Page 16 of Iron Willed Warrior

She was talking around something, refusing to be pinned down. I knew those tricks. I’d seen them every time I’d dealt with a Fed. “See, I don’t like how vague you’re being. I don’t believe in happy partnerships where everyone’s equal and gets along great. Ultimately, someone’s going to have to come out on top. This is either an FBI op, or a Protectors one. So I’ll repeat my question. Do you report to anyone inside the FBI?Yes or no.”

My blood was up. From the flush in her cheeks, so was hers. We were less than a foot apart. I caught the sweet scent of her, and it warmed my chest. Making me want to lean in even more.

Brynn tilted her head and gave me a hard stare. The look of a pissed-off soldier who’d been backed into a corner. Sorry, make that Marine. Jarheads hated being called soldiers.Would she keep fighting me, or would she finally answer the damn question?

Then, she exhaled.

“No,” she said. “I do not.”

“So this is a Protectors op? We’ll be working for and answering to them?Onlythem?”

“Yes. But as far as this op is concerned, I am the commanding officer.”

“I’m not ready to agree to that.” Was I just imagining it, or had we edged even closer? Still staring each other down.

“I’ve spent months learning everything I can about Stillwater,” she said. “Between the two of us, I should take the lead. I have no doubt River and Trace would agree.”

River coughed. I’d forgotten he was even in the room. I forced myself to take a step back to clear my head. Getting angry was not going to help.

“We can work out the details later,” River said. “Just say you’re in, Lynx. We need you for this.”

Brynn glared at me a few seconds longer with those dark brown eyes.

“I want to be in. I’m considering it. But I can’t go into a mission with someone, especially undercover, unless I know for sure she’ll have my back.” I thought I’d said that in a calm, rational tone. But Brynn scoffed and threw her hands up.

“I’ve been standing here trying to explain everything, trying to be the reasonable one, but you barely listened after you heardFBI. I won’t let this mission be jeopardized by somebody with an axe to grind.”

“I’m supposed to pretend the Bureau won’t knife me first if this goes south? You were an agent until, what, five minutes ago? Why should I expect more loyalty from you?”

“You know what?” Brynn said. “I could do this withoutyou. I’ll go undercover by myself. The Protectors can provide support and emergency backup.”

I barked a laugh. “That would be incredibly foolish.”

“Better than dealing withyou.”

“Guess what, honey, I’m not feeling too keen on you either.”

Her nostrils flared. I inhaled at the same time. I could smell her fury layered over that sweeter scent, and I could definitely see it. Her pupils were dilated, tiny beads of sweat appearing at her temples.

“If you call me honey one more time,” she murmured, “you’re going to find yourself missing the other leg.”

Brynn turned and walked out of the room, heading for some other part of the house. A door slammed.

River sighed and closed his eyes. “Even I’m not dumb enough to call a Marinehoney.”

Perhaps that hadn’t been the best call. I had a problem filtering my words when my temper flared.

Fuck. NowIwas the asshole.

CHAPTER SIX

Brynn

A few hours later,I strolled through the Silver Ridge historic business district. Locals and tourists streamed in and out of the shops and restaurants. Ready for a fun-filled, low-key night.

Too bad I was still very much keyed up.

Silver Ridge had just opened a small ski resort with a couple of lifts on a nearby mountain. Nowhere near as big as the famous destinations like Aspen and Breck, but this was still a happening place. I could see why the Protectors had chosen this town for Cole and me to launch our mission. Easy to blend in as just another vacationer, here for the spring skiing and the mountain scenery.

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