Page 37 of Code Name: Tank
“I’ll stand,” he said, arms folded in front of him with a steely gaze leveled on Flint. “Let’s hear it.”
Pierce sighed and pulled up several encrypted documents on his laptop. “These are partial files from an op that took place in Prague three years ago. It revealed more about this network than we realized at the time.”
I froze, hoping I’d effectively steeled my reaction. When he’d said this before, the first time we talked on the phone, I thought he was bluffing. Just trying to get a response out of me.
Alice raised her head, and her eyes met mine before she entered a string of code on her laptop, then rested against her chair. Seconds later, everything that was on Flint’s screen appeared on an electronic evidence board that lowered from the ceiling. “This way, we can all see it,” she said, scowling at Flint.
I watched as his mouth opened, then shut.
If Alice hadn’t stunned him speechless, I was certain Flint would’ve pointed out that the files showed intelligence on multiple American defense companies and their vulnerabilities.
“Targeting specific weaknesses,” I said more to myself than anyone in the room.
“These thefts aren’t random—they know which companies to target.”
“What else have you got?” Alice asked.
“According to Agent Abrams’ briefs, the thefts were timed to affect contract funding?—”
“As we’re already aware,” Alice folded her arms like her husband had.
When the room went silent for several seconds, I took the opportunity to study the information on the board. As my mind worked through what I was seeing, it felt off.
“Where did you source this intel?” I asked.
“From people who know that going through normal channels takes too long when we’re facing this level of threat.”
The non-answer raised red flags, but before I could press for details, Admiral cleared his throat. “We’ll need time to analyze this intelligence properly. Let’s cross-reference these patterns with our contractor-personnel data and readdress in tomorrow morning’s briefing to discuss the next steps.”
Alice stood and stretched while I stifled a yawn. “Sorry,” I said to the group. “I’m going to need a short break before jumping back into this.”
“Piper always did her best work under pressure,” Flint said, his tone carrying the familiar warmth that made my skin crawl. “I could always tell when she was getting tired by the way she’d?—”
“That’s enough,” I cut him off.
Tank closed his laptop and stood. “I have some things to take care of.” His tone had an edge to it that dropped the room’s temperature by ten degrees.
When he walked out, I grabbed my stuff and followed without saying anything to Flint. I had to hurry to catch up with his long strides as he headed toward the command center’s exit.
“Tank, wait.”
When he still didn’t respond, annoyance flared through me. I was tired of men making assumptions about what I needed, tiredof being managed and protected and dismissed without anyone asking my opinion.
“Fine,” I muttered, turning to walk away.
Instantly, he was right behind me. His hand caught my arm, spinning me around before I could take another step. In one fluid motion, he had me backed against the trunk of a massive tree, his hands braced on either side of my head. Then his mouth was on mine, hot and demanding and everything I’d been imagining for months. His kiss was raw and honest and overwhelming.
I melted against him, my hands fisting his shirt as his tongue battled with mine. This was what I’d been fighting, what I’d been afraid of—the way Tank made me forget every rational reason why getting involved was a mistake.
When we broke apart, both of us breathing hard, his green eyes held mine with an intensity that made my knees weak.
“I can’t watch him treat you like he owns you. I won’t act like it doesn’t bother me.”
The honesty in his voice, the way he’d finally dropped all pretense, made my heart race.
“Tank—”
“Whatever happened between you two, whatever he did—I’m not him.”
