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“What? That’s ridiculous,” Bruja commented.
“It’s bullshit,” Ryland agreed.
Selma tilted her chin up. “Really? Then how is information leaking?”
“What’re you talking about?” Ryland demanded. “What information?”
“After your mission in South America, intel from that op was leaked. As a result, part of the cartel your team helped bring down escaped. It was deduced that someone from Ex Nihilo warned the cartel members. That someone is playing both sides.”
“No,” Ryland said. “Didn’t happen.”
“Tell me,” Selma said, voice silky. “How well do you know the people you work with?”
Her question lingered in the air and Ryland felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He resisted the urge to reach around and rub the skin there.
“If I’m not mistaken, your team was only put together six months ago and you don’t even know each other’s real names. You came together as strangers, right?”
“We’re a cohesive unit that trusts each other with our lives,” Bruja said, bristling.
“Maybe that’s not so wise.” Selma glanced down at her manicured nails then waved a hand. “Anyway, that’s all I know.”
Yeah, right.“We want a list of names. All ten people that make up The Agency.”
One of her thin, dark eyebrows arched. “I don’t know anyone’s real name. Other than my husband’s, of course. Same as you and your team. If you’d like to question Marcus, then by all means, go ahead. I can assure you, he knows more than me, but he won’t be back until later. Would you like anything to drink while you wait? He should be home in a couple of hours.”
Selma Santiago was one smooth customer and Ryland had a hard time believing anything that came out of her over-inflated, red lips. The only thing that remotely rang true was The Agency following the same protocol as Ryland’s team and only using aliases. He and Tanner had broken the rules, became friends and gotten buddy-buddy. But the others were still just Pharaoh, Saint, Banshee and Bruja.
He glared at Selma then glanced over at Bruja who crossed her arms. She didn’t appear to be buying the woman’s bullshit either.
Placing her well-manicured hands on her thighs, Santiago moved her gaze between the three of them and stood. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get myself a mineral water. It’s far too hot today.”
“Actually, that sounds good. Why don’t I go with you?” Bruja stood up and Ryland watched them start walking away.
Halfway out of the living room, Selma paused and turned. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you there’s a mole on your team. But think back on your missions and try to remember the way your teammates acted. What they said and did. You may be able to figure out who the double agent is yourself. But, in the meantime, The Agency doesn’t trust any of you. That’s why you’re on their kill list. And once you become their target, there’s no escaping. They will hunt each one of your team down and eliminate you all.”
Turning on her heel, Selma walked out, Bruja directly behind her. Her ominous words rankled Ryland and he wanted to brush them off. But something inside of him couldn’t help but wonder if there was any truth to her claims.
A double agent?He had a hard time believing it, but he also wasn’t stupid enough to completely toss the theory out the window. She had a point about Ex Nihilo. Though they worked well together, they didn’t know each other like he’d known his former SEAL team. Hell, he didn’t even know anyone’s true name.
Yes, they worked seamlessly as a unit. But could he trust them?Shit.
Ryland scraped a hand over his jaw and met Harper’s steady gaze. “She’s trying to plant seeds of doubt,” Harper said. “You trust your team. Right?”
Normally, he’d say yes. But the more he thought about it, how well did he really know any of them?
He fucking didn’t.
“Ryland?”
“Christ, Harper, I can’t talk about this right now.”
She closed her mouth and he tried to tamp down the uncertainty and suspicions suddenly flooding his brain.
A loud, pained shout made his head snap up and he jumped to his feet, running straight to the kitchen. Bruja was lying on the floor, her entire body twitching.
Harper dropped down beside Bruja. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Taser,” Ryland answered between gritted teeth. “She’ll be okay.”
