Page 206 of Wild Card

“Not going home. My parents are with the kids.”

“Calling in a lot of favors lately.”

“Give it a few hours and you’ll know why.”

“Thought you said we could trust Cruz and Alex on this one.”

“We can. It’s my sister and her bunch of hoodlum friends that drag my wife into trouble. Add in Aunt Chloe and we’re fucked.”

“Guess I’m hitting a drag show tonight?”

“Whitman there?”

“Yeah, but Hollywood threatened to cut him off ‘til the wedding if he showed his face.”

Robbie smirks, knowing these women’s threats usually don’t hold out too long.

“We carpooling to the show? I get off in thirty.”

“Actually, we need to talk. You got a clean room?”

Every nerve in my body strings tight, and I’m on my feet heading toward the back conference room.

Our engagement with Hayes Security wasn’t public knowledge, but most within the department figured it out. The city’s recent seizures of illegal weapons and drugs made national news. It wasn’t a coincidence we were out on a special assignment when it all went down.

Which is why I’m not surprised about the curious eyes that follow our departure.

Robbie cuts straight to the chase when I close the door.

“My contacts tell me Max is in place. His assignment in San Diego had him reconning on chatter from the Middle East. Players involved hiding across the globe. No one confirmed, but I suspect he’s at an embassy just south of the border.”

“Fuck.” Memories of our mission in Columbia replay in my brain.

“I’m not worried about him. He handpicked his team for this.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

“Two of the men have gone no-contact.”

“Jesus. Any chance they went AWOL?”

“Always a chance, but Max wouldn’t put his ass on the line for flakes. He vetted these guys with the finest acuity. My gut says we have a hostage situation.”

“How many on the team?”

“Six.”

Six is a solid number, but with two NOCON, that means they have four left to cover the mission and a possible rescue mission. Not ideal.

“You need us?”

“Not yet. This information is still highly confidential. Pendleton has a team prepping now. Dad, Finn, and I thought it best to lay low until we know more.”

“Why bring this to me tonight?”

“Because if we need to get involved, I want you four on my team again.”

“Ford’s getting married in two weeks. A wedding that Max is in.”

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