Page 106 of Breaking the Rules
Waverly grinned at him from where she leaned against the counter.
“Wow, you even smell good,” Kate murmured against his chest.
“Okay,” Waverly said, stepping in. “Stop mauling Xavier.” Waverly tugged Kate out of his arms but not before hugging her herself. “Everything’s going to work. I promise.”
Kate nodded. “I just wish that I could do more to help.”
“Kate,” Xavier said smoothly. “You’re an integral part of what’s happening today. And timing is essential. So don’t fuck it up.”
It got a snort out of her, and Waverly smacked him on the shoulder.
“I know, and I’ll make sure everything is perfect. I just… worry.”
“Don’t worry. Be ready, be good. And we’ll all be celebrating with a big dinner tonight,” he promised.
“Okay,” Kate nodded.
“It’s going to work,” Waverly reassured her. “Now how about some of those well-done eggs?”
They congregated in the kitchen, everyone too nervous to sleep. Xavier surveyed his small army. Micah, his right hand, the man who always had his back even knowing it could cost him the company they’d both worked so hard for. Kate, the steadfast and loyal friend who wanted to help in any way possible. Petra, the heiress with the big eyes and a sweet heart. Her father, Grigory, a man who had done the right thing and was now facing the danger of paying the price for saying no to those without souls. Anatoli, the loyal guard charged with protecting Grigory’s prize. He’d extended that protection, that loyalty, to include the rest of them.
Then there was Chelsea, his sister still in her pajamas looking as if she hadn’t slept, her fingers furiously working the keyboard of her laptop. Chelsea was the only one who wouldn’t be directly involved in the operation today. But her job was as important if not more so than Xavier’s. She was hunting. Brad’s partner was out there, and even if Brad was behind bars by the end of the day, his partner still posed a threat.
Dante ambled in, already dressed and looking as if he hadn’t a care in the world. But Xavier could see a sharpness, an edge in the man’s eyes. His devil may care attitude aside, Dante knew what was at stake today. And, as with Kate, his timing had to be perfect.
Malachi Travers wasn’t in the room, crowded around the breakfast table and island with the rest of them. But Xavier still counted him as a member of the team. With the FBI looking hard at Waverly, having Malachi on the inside would prove valuable… as long as they could count on him. Xavier still wasn’t sure if they had his loyalty if it came down to choosing between saving Waverly or saving his job.
They had one shot at turning this around today. One chance at making the feds change their minds about the target of their investigation.
And that rode squarely on Waverly’s shoulders. He watched her as she sipped her coffee and bantered with Micah and Petra over something that had them all laughing. She was smart and capable, handled a weapon like a pro, and thought on her feet better than nearly anyone he knew. Yet she was the team member he was worried about the most.
She could handle herself, Xavier told himself. If they stuck with the plan, if everyone did their job, she would be fine. But if things fell apart, there was no telling what the outcome would be or if they would all come home alive tonight.
And it was eating at him. He trusted her. Knew she would do whatever it took to make the mission a success. It was the sign of a good operative. But it was also what terrified him to his bones. If something happened and the plan went to hell, Waverly would be facing Brad alone. And Xavier would have failed her again.
The thought of that possibility was killing him.
His phone signaled an incoming call, and he answered it tersely.
“Saint.”
“Good morning to you, too,” his mother chirped in his ear.
“What’s wrong?” Xavier demanded.
“Nothing’s wrong! Can’t a mother call her son?”
“Mom, it’s six in the morning,” he said, cursing himself for not checking his caller id. Chelsea looked up from the table and mimed laughing at him. Xavier threw a napkin at her.
“You’ve been avoiding all my normal hours calls,” Carol Saint reminded him.
It was true. He’d been avoiding his mother. He knew she’d be curious about Waverly and what their time together meant. And he hadn’t been prepared to answer questions. He’d resorted to calling his parents when he knew they were at their monthly book club and leaving a voicemail so they wouldn’t realize he was avoiding them.
It obviously hadn’t worked.
Xavier sighed. “I’ve been busy,” he said, pushing away from the breakfast table. Chelsea, in her infinite maturity, hissed “neener neener neener,” at him as he headed into the great room.
“I gathered that from the news and the Max Heim show,” she said dryly.
