Page 33 of Unexpected Heroine

“Possibly. I’ll ask her. What else?”

“As suspected, the trafficking ring is one of Lenkov’s. The other tango we have in custody and his girlfriend confirmed that for us today. They’re willing to come forward if they get protection. They’ve asked about WITSEC, but that’s not our call. More than likely, we’ll eventually turn them over to CPD or the feds, but Mia thinks there’s a mole there, so that’s a fucking nightmare. We’re waiting on that for now, buying Mia time to find the mole so we don’t send them off to be executed.”

None of that is much of a surprise, but I suspect there’s more, so I wait impatiently. When I glance over my shoulder at Lettie, she’s chewing her nails, which isn’t something she normally does. “All right. Is that it?”

“Look, I’ll make this quick so you can get back inside.” He claps his hands, preparing to launch into a rapid-fire update. “I’m sure you’re already aware of Mia’s enhancements to the comm app?”

“The hourly check-ins? Yeah, I saw the notice come through.”

She modified our standard Redleg communications app to signal an alert on the hour, which requires our personal ID code to dismiss it, thus signaling to HQ that we’re all right. If anyone fails to answer, we can sound the alarm.

My only objection is how my full legal name appears on the alert notification window. If Lettie catches a glance of it, I’m fucked.

“Considering how dangerous Lenkov’s organization is, I’m increasing the threat level for anyone involved in the op, and that includes you. So you know the drill. No unnecessary trips out and all that.”

“I get it.”

He checks his watch. “Within thirty minutes, your backup protection will arrive.”

My initial reaction is to reject the offer, but he’s not exactly offering. And besides, it’ll be safer for Lettie to have extra protection.

“No one inside the house, especially if you send a male. She’s jumpy.”

“Perimeter support only. Ten-four,” Boss responds, then looks at Leo. “Can you check the lineup and handle?”

He pulls out his phone. “Wilco.”

I start retreating toward the house. “Send me an email with anything else.”

Without taking his eyes off me, Boss calls out, “Lionheart, why don’t you start the car?”

Fuck me running. Here we go with the brain probe thing.

Leo immediately takes the hint and backs away. “Got it, Boss.” Before he ducks into the SUV, he yells, “Tomer, we’re here for you both, man. Don’t hesitate to ask for anything you need.”

As kind as his words are, my pulse skyrockets with alarm. I hope to fuck Lettie didn’t hear him call me that.

I’ll have to wait until I get inside to know since I’m too chicken shit to spare a glance in her direction.

Big Al sidles up closer, clamping his hand onto my shoulder and capturing my focus.

In a last-ditch attempt to prevent his brain probe, I speak first. “Thanks for stopping by, Boss.”

When I try to pull away, his grip on my shoulder intensifies to just shy of pain. He narrows his eyes to thin slits. “I know you need to get back in there to her, but I need to know you’re okay. Worried about you. Talk to me, T.”

“I thought that’s what we were doing,” I hedge.

He clicks his tongue. “Don’t bullshit me. Are you okay? You don’t seem it.”

“Not sure what you want me to say right now, Boss.”

“Don’t do that,” he chides.

“Do what?”

“Shut me out.” He bunches his lips in a frustrated wad. “Like you did last night.”

I jut my chin. “Is that what this is about? Don’t fucking lecture me about procedures.” Fiery rage spreads up my throat and lands on my tongue. In a rapidly increasing volume, I spit out, “You’d have done the same thing if it was Madeline at a fucking trafficking house getting beaten and fucking violated over and over a-fucking-gain.”

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