I’m on the final mission, a diplomat to a foreign country who was killed along with his security team. I swallow hard. “This one.”
Rick glances at the printed document in my hand and then at me. “Why this one?”
My mind flashes back in time, and then the entire table is staring at me. “I was with Gabriel. The news was on, featuring this story. It pulled his attention from the cigar he’d been lighting at the time and while his expression didn’t change, there was this look in his eyes. I can’t explain it anyway but victorious. So much so that I was going to ask him about it, but his cellphone rang. The call was fast. He didn’t even say hello. Someone said something to him and he disconnected. For some reason, when he hung up, my gut warned me to let it go. Which of course, we all know the reason now. It was self-preservation.
“He ordered the hits,” Rick says. “His name fits the initials on our instructions. This isn’t news.”
“But it’s more substantial than initials on a paper. It’s a mission I know he can be connected to.” I swallow hard. “But there’s more.”
Rick arches a brow, urging me for that “more” without words.
“The next morning, I went to my father’s house, and we were making pancakes. We were standing there at his island laughing when that same news story came on. He paused, listened and then said, “Not many people I wish dead, but that man, good riddance.”
“He wasn’t wrong,” Rick says. “He slaughtered thousands of his own people to silence them. I’m not sure that comment means anything.”
“Except they both reacted to the same story,” I argue. “We know they were both part of this black ops operation. It seems like they both had a reaction that said they were invested. If we can’t prove Gabriel’s involvement, maybe my father can help. He was involved. Maybe he actually has proof he can offer.”
“We know your father didn’t know Gabriel was the head of the black ops operation,” Rick reminds me. “We have enough data to lead us to believe he found out, he wanted you out, and that put him on Gabriel’s hitlist.”
“This list of missions isn’t going to help. My father can help. We just need him back here now.”
“We need a backup plan,” Rick says.
“What am I?” Asher asks. “Chicken feed? Don’t count me out.”
I focus on Rick, on the backup plan. “Because my father might not make it out alive.” The reality of this guts me like literally the idea is a knife cutting me open right here and now.
“Candy, baby—”
“I know he might not make it back,” I say. “I just needed to say it out loud. I need to force myself to be ready for anything. That’s what you don’t get. I deal with things better upfront and with brutal honesty. But damn it, Rick, if I can handle this, you have to handle your reality, too.”
His eyes narrow on me. “Meaning what?”
“We aren’t going to take down Gabriel by the party on Saturday. It won’t happen. And I’m the cover you need to take out Tag and save my father.” I lean in closer. “I’m going to the party. I’m going to be on Gabriel’s arm. And you can survive that with the promise that you get revenge.” I stand up. “And now, I’m going to our room, where we can fight properly and you can save face when you lose said fight.” I glance around the room. “Goodnight, everyone.”
And with that, I walk out of the room.
CHAPTER FIVE
Savage
Possessiveness rises hard and fast inside me, and mixes with protectiveness and yes, fear. I fear losing Candace and not because she’s angry. Because my enemies want to rip her right from my damn arms. I’m on my feet before she ever exits the dining area. I don’t tell the Walker team to leave. They get it. Candace and I need to be alone.
They stand and start gathering their things.
I’m out of the dining room and on her heels the moment she enters the bedroom. I’m there, right there, behind her, kicking the door shut, and catching her arm, pulling her around to face me. “I don’t want you near Gabriel. I damn sure won’t let him touch you again.”
“And I didn’t want you to leave me but you did what you thought you had to do to protect me. And I’m doing what I need to do to protect you and my father.”
The words bite with plenty of fangs. “Is that how it is? You’re going to throw the past in my face?”
“No, that’s not how it’s going to be, but I’m angry with you, Rick.” She pokes at my chest. “Really angry. I didn’t realize how angry until right here, right this minute.”