Page 73 of Silent Comrade
“Lequire’s men tried to kill heryesterday.”
Britt took a step back, only to find Red’ssolid frame behind her. He cupped hands over her shoulders. Shedidn’t know this man. She stepped forward and his hands droppedaway. “And?”
“She escaped with Pele. They’re on therun.”
“Oh.” And what? There was nothing Brittcould do. Couldn’t go help. Couldn’t call police. What would Brittsay? A mystery group of people was helping her sister escape theguy who might have killed her brother because her brother haddiscovered the guy was scamming millions of donors and stealingfunds for veterans. Britt didn’t have proof, and now her sister wasin danger, so please send help to this large area of forest. Thepolice would so not believe her.
Rodeo rubbed a thumb on his chin, like hewanted to say more but didn’t. He returned to running the yo-yo upand down the string.
Red’s voice broke through her spinningthoughts. “The guys will take care of her. Pele’s the best. She’llbe okay.”
If the reality of their situation hadn’tcompletely sunk in after last night, it did now. “Can you let meknow when something, um, happens?”
Rodeo shot her a tight smile. “Will do,ma’am.”
“Are Kiera and Dad okay?”
“Of course,” Rodeo said.
Silence. A few vehicles moved up and downthe street in front of the building. Light traffic on a Saturdaymorning. Some birds chirped in the trees outside the back of theapartment. Normal sounds. Nothing threatening about them.
“So, what now?” she asked.
Red stepped in front of her, filling herfield of vision but not touching her. “You need to vanish.”
Her head was shaking before the answer madeit out of her mouth.
“That’s what this team does best.Disappear.” He rubbed his neck. “It’s the safest thing to do.”
Crossing her arms, she paced. Then shestopped, spun on her heel, and faced both guys.
Rodeo’s eyes widened and he muttered “Oh,shit.”
“We’ve beenover this. My opinion doesn’t change just because you…we…” She huffed. “It doesn’t change.”
“But—” Red interjected. When Red opened hismouth, she stepped right up to him. Out of the corner of her eye,she caught Rodeo looking anywhere but at Britt and Red.
She took a deep breath. “I hope youunderstand.” She stared at Red. “This degree is something I’veworked my ass off to accomplish. My mom’s dying wish was for me tocomplete the degree. Nothing, not a jerk face businessman who’s tooscared to take care of his own dirty business and picks on innocentpeople, will stop me.”
“Can we hire her?” Rodeo piped up.
Red’s head whipped back. “No, we cannot.” Heturned back to her. “Don’t fight me on this one, Britt. We can’tkeep you safe if you’re out there. My team cannot control all thevariables.”
“I get it. That’s called life. There are noguarantees. These are weighted decisions.”
Red’s brows slammed down. “You don’tunderstand. This is different. You have to trust me.”
She sputtered, “Trust a guy who lied abouteverything? Are you for real?” Everything felt off-balance. Logicfled. Her anxiety took over. Her heart pattered and palms sweated.“It’s still my life. How about this for a serving of reality? Iwill accept the consequence of my actions. I understand the risk.There’s no liability for you. No one will blame you if things don’twork out perfectly. That way, you can still fulfill the duties ofyourjob.” She spat that last word.
“You’re not a—” he sputtered to stop at herfinger pointing at him.
“If you value your life, don’t complete thatsentence.”
Rodeo studied the rug like he was crammingfor a textiles final.
Which left Red, gape-jawed and turning,well, red. “This is about your safety. I can protect you, withinreason.”
Standing between these two tall, massive mendrove home the point. She motioned toward herself. “I get it. Butjust because I don’t have big, bulging muscles or fancy gunsdoesn’t mean I’m a wimp.”
