Great.
Just what Isaac needed.
As if things hadn’t gone sideways enough.
Who the hell was in the second car? What had Dion seen to make him start shooting at them?
Isaac needed answers.
“Yo, Jo?” Isaac stood, stretching his hands over his head. “I’m beat. Gonna crash. Does it matter what room?”
“Help yourself,” Elias drawled.
Jo turned to face Isaac while drying a plate. “Get some rest. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
Isaac grimaced before he could stop himself. He hid it by saying, “See you tomorrow.”
He grabbed his bag and headed toward the longer hall. The rooms on this side of the condo were smaller, but also allowed him to put more distance between himself and Jo. Given that he didn’t know who this Elias guy was or what he did, Isaac wanted to ensure as much privacy as possible.
He had to get answers.
Isaac ducked into the next to the last room and closed the door. There was a queen sized bed, a futon, dresser, and TV.
Good enough for him.
He tossed the bag onto the bed, then locked the door. It wouldn’t do much good if someone really wanted to get inside, but it might give him enough warning to save his own hide.
Isaac paced to the window and pulled out his phone.
Seattle was such a dreary, ugly place. Why would anyone live here?
He glanced over his shoulder at the door before tapping his phone screen and putting in a direct call to Giovanni.
“You’re alive,” a bored sounding man said into the phone.
“Yeah.” Isaac grimaced. He was doing a lot of that lately. “Any idea why Dion started fucking shooting at us?”
“I was told the two of you ran and you had a team waiting for you. Is that not true?”
“Fuck no. We arrived and Dion was there, which might not have been a big deal if there wasn’t a second car. Who else do you have following us? What the fuck is going on?”
“I have no idea who else is there. I only sent you and Dion. Dion picked his own partner.”
“That’s it?” Isaac turned and paced the room.
“That’s it. Has she said anything? Do you know yet if it’s her?”
He glanced at the door. “Nothing more than she has. I don’t know if the leak is her or not.”
“It might be time to take them both out. Be done with this,” Giovanni muttered.
“Say the word.”
“Where are you? What are your plans?”
Isaac quickly filled the boss in on their location and the flimsy plans they’d made thus far. It wasn’t until after Isaac hung up that he considered his own chances at surviving this.
Some days it sucked being on the boss’ shit list.
3.
Wednesday. Aegis Group Safe House, Seattle, Washington.
Jo was both completely wired and exhausted all at once. She needed rest, and yet how long had it been since she’d spent time with someone who knew her? The real her?
“Here. Decaf.” Elias handed her a steaming latte courtesy of the ultra-fancy machine in the kitchen. It had more buttons than she knew what to do with, but Elias had seemed confident with the thing.
“Have I told you that you’re my guardian angel yet?” She cradled the drink in both hands, letting the warmth seep into her palms.
Elias shook his head. “Nah, I’m no angel.”
She sipped the too-hot coffee.
They’d have to agree to disagree.
Elias peered at her, no doubt wondering what the hell she was doing. He wasn’t asking, and there was a good chance he wouldn’t. Part of her wanted him to demand answers, force his way into this mess and save her.
Too bad that wasn’t his style. And really, she didn’t want to be saved. She wanted people she could count on to have her back, and her handler was not that person.
One of the lessons Jo had the hardest time learning during her military career was to rely on others. Growing up, that hadn’t been smart. She’d been burned and hurt enough that she’d stopped investing in people. But the guys hadn’t let her do that. They’d been there for her, and though she hadn’t always appreciated their intervention or help, their actions had shown that there were good apples out there. It was nice to be part of a team.
They stood there like that, her blowing on the coffee with Elias watching her, saying nothing.
Would he ask? Or would they remain committed to this silence?
She couldn’t offer up her secrets. She wasn’t supposed to tell anyone.
But Elias...
He blew out a breath and shoved his hand back through his hair.
“What are we doing, Jo?” he asked.
“Having an after dinner coffee?” She smiled, but it felt weak.
Elias stared at her, his brow furrowing. Was he resisting the urge to strangle her? Drag answers out of her? Push her up against the wall and kiss her?
Jo quickly sipped her coffee.
She had to stop thinking about Elias like that. It wasn’t happening. If he were the slightest bit interested, wouldn’t he have done something by now? Years before?
He was familiar. She was stressed. It made logical sense her old crush would flare up with him here, doing all of this for her. She was the one who needed to grow the hell up and act like a woman and not a lovesick girl.
Elias took a step toward her, invading her personal space. He bent, bringing his face mere inches from hers.
“I need to know you’re going to be okay,” he said in a hard as steel voice.
Jo swallowed, too caught up in staring into his eyes to form words.
His gaze narrowed. “Jo?”
“You’re here. Of course I’m going to be okay.”
He shook his head. Was that his jaw muscles twitching?
His frustration was palpable, and she didn’t know what to do. Could she fix this? Or was this how it would be?
“Come on, don’t worry. You know me.” She pasted on her best smile.
His brows drew down into a line.
Was she fooling him even a little?
He sighed. “I know you, and that’s why I’m worried.”
“I’m touched you care so much.” That wasn’t a lie.
“Of course I care. I don’t know what you’re doing with that guy, but it’s obviously got you in some hot water. You’re an over-extender by nature, extremely self-reliant. Will you call for back-up in time? Or is it going to be like tonight again?”
Jo recoiled a little.
He knew her so damn well.
He wanted truth?
She stared him in the eyes and said, “There is no back-up.”
“Wait. What?” Now it was his turn to recoil. He stood with his back against the double ovens, eyes wide in horror.
“It’s not a big deal.” Liar, liar. “It’s a quick job, then I’m out of this. Maybe I can talk you into another coffee when it’s done? This one’s pretty good.”
“Be serious, Jo. Please?”
She bit her lip.
Rebuffed even at pseudo-flirting. Awesome.
“I should probably go to bed,” she said. Especially if Elias wasn’t going to drop it.
“Jo...”
She drained the last of her latte, then set the cup on the counter.
Elias placed his hand on her arm. He didn’t grab or hold her. Yet that firm touch was better than an anchor keeping her there. “Marjorie, stop.”