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“He dead?” I asked, wishing I could’ve left him alive for questioning, but him aiming a vehicle at me and pointing a gun in my face kind of eliminated that choice.
“Yeah,” Oliver answered. “Got his phone.”
“Let me check the property just in case. Don’t let the women come in here until I give you the all clear,” I ordered while he leaned in through the window, probably securing the weapons as well.
I hurried inside, checking the rooms for cameras and anyone hiding inside. Once I cleared the last room, which was an office, I grabbed the laptop from the desk there, tucked it under my arm, then started for the garage. Three other vehicles were parked inside. No people.
I made my way back over to Oliver. “We’re clear. No cameras inside. And I’m assuming the breach didn’t trigger any silent security alarms to another cartel site, but that’s only a guess.”
“I’m sure their boss already dispatched a new team for the jungle,” Oliver said, waving the women inside. “So, we shouldn’t stay long.”
Gwen and Mya were the first to come inside and Gwen honed in on the laptop, and I gave it to her.
“Here.” Oliver handed her the cell phone, too, as Charley and Lucy joined us. “This is password encrypted.”
“On it.” Gwen went straight for the porch and dropped down onto one of the rocking chairs.
“You good?” Charley asked me, nudging Lucy to the side to block her view of the dead guy in the Bronco. Always so protective, and God, I kind of loved that about her.
I reached for Charley’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze while promising her, “I’m fine.”
“For a second I thought you weren’t going to move out of the way in time.” Charley’s whisper of concern traveled from her voice to her eyes.
“You shouldn’t have been watching.” My hand slid down her arm to reach for her hand. Not giving a damn that we weren’t alone, and we had a dead man who’d lost his game of chicken three feet away, I pulled her against me. “And you’re not getting rid of me that easy,” I added, answering the question I thought—well, hoped—I saw in her eyes.
Her hands went to my back, and her short fingernails bit into my skin. She turned her cheek to rest it against my chest, and I held her there, exchanging a look with Mya. Yeah, I know. I’m not falling. I already fell. And hard.
Mya offered me a quick smile, and I knew she was doing her best to hide her emotions before peering Oliver’s way. “I’m heading inside to find some supplies.”
“I’ll come with you,” I said as Charley eased back from my arms and brushed away a tear. “Want to join us?”
After a quiet sniffle, she motioned to her sister. “Only if Lucy comes, too.”
“You all go. I’ll wait here for the others,” Oliver suggested, a frown forming on his lips.
It only took me a second to determine why. He was mimicking Mya’s look, and her attention was riveted on Oliver’s bare chest. “What?” He dropped his eyes to his pecs.
“What?” she repeated, blinking. “I’m just thirsty.”
“I bet you are,” Oliver murmured, the double meaning not lost on any of us.
Leaving our canteens back at the haunted house was probably not the best idea. Our dehydration seemed to be playing havoc on our focus.
“Shirt,” Mya blurted. “You need one.”
“So do you,” Oliver bit back, eyes dropping to Mya’s bikini top. He shook his head as if realizing he was hazy from the need of water, too, and roughly barked out, “Go. Now.” He swallowed. “Please.”
I observed the two of them, unsure what to think other than if they didn’t screw soon, they might snap. Shaking my head, I stole my attention back to the issue at hand: the need for supplies and for it to be done quickly. “We’ll be right back.”
With my hand at the small of Charley’s back, we walked toward the house. Gwen didn’t look up from her screen as we passed her, completely absorbed in her work.
Once inside, Mya took the lead. “Lucy and I can grab water and food.”
“Sure, thanks.” I let the door shut behind us and faced the main hall. “We can grab weapons and those, uh, shirts we seem to be needing.”
Mya whipped away from me, probably wanting to hide her blush, and Lucy went with her down the hall.
I quietly grabbed Charley’s hand, leading her in the opposite direction.
