Flipping monkey suit.
“OTG in ten.” Chapel was the first ready. “Sixty mikes to head this off.”
The rest of the team double-timed their efforts.
“Are you sure about this?” Hollyn stepped up to Davis.
Amped up, Fury spun and knocked into her legs. She practically jumped away.
“Sure about what?” He double-checked her vest.
“About splitting up.”
He wanted her as far from danger as possible. “I’m sure. Don’t need you getting hurt.”
She nodded without another word, and he almost missed her arguing with him.
“Move out.” Chapel spun a finger in the air.
They hurried toward the waiting vehicles. Fury leapt inside after the rest of the team.
“Be careful.” Hollyn suddenly wrapped her arms around Davis’s neck.
He tugged her close for a quick second. Kissed the side of her head. “Always.” Then they were heading in different directions.
The farther they drove, the stronger Davis’s gut feeling grew?—something was wrong.
Hale knocked his knee with his own. Nodded and held out a fist that Davis bumped with a gloved hand. It surprised him that, even though missions and team were the only things he’d ever lived for, now that he had someone important in his life, the only thing he really wanted to do was protecther. Life goals that had once been held in concrete were breaking loose. Morphing into something he couldn’t have predicted.
Just one more mission. Then I’m done. For good.
On his terms this time.
When they arrived at the hotel, it was nearing 2200 hours. Which was ideal because the darkness allowed the team to disperse undetected while Davis and Fury walked into the party.
The six-story structure was more extravagant than any place he’d been invited to before—or rather,notinvited to. Near the center of the expansive setup, a wide stone path cut across a large but shallow pool. Hundreds of guests in black-tie attire congregated around dozens of café-height tables set up around the rest of the open area. Rows of highly manicured bushes lined the space between courtyard and sandy beach. Not exactly Fort Knox.
They were given a few hard looks from actual security patrolling the outskirts of the Emirates Palace courtyard, and for a moment, Davis wondered if their cover was blown. But he threw them a chin-up greeting and acted like he was supposed to be there. The guards returned the gesture and moved on.
The din of the gathering was barely edged out by the crash of ocean waves to the building’s twelve. There were more people here than he’d anticipated, dressed in everything from evening gowns to traditional saris to military suits.
He and Fury maneuvered around the stamped concrete pathways. The dark sable shepherd sniffed the air, and Davis watched for the slightest hint that his partner had a hit.
A woman in a white-and-gold sari detoured in their direction, champagne glass in hand. She grinned at Fury. “Awww, what an adorable puppy!”
The shepherd seemed about as thrilled with the term as Davis and surged toward her with enough ferocity to bring the woman up short.
“He’s working,” Davis warned. “Keep your distance.”
“Well!” She glared at the two. Hurried away.
Davis thumped a hand on the landshark’s side. “Nice,” he murmured.
“Blank. Update.” Chapel came over comms.
Davis listened as he scanned the guests. Neither Archie nor Germaine had shown yet.
“Nothing on facial rec,” Blank updated in her usual calm and quiet tone. She was manning their eyes in the sky once more.