Page 79 of Silent Comrade
“In a week?”
“Yes.”
The pieces of this awful plan started tocome together for Red in a damned hurry.No. He opened hismouth but no words came out.
“Yes?” Britt’s brows shot up.
Tachi made a slow-motion clap. “Yes.”
No. Red’s mind spun. Hecouldn’t—
“But by Friday?” Britt asked.
“The boys can help with other tasks.” Tachitossed her hair back over a shoulder and shrugged. “Not like theyhave any other plans.”
“Um, hello? Yoo-hoo. Over here.” Rodeoraised his hand. “May I have permission to ask a question of thedelicate genius, please and thank you, ma’am, baby?”
Tachi’s snort was the only indication sheheard him. She smoothed her hand over her curvy hip and continuedto face Britt. “I’ll clear my schedule starting now.”
“Tachi, you can’t. Your job.”
“Looks like a family emergency to me,darling.”
Red grabbed the edge of the metal sewingtable. Good God, this out-of-control train to Destination Unknownhad just jumped the tracks and showed zero signs of slowing down.What about Beau Lequire? What about maintaining safety, security,solutions? The mission.
Red pivoted in Rodeo’s direction, extendinghis hands, palms up. Rodeo shook his head and mouthed,What thefuck? He motioned for Red to go ahead and say something. Aftera second, Red cleared his throat. “If we’re discussing anyschedules, the team needs to be involved for operational planningpurposes.”
Britt scrambled to her feet before Red couldreach down and help her. “Tachi, what about your shoot? Work? Youcan’t just—”
She paused and popped a hip to the side,hand pressed on the curve. “Well, of course I’ll take time for theshoot, but the rest of the week I’m yours!”
They carried on as if Red had never spoken.If he didn’t have the antidote onboard, his virally driven angerwould be popping by now. He opened his mouth again.
Tachi held up her hand while dialing herphone, walked ten steps away, said three or four sentences, hungup, then repeated the process again. She sauntered back, shovingthe phone in her back pocket.
Red scratched his head. Damned beanie.Damned situation. ”Stop. What the hell is going on?”
“We have a solution.” Tachi sashayed up andclapped Rodeo on the shoulder, making him startle. The cords in hisforearms bunched as he fisted his hands. Red knew the tell: Rodeowas furiously suppressing the virally driven violent response tounexpected stimulus that triggered the fight-or-flight response. Hewas hanging on. For now.
Details mattered on this mission. However,Red craved Britt’s watery-eyed, half-smile of sheer hope as shenodded.
“You still have those other sketches?” Tachiasked her, stepping away from Rodeo.
Britt toyed with the hoops in her ear as shewalked in front of the sewing table, back and forth. “Rough ones.Never fully developed. Back at the apartment.” She trailed herfinger on the surface, then stopped. “This is insane. Six days. Sixmodels. Who else can we…?”
Tachi walked up to Rodeo. They were only afew inches apart in height. His nostrils flared as his wide eyesremained riveted on her face. How close to the edge was he running?Red almost intervened. Like all the virally enhanced team members,Rodeo tended to overreact to direct confrontation or invasion ofpersonal space.
Tachi turned to Rodeo and Red. “Do you haveany other buddies who are built like you? Who would pair well withmodels like me?” She motioned at her statuesque frame.
Rodeo puffed out his chest. “For perfectionlike you, babe, there is no one else quite like me. No need to lookany further. I’ll pair with you right now.”
“Okay, funny guy. Listen, just because I’msmoking hot and give you the time of day doesn’t mean I’m into you.Get your brain out of your pants and focus.”
Rodeo’s brows furrowed. “I don’t follow.”His voice came out almost pitiful-sounding.
“Me neither.” Red shrugged.
Britt’s blue eyes danced. “Yes! There aremore. Red said they could free up more teammates to help.”
