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“How the hellcan it be this hot and yet the rain still chills you to the bone?” Booker glanced over at Callie, loving the way she smiled at him. God, she was beautiful.
Beautiful and smart and most likely the death of him because they were already standing outside the airport in San Juan, their stupidly light backpacks slung over their shoulders as he waited for his contact to text him where to pick up the Jeep.
Though, contact was an understatement. Charlie Cooper was so much more than a mere contact. Ex-military and some kind of weird mix betweenWalter“Radar” O’ReillyandTempleton “Face” Peck,the guy had this uncanny way of acquiring literally anything Booker could dream up. Just like now. A Jeep waiting somewhere in the parking lot with a chopper on standby at a small, out-of-the-way landing strip Booker was sure most people probably didn’t even know existed. Add to that, some reliable fire power, and they were armed for decent resistance. Not what Booker would have taken with him in the FCD, when getting shot down was always a possibility, but close.
Callie glanced around, her smile fading into a slight frown as she paused on certain people, silently measuring them up before continuing. Guys Booker suspected were gang members associated with the local drug cartel. Someone he assumed might recognize her if they looked hard enough.
Not that Booker thought any guycouldforget Calliope Jensen. At least, he couldn’t. Not since the day he’d met her, which explained why he was standing in the rain, in freaking Puerto Rico, with nothing more than his gut instincts that this was a mission worthy of his time. That Callie hadn’t gone completely rogue.
Which had made explaining the impromptu assignment to Hank and Stone a bit awkward. Especially when all he could tell them was his location. That it was peripherally connected to the DEA, and that he hoped he could fill them in more, later. Of course, he’d offered to cover whatever expenses were the result of the op. That, if Hank or Stone thought this was just too insane, that Booker was more of a liability than an asset, they could oust his ass. But Hank had merely told him to get Charlie to liaise with him so he could ensure the man had access to whatever Booker needed. That they were there if he required backup.
He was still in shock from that. Sure, he’d sent Wyatt a quick text. More of a nine-one-one pre-warning that Booker might have to call on his buddy to come and save his and Callie’s asses. That, if things went seriously sideways, Wyatt might be their only hope.
Wyatt had answered with nothing more than a stupid thumb’s up emoji. What had probably been the fastest reply when Booker knew Wyatt and Kirby were likely on round three of their fuck-fest. But it meant Wyatt was onboard. Ready. Waiting. That, no matter the time or the cost, he’d been there.
Calliope nudged him, shifting closer as the rain picked up. “Any luck on unearthing where our ride is? Or are we just waiting for the rivers to flood so we can swim?”
“Very funny. Though, you, in a bikini…”
She slapped him on the chest, the inklings of a smile lifting her lips. “You’re such an ass.”
“I know.” He held up his phone. “And Charlie just got back to me with where he left the Jeep, which means we won’t have to swim, just yet.”
She simply shrugged. “Mission isn’t close to being over, so I wouldn’t take that avenue off the table.”
“I’d never take the chance of seeing you stripped down to your skivvies off the table, sweetheart.” He grabbed her hand. “You ready? Anything or anyone I should be concerned about for the few minutes it’ll take to reach the car?”
She rolled her shoulders, much like he did when his ghosts were pushing a bit too hard. “That obvious?”
“I might not know the details of what we’re up against, yet, but I knowyou. So, any of those guys over by that muscle car a concern?”
She didn’t glance at them, just nodded. “The two with the neck tats. They’re pretty far away, but it’d be best if they didn’t get a good look at my face.”
“Roger. Though, with how sexy your ass is, I’m thinking they shouldn’t get a good look at any part of you because I know I’d recognize the sway of your hips at any distance.”
She froze for a second, giving him a questionable side eye before smiling as she moved in beside him, allowing him to keep her close. What he hoped gave the illusion of a couple strolling across the parking lot but provided him with a vantage point. The ability to jump in front of a threat or cover her if one of those assholes suddenly opened fire.
Reaching the Jeep without having to drop kick one of the gang members or take cover behind some of the other vehicles eased the pressure between his shoulder blades. A glimmer of hope that they’d at least get the mission started without one of them bleeding.
Callie slid into the passenger side, still glancing over her shoulder. Those beautiful blue eyes searching. Whether it was to see if anyone had followed them or just out of habit, he wasn’t sure. But one thing was certain — she’d definitely been on the wrong side of some sort of horrific incident. The kind of trauma that left scars that tugged at her sanity with every breath. Just like him and that damn crash he couldn’t quite put behind him.
She pointed to his phone, still scanning the area. “I don’t know where your friend, Charlie, is sending us, but we should try to avoid the major highways with toll stations and cameras. Just to be safe.”
He started the vehicle, checked Charlie’s directions, then joined the evening traffic. “Looks like he’s got us going along the outskirts, so we should be okay.”
Rain splattered across the windshield, the wipers barely keeping up. “When you said it rained a lot, you weren’t joking.”
She glanced at him, but he didn’t miss the way she checked each mirror, first. “August is always a wild card. Is it going to be an issue for you? Flying in this stuff?”
“Not the greatest, but as long as our headwinds aren’t too strong, and the fog isn’t too thick, I can swing it. Assuming Charlie got me a decent ride, and this doesn’t turn into a light and sound show.”
Not that Booker had asked for anything fancy. Just a solid helicopter that could take a beating and keep on going. What he suspected might be a one-way trip with them trudging through the rainforest in order to get home. That inevitable “sideways” she’d mentioned.
Callie nodded, still scanning through the mirrors. “You’re the expert. I trust your judgement.”
“That’s encouraging when I get the feeling trust isn’t something you’re giving away, right now.” He spared her a quick glance. “Do I get to know what that’s about? Why we’re here, and if the DEA is at all okay with it? Are you even still working for them?”
She pursed her lips, looking incredibly sexy as she fiddled with a few strands of hair. What he assumed was her deciding on how much to tell him. Maybe what shecouldtell him.
