKenna’s outburst. Holden, Weston, Chasin, and Alec were less dramatic in their humor, but all of them were chuckling.

All but Nixon.

He didn’t find a damn thing funny.

He was also the only man in the room who was falling in love with her. And if something happened…

“You know we have your back, Nix,” Weston said, recovering first. “Which means we have hers, too.”

“We can keep her clean. It’d be easy enough to bury her salary. Hell, I’ll take the tax hit, draw a larger cut, and pay her out of my check,” Holden offered.

“I’m not worried about how to fucking pay her. I’m worried about some fuckwit coming after her,” Nixon explained.

“Hate to bring this up, brother, but her just being your woman opens her up. Not something we don’t know. There’s always a chance of blowback.” Every muscle coiled as Nixon realized Chasin was right. Just being with him would put McKenna at risk. “At least this way, she’ll know the players, she’ll know what’s going on, and that alone will help keep her vigilant and safe.”

“I don’t want her to know the players and I certainly don’t want her seeing the shit we see. Goddammit. You all know the toll it takes. You think I want my woman wrapped up in this? Knowing what kind of assholes are out there. What they’re planning. We don’t know a fucking thing about this group or what they’re planning. What if they’re using women or—”

“Nixon?” McKenna stepped into his space and placed a small hand over his heart. “I get it. If you don’t want me involved, I won’t be.”

His eyes fell to hers, and while he still saw determination, concern had crept in. “What?”

“If me being involved is going to stress you out, I won’t do it. Not because I don’t think I’d do a good job. Not because I’m worried about what I’ll see or know. Because you worried about me means you won’t be worried about you. I need you at your best, so does your team. You being safe is the only thing that’s important to me. I’ll look over the rest of the message you have and see if I can figure it out, then I’ll step away and pretend I never saw it.”

“Jesus,” Chasin muttered. “If you don’t hurry up and lay claim, fair warning, I’m taking my shot.”

“You try that and I’ll shoot your ass,” Nixon returned.

“Might be worth it,” Chasin volleyed.

“Well worth it, if you ask me,” Jameson mumbled.

“I’m rethinking using this team,” Nixon told McKenna. “I bet I could find replacements by the end of the day.”

Her bright smile nearly knocked him on his ass. God, she was beautiful. “I’m sure you could, but I don’t think you could find better.”

She was right, Nixon couldn’t find a better group of men to have his back—or hers.

“Do you have a security clearance?” Nixon asked.

“I do, but it is low level and limited,” she answered.

“Is that enough?” Nixon asked Alec.

“It’s gonna have to be, because I’m not running her. If I do, I’ll have to explain why and in what capacity she’ll be working with… what did you name your corporation, anyway?” Alec inquired.

“Gemini Group,” Nixon answered.

“Right,” Alec snickered. “If we’re keeping her off radar, I simply have to trust her.”

Alec didn’t trust McKenna, not yet. He trusted Nixon. And if Nix trusted McKenna with the intel, Alec would, too.

“Now that everything is settled, is someone going to get lunch? I’m fucking hungry,” Weston asked.

“And what about supper?” Jameson added. “We going out to eat? Is there even a place in this town to sit and eat? More importantly, this isn’t a dry county, right?”