Page 42 of Only the Hunter

“That’s the plan.” Noah glances toward the building. “More time for offensive research.”

Which is exactly what Evie needs. Someone digging into who’s after her and why, instead of waiting for the next attempt.

And if the team’s moving to remote on Morgan, that frees me up to do exactly that.

“What’s got you cutting early?” Noah asks.

“A friend needs me to pick her up earlier than anticipated.”

“This the same friend you mentioned in our last team update?”

“Evie Thompson. One and the same.” I step closer, lowering my tone, although no one’s around to overhear. It’s habit. “Yesterday. She was involved in a drive-by shooting.”

“You think she’s being targeted?”

“I told you I checked her brake line. I’d bet money someone frayed it. The shooting has the same feel.”

“She handling it okay?” Noah asks.

“She’s handling it like someone who’s used to being targeted. Stubborn. Independent. Won’t accept help unless you force it.” All of which lends credibility to her family’s concerns.

Noah’s mouth quirks. “Sounds familiar.”

He’s thinking of Alicia. Fair enough. But this is different.

This is Evie.

“Well, she’s got Rhodes MacMillan in her corner,” he says.

“That she does.”

Rhodes MacMillan. Noah let me in on a little history recently—said he was our team’s first target, ended up becoming a client, and now he’s a strategic partner. I hadn’t known that when we met him for lunch. I’m not one hundred percent clear on what his interest in Evie is, but my perception is it’s obligation to her dad, as opposed to personal interest—the seed money, the debt he still seems to carry for it.

“Anyway, I need to head out to beat traffic. You good?”

“Yeah. I’ve got this one.”

I pause next to my vehicle, and ask, “They don’t have an issue with you two?” I’m curious more than anything. I wouldn’t expect Hudson to share a reprimand if one was issued to Noah. Following military code, he’d keep that between him and Noah. But we’re a relatively new group, and there was no handbook distributed with our contract—I’m just curious.

“No,” Noah says. “Be a bit hypocritical given Hudson’s dating Quinn.”

“Seriously?” I hadn’t heard that, but as the new guy on the team, I’m still learning who’s who. If true, I get what Noah’s saying. Hudson dating a direct report is likely worse than dating a client.

“According to Brie. And Syd.”

“Huh.” I file that away. Not my business.

Except it is, a little. Hudson managing it means it’s not impossible.

Not that I’m personally involved with Evie.

Not yet.

The thought strikes before I can stop it.

The timing isn’t right—not with everything going on.

Before I could start anything, I’d owe it to Scott to come clean and—no. Not the time or the place. Pressing priorities first.