Page 21 of Flint's Battle

Carter shook his head, running his hand through his hair. “All you had to do was drive her home. Chat her up along the way then ask her out for coffee. Get in some brownie points by staying in a chair beside her bed so you could wake her every few hours.”

“But instead…” Bowie leaned forward and tapped Flint on the chest. “You end up in a shootout at some abandoned factory followed by a damn high speed car chase. Where you apparently got hit! What the actual hell happened last night?”

Flint sighed. While he’d expected his buddies to grill him about why he’d arrived in Emery’s Jeep with her, two surfboards in the back, and with what Flint knew had to be some goofy love-sick grin on his face, he hadn’t counted on them already being privy to his impromptu mission. Not when he’d been instructed to keep it on the down low.

He looked over at Emery. Dahlia, Mia and Moana had circled the Jeep the moment they’d parked and whisked her away before he could do more than nod at them. Even now, they were all standing in a similar circle, surfboards lined up behind them like watch dogs, the occasional glance his way. Which meant there was little chance they’d keep their new status a secret.

Good. He didn’t want to keep it a secret — pretend they were still cruising the friend zone. In fact, not striding over to the water and shouting it to the waves was a freaking exercise in self-control.

So was not kissing her. A feat he was barely maintaining because he wanted to do that, too. Walk over, take her in his arms and claim her lips until her taste was burned into his senses.

Fingers snapped in front of his face, jerking him back from his thoughts. He tried to play it off as him scoping the area — checking for threats — but he knew none of his buddies were buying it even if there was an ounce of truth in it. That ever since leaving Emery’s place, he’d felt as if something was off.

Bowie crossed his arms over his chest, glancing at Emery then back to Flint. “You back with us or do you have to go check on Emery, first?”

“I’m right here, jackass. I’m just still wired from last night, so cut me some slack. Those bastards meant business. And for what it’s worth, it’s not like we went looking for trouble. She got a call while I was driving her home that turned into one hell of a show down. One she was prepared to tackle on her own but thankfully, accepted my help.”

He speared his fingers through his hair, some of the agitation from last night returning. He had a bad feeling it wasn’t over and not because she’d be investigating the incident. More like one of those eerie premonitions he’d gotten in battle. When he knewan ambush was waiting for them, or that their cover had been blown.

Not psychic worthy. But he couldn’t deny the scratching between his shoulder blades. Or the restless roll in the pit of his stomach. Something wicked was definitely coming their way.

He nodded at them. “How the hell do you even know about it? I was going to talk to you later… In confidence.”

Quinn snorted as he motioned to Bowie and Carter. “Because Castle called.” He leaned forward a bit. “At two this morning. Got us all on a damn video chat to fill us in. You know, in case he and some hardass police captain named Milligan have to create a joint training assignment to make your littleJohn Wickappearance in a police matter all above board.”

Flint groaned. “I didn’t realize he’d involve the entire team.”

“Of course, he’s involving all of us. That’s how we work. And I’d be pretty damn insulted if he didn’t.”

“And when you’re forced to lie and say we’re helping out the boys in blue? That you’ve been training Emery, too?”

Quinn stared right at him. “Then, I say it with a smile on my face.”

Carter gave Flint a shove. “How long have we been teammates?”

Flint snorted. “Too long.”

“Exactly. And we’d all be giving you one hell of a beat down if you’d stood there and allowed Emery to face that threat alone because of some bureaucratic bullshit. What good is this training if we let down the people we care about?”

“You know we would have done the same thing.” Bowie shrugged. “Have, already. And you never once flinched at us operating outside the lines a bit in order to help Mia and Moana. Jumped right in, in fact. So, stop thinking we’re not a hundred percent invested on what’s going on and tell us what’s got youspooked. Because this is more than you still being wired from a firefight.”

Flint rolled his shoulders, scanning the area before checking on Emery, again. She was shimmying into a wetsuit, her hips swaying back and forth as she kept chatting to one of the other girls. The fact his damn heart kicked up just watching the way she moved was testament he’d fallen so far off the edge, there wasn’t any coming back.

He sighed, pausing to search the distant hills when that prickling feeling wove down his spine, again, before looking each of his buddies in the eyes. “It’s this weapons smuggling case. I realize we don’t work the streets and don’t have a thorough understanding of what’s out there. Not like the cops, who walk the beat every day. But these guys…”

He shook his head, trying not to snarl. “Their gear, their firepower. The sheer extent of their resources… It’s not some local gang banger branching out. Not even a semi-organized group. This was a highly executed drop, and they came prepared for every contingency.”

“Except a SEAL tagging along.” Bowie inched closer. “What are you thinking? Cartel?”

“I’m thinking this is bigger and far more dangerous than anyone’s expecting. And it’s only the beginning.”

Carter nodded. “You think Emery’s in trouble? Beyond what she’d normally face?”

Flint shuffled on his feet, doing his best to remember she was also highly trained. Had more than held her own, last night. “I think these are the kind of people who have no qualms about killing cops and who might take it personally and slaughter anyone who gets in their way.”

“What do you need?”

“Unsure. But maybe have Kian keep a sedative on stand-by for the next time Emery decides to go up against half a dozen armed men, and I’m not there to have her six.”

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