Page 72 of Brooks

“Not watching porn,” Tatiana corrected.

“Damn. That’s too bad.”

Declan remained quiet while he took in the scene, then muttered, “Totally understand Zane now. I owe him an apology and a box of donuts.”

“Don’t lump us in with the Red Team. Just because lover boy over there has his panties in a bunch doesn’t mean the rest of us are stupid. Zane had to deal with Linc, Jaxon, Leo, and Colin. We are practically monks compared to them.” Kyle laughed.

“And don’t forget Jasmin. That woman is harder to handle than any man on that team,” Max added.

“We’re a quiet drive in the park compared to them,” Thad told Dec. “Brooks is just jealous his woman would rather sit next to me than—”

“I’m not jealous,” I denied.

“Dude…” Kyle trailed off as if all he needed was one word to call me on my bullshit.

“Has anyone gone over the last SITREP Garrett sent over?” Declan thankfully inquired, moving the conversation back to work and away from my newfound jealousy.

“Yeah. We’re looking at it now,” Thad answered.

“I was thinking,” Tatiana started. “We need to watch the black market and bidding. The new additions could be there for transport of goods. If an auction just ended, the buyer could’ve sent in a convoy to pick up their product. It’s not like Al Issa calls UPS for a pick-up to ship and the buyer would never show personally.”

“You could be right,” Declan conceded.

“Also, if a pick-up was scheduled, Al Issa would have extra guards on the compound. I looked at the historical imagery, it seems when Al Issa visits the compound there are only four outside guards. Tex’s intel showed ten perimeter, three in the courtyard, and five on the roof. That’s overkill. His compound is literally in the middle of the desert. One rooftop spotter would suffice.”

“But if he had millions of dollars of goods to be transferred, he’d up his security,” I added, agreeing with her assessment.

“Exactly. He’s a pompous prick. He believes he’s untouchable. He doesn’t even have personal protection for any of his wives.”

Tatiana had abandoned her laptop and was pointing to a topographical map that was spread out on a coffee table in front of her. She scooted to the edge of the couch so she could mark points of interest. As much of an ass as it made me, I was happy she was no longer touching Thad.

“He built this compound, though he calls it a palace, of course. Tactically it is perfect. Nothing but miles and miles of bare earth. A spotter would see dust rollin’ from a vehicle before the palace walls even came into the driver’s view. Less than a mile from the Iraqi border. Easy smuggling, easy day.”

I couldn’t help the smile that formed. “Now you’re getting’ it, Doll.”

Once the humor of her statement had worn off, something hit me—just how much she’d changed. She’d gone from offended woman to team member. She’d once bitched about alpha males and SEAL lingo and now she was spouting it off herself. She’d thrown a hissy fit over me offering to help her with her bag, accusing me of being sexist, to not uttering a word when last night I brought her stuff into the house for her. Then there was her public display of affection. Not to mention, thus far every kiss we’d shared, I initiated. That was what had taken me by surprise, not that she’d necessarily done it in front of the guys, but that she’d done it at all.

“I think Zane’s right. We need to wait this out. After the transfer he’ll send away some of the guards,” she finished.

“You and Brooks are still on recon tomorrow night,” Declan stated. “Let’s hope the tablets aren’t what’s being transported out.”

“They're not.”

“How do you know?” Max asked.

“I just do. I feel it. As long as he has those tablets, he knows I’m coming for him. And he wants me dead more than he wants the money from the sale.”

“Wonderful,” Dec mumbled. “I don’t want any hero shit, Tatiana. I even catch a whiff of you thinkin’ about going rogue, I’ll yank your ass from this op.”

She held her hands up in front of her like she was warning off an attack. “Just stating the facts. He’s got a hard-on for me. My gut’s telling me, he wants to dangle the tablets in front of me thinking he can get me to come to him.”

“And that’s exactly what we’re doing,” I pointed out.

“The difference is, now I have you at my back.”

There it was. She trusted me, trusted all of us to help keep her safe. I didn’t believe for a second that if the opportunity arose, she wouldn’t go kamikaze on Al Issa. Not that I could blame her. But personal vendettas clouded one’s judgement. I understood her need for retribution, but I wouldn’t allow her to die in the process.

Chapter 31