Page 65 of Her Defiant Warrior

“I’m pretty sure that if you want to become a part of this organization, you’re going to need to show the proper respect.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Braxton sounded like a putz. Seemed like Ryker wasn’t the only actor on the team.

“That’s better. I like my men to show me the deference I’m due.”

It all went quiet for over a minute. Jase took the chance to peek around the corner. Hot damn, there was a schefflera on the other side of the wall. He was hidden. But when he found a spot to look through the leaves, he shuddered. Braxton was holding the blonde in his arms. Or was it her holding him? Jase noticed she had his hair in a tight fist, and she was licking the underside of his jaw.

Once again, he was fighting not to throw up.

Braxton gracefully disentangled himself from her clutches. “You seemed to be complimenting Ely a lot. I don’t want to be stepping in on another man’s territory.”

“I belong to myself.” But she took two steps backward. “However, you’re right. We need to be concentrating on the task at hand. I like how you handled that so-called ‘boss’. The Rwandan seemed to be terrified of him, so you were right to keep the boss alive. How did you know all those technical things to ask the Rwandan?”

“I’m a man of many talents.”

“Seriously.”

“It was my time in cyber security. I had to learn a lot about a lot of things. That included switchgears. People might think they don’t do much, but they control the electrical disconnect switches, fuses, or circuit—”

“Oh, do be quiet. You’ve already proved yourself.”

“Just not the way I want to, Amanda.”

“Again, down boy. Do you know enough that you could make this switchgear turn off the lights?”

“I couldn’t identify a switchgear to save my life. What’s more, I wouldn’t know where they’re housed.” Braxton shrugged.

She sighed.

Jase heard the garage door motor. He watched Braxton stiffen. Was he going to continue to play along, or was he going to take her down?

“Sounds like dumb and dumber are back,” he said. “Are you going to tell me why you need the lights to go out?”

“No. I don’t like any of the team to know too much about anything. It’s all about compartmentalization, you understand.”

“I suppose that means you’re not going to tell me about that crate of C-4 in the garage?”

“Dammit, I told those idiots to cover the markings on the crate. Can’t they do anything right?”

Braxton chuckled. “Let me help you. No, they can’t.”

The door leading from the garage opened. Spider stepped in first. His face was swollen. Then came a tall, handsome man in a suit. Jase noticed he was wearing the same kind of watch that Gideon had made him wear just a few days ago.

“Jesus, Amanda, where do you find these cretins?”

“What are you talking about? This idiot belongs to Ephram.”

“Figures. Who do we have here?”

“This is Braxton Weller. Now this is one of my recruits. Former Delta Force with cyber security. He’s been a big help finding out about lighting for the eye of the Museum of the Future.”

“And our other project?”

She paused. Jase would bet his last dollar she was going to lie. “He doesn’t know anything about that project. I’m using the normal protocols.”

He moved in front of her, then lifted her chin.

“You’re such a good girl.”