Page 9 of Brooks

“That sounded painful to say. But there’s no need to thank me.”

“Not painful. I’m just not used to being helpless.”

“There’s nothing helpless about you. And you’ve done great.”

“Sure I have. All I’ve done is float and you’ve distracted me from the fact we almost died a fiery death, then I almost drowned.”

“You saved us to begin with. You’re the one that saw the RPG.”

Thank God, Tatiana had been looking back at the dock, or we’d have been fish food.

The boat was close enough I could make out my team on board, and weirdly I was bummed our time alone in the water had come to an end. There was something about the woman that made me want to get to know her better. Which was an impossibility since we were leaving in a few days. Shit timing.

Chapter 4

Once we were in the boat, the inquisition started. Declan was peppering me with questions I couldn’t answer. Not because I didn’t know, but I was bound by operational security. The more I tried to deflect the more frustrated he became.

“What can you tell us, Tatiana?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

“Fucking hell,” he grumbled. Thankfully, Kyle was piloting the boat closer to shore. The faster I got back to the annex the better. “You almost get my man killed today and you’ve got nothing.”

“Just to point out, if he hadn’t pulled his bullshit, he would’ve been safe and sound in his bed on base. So don’t pile your shit on me. I asked all of you nicely to inspect what you need, gather your intel, and get out of Bahrain. Now I’m telling you, stay the hell away from me. I don’t need to be seen with any of you, and that includes you coming into the annex.”

“We came to you, at your request,” Declan reminded me.

He was correct, they had. Once I’d gotten word Zane Lewis had sent a team of commandos into Bahrain, I felt it necessary to find out why they were there. When I called Tex and asked him for the meeting, I hadn’t known Declan Crenshaw was the team leader. I was familiar with Declan’s work while he was with the CIA. Last I’d heard, he was going deep cover, then I quit the CIA. I had no idea he’d gone to work for Zane’s company, Z Corps. Maybe if I had, I wouldn’t have requested a sit down. He was known around the agency as a rabid dog when he wanted intel.

“And now I’m requesting you to leave,” I told Declan. “You know there is no transoceanic cabling being laid. I’m sure you’re all smart enough to know the Militrix government contract is nothing more than a way to funnel money.”

“What do you know about Militrix funneling money?” Brooks asked.

“Nothing.”

It wasn’t a bold-face lie, it was more of a small, white lie. I didn’t know a lot about Militrix, however the name had come up enough in my investigation and I was now actively looking into them.

Kyle pulled into the marina and slowed. Max and Thad were both preparing to tie us off. I stood, grateful the warm sun had quickly started to dry me off.

“Whose boat is this?”

“No clue,” Thad responded.

I wasn’t shocked they borrowed the vessel without permission, but I was impressed they were gently putting it back, presumably where they’d taken it from. The men went to great efforts not to allow the fiberglass boat to slam against the wooden dock.

“Well. Thanks for the pickup.”

“Whoa there, Doll. You’re not going anywhere until we figure out who took a shot at us.”

“Were you not listening? I have work to do and being seen in public with the five of you will make that impossible.”

“How do you figure that?” Brooks stood in front of me on the rocking boat with his feet planted shoulder’s width, muscular arms crossed over his impressive chest, and made no move to allow me to pass.

“Seriously? It’s not like the five of you don’t stand out like a sore thumb around here or anything, you scream American Soldier.”

“And that would be a problem for you, why?” he continued.

Now he was pissing me off. He wasn’t stupid, none of them were.