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She knew her words were harsh, and she meant to lash out and cause him pain. It might be childish, but she was hurting too.
“Grace,” Jack said, shaking his head. “You’re not playing fair.”
“Stay out of this, Jack. Nothing is ever fair. I know what matters in my life. And I know what I’m living for. Tussad is mine. And taking him out of this world is worth spending an eternity in hell. It can’t be much worse than spending it here on earth.”
“Listen to me, Grace,” Gabe said. “If you want to fight, then we’ll fight. But not here. Not now. Tussad is another issue and another op. You and I are another issue. I know someone who can help us when we get back to headquarters. But right now, you need to do the best thing for the team and go home.”
Numbness settled over her body, and she could feel the color fade from her cheeks. She wanted to scream. She wanted to let free the rage that was pummeling against her rigid muscles. To release the pain that was seizing her lungs until every gasp of oxygen felt as if it could be her last.
“Fine,” she finally managed to say. “You’re the boss.” She turned on her heel and headed to the bedroom to gather her rifle.
“Grace,” Jack called out. “Don’t do anything stupid. Just go home and wait for us there.”
She arrowed him with a look that made him come to his feet and move the chair out of the way.
“I don’t have a home, Jack. I never did.”
ChapterNineteen
Gabe watched the bedroom door and cursed himself a thousand ways to Sunday. Would they never have it easy? What had he done in this life to deserve this?
The others were deadly silent as they listened to the snick of Grace’s rifle case closing. She came out of the bedroom as cold and calm as she’d ever been, her wig straightened and back on her head. Her face was devoid of emotion, though she was pale as a ghost.
“Logan will drive you to the airport,” Gabe said. “The plane will be ready to take off as soon as you arrive. My security team will meet you at the airport in London to see to your safety. I’ll have another of my pilots come back and retrieve the rest of us after the op is finished.”
Logan never showed much emotion, but the look he gave Gabe made sure he knew his displeasure. But Logan knew how to follow orders, and he nodded his head sharply.
“I don’t think so,” Grace said with a cynical smile. “I can take care of myself.”
Cold fear snaked through his body as she took the watch off her wrist and slipped the earpiece out of her ear. “We’re done here, Gabe. Don’t come after me again.” She tossed the electronics on the couch and headed for the door.
“It wasn’t a request, Grace. And I’ll come after you as many times as it takes to get through that thick skull of yours. Logan will take you to the plane.”
Logan moved to stand in front of her, and before Gabe or Jack could intercede, Grace dropped her bag and shot her hands toward Logan. Gabe had to admire her skill, even though he regretted teaching her those particular moves. She used two fingers to slap at Logan’s shoulders, chest and neck, and Logan looked stunned as he fell to the floor, his limbs temporarily paralyzed.
“Have a nice life, boys,” she said with a salute as she closed the door of the suite silently behind her.
“Well, you have to give her points for style,” Jack drawled, sitting back in his chair.
“What happened? Ethan asked. “I can’t see anything! Why is Kill Shot offline? Her heart monitor isn’t even registering. You didn’t kill her, did you?”
Gabe closed his eyes and straddled the other dining room chair across from Jack. Logan was beginning to get the feeling back in his body, and he turned his head to glare at Gabe.
“Sorry,” Gabe said. “You should be fine in a few minutes.”
“Except for his pride and his manhood,” Jack muttered.
Gabe ran his fingers through his hair and looked at his watch. They still had eight hours before they were scheduled to break into the museum. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through the coded numbers he’d assigned until he found the one he was looking for.
“Simon,” he said to his pilot. “Grace is on her way to you. You’re her only way out of the country. Take her back to headquarters. She’s to be detained and on restricted access until we return. Do whatever you have to do to get her to cooperate.”
Gabe hung up the phone, and Jack let out a low whistle, drawing his attention. “You’re digging yourself a hell of a hole to get out of.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
Ethan cleared his throat and said, “So, by using my amazing deductive reasoning skills, I’m assuming that you and Grace know each other a lot better than we all thought.”
Gabe sighed, and knew he couldn’t keep the truth from them any longer. They needed to know what they were dealing with.
