Page 26 of Iron Willed Warrior

“Wouldn’t it be faster just to make Westwick disappear?” I asked lightly. “I don’t like the thought of having him right there in our grasp, and then walking away.” I wanted this guy to suffer for what he’d done. And I wanted to see it.

She gave me a hard glare. “And allow someone else to take his place? No way. That is not an option. When we’re done, we leave Westwick alone and let the authorities handle him.”

I grabbed my soda and pulled it closer. Sipped the icy,sugary drink. “Tell me more about our cover. Who are we posing as?”

“I’m a social media influencer. You’re my manager.”

“Social media types have managers?”

“How old are you again?”

“Old enough not to give a shit about influencers and their managers.”

Brynn snorted. “Well, you’d better figure it out. This is the cover we’ve got.”

I wasn’t impressed. “And how, exactly, are we going to upload River’s virus onto Westwick’s devices? I assume he’ll have security.”

“I’ll get close. Sweet-talk him. Get him to let down his guard.”

“You’re a honeypot.” Fuck. How had I not seen that coming? “And you actually considered going into this alone?” That was a rhetorical question, so I didn’t need an answer. Shewasn’tgoing into it alone. That was for damn sure. So instead, I asked, “Exactly how close are you planning to get?”

“Whatever it takes.”

“If you’re cozying up to that asswipe and he harms you, you can’t expect me to stand aside.”

“I need a partner for this op. Not a bodyguard.”

I sat back, folding my arms. “What about a boyfriend?”

She barked a laugh. “I’m sorry,what? You want to be my boyfriend, Bailey?”

My eyes lifted skyward. “I’m saying my cover should be that I’m your boyfriend. Then I’ll have all the reason I need to stick close to you. When you’re alone with Westwick, if anything goes sideways, I’ll barge in playing the jealous boyfriend. Perfect diversion.”

“I don’t think so. You’ll be there for support, not to take over if you think I’m the slightest bit in danger. It has to be my call.”

“And there you go, talking like you’re commanding this mission. I haven’t agreed to any such thing.”

“We’re back to that again?” Pink spots appeared on her cheeks. Brynn was sensitive about being told she couldn’t do something, and I understood that about her now. She didn’t want me looking down on her as weaker, bossing her around. But I wasn’t a fan of taking orders either these days.

“Trace is the leader of the Protectors,” she said through gritted teeth. “He can decide which of us is commanding the op.”

“No, this is between you and me. I only see one way of resolving it.”

“And that is?”

“I’ll arm wrestle you for it.”

She stared at me, mouth dropping open. Then barked a laugh. “I thought you were serious.”

“I am.”

“Right.” She grabbed her drink and pursed her lips around the straw. “Either you’re funnier than I gave you credit for, Bailey, or you’re drunk.”

I’d sobered up, but if this went sideways and anyone asked, I planned to blame the whiskey. “We need some way to work this out. It needs to be fast.”

“But since when does the commanding officer have to be the strongest? I’d prefer the smartest. The wiliest.”

“I agree. You didn’t flip that football player earlier by being stronger than him in terms of brute force. I’d say you were wilier.”

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