Page 33 of Redeeming Meg

Hagar.

Three squad members hung out near the main entrance to the bullpen, one of them pacing in front of the windows. Another occasionally glanced over his shoulder toward the rear set of windows they crouched under. Confident no one would impede their plan, he seemed unconcerned about unwelcome visitors.

That allowed Declan and Meg to keep their presence unknown while studying them and figuring out their best move.

Declan’s concentration was divided, however. He needed to assess the situation and make a plan, but part of him knew Meg needed to take the lead. Exacting vengeance—or justice, whichever term she preferred—would do her more good than hours of therapy or any of that other bullshit psychology stuff the CIA wanted to force on her.

He’d been in the trenches too many times, saw too many guys have their power stripped away, and could never regain it. A few who managed some form of retribution usually slept better at night. Not all, but some. When you’d seen the atrocities committed by criminals and terrorists, handing them their ass gave you more satisfaction than any other thing he could think of.

Hagar held a gun pressed to Anderson’s head, his demeanor calm and unflinching as Anderson typed frantically. The man had bought himself some time by claiming he could bypass the computer security protocols and access the needed files, but as he continued to work, Dec knew he’d lied. He was no computer whiz, and he certainly didn’t have the skills to hack into anyone else’s files.

As the bored minion made a circuit past them, Dec and Meg ducked, hiding under his line of sight. They listened intently for him to move on. Their eyes locked, and Dec searched hers for any sign that she was about to come unglued. She had to be holding herself together by a thread, knowing Hagar was only a few yards away, and he wished he could make this easier for her.

She gave him a tremulous smile as if seeing his thoughts visible on his face. He’d rarely been able to hide his from her. They’d always been in sync, no words needed between them.

A gun went off, and she recoiled. He started to lurch upward to see what had happened, but the sheer panic on her face stopped him.

Had Hagar shot Anderson?

He grabbed Meg’s hand and squeezed it hard. She blinked.

Her shoulders dropped, and releasing a soft breath, she nodded, reassuring him she was okay.

Was she?

Slowly, he eased up to peer into the room. Anderson had covered his head with his hands, and Hagar was lowering his gun from where he’d put a bullet in the ceiling rather than the man’s head.

As if that might encourage the man to work more efficiently.

Idiot. All he’d done was make Anderson crap his pants. As Hagar smacked him on the back of his head, he said, “Quit sniffling and do what I told you to.” He looked at his watch. “You have thirty seconds.”

The man was shaking so hard now that he couldn’t even type. Meg slid up to peer in at the scene.

He knew she was torn—should they save Anderson? The only way to do so would be to take out Hagar and his goons. Could they access the computer and find the intel they’d come for?

Dec started to tug her back down to tell her what he thought when the guard at the front door went on high alert. “He’s here.”

Hagar and Anderson’s heads snapped toward the entrance, and Dec’s stomach dropped to his knees.

Seeing who had joined the party, Meg sucked in an audible breath, her fingers gripping the ledge. “What the…?”

Tommy Mendoza stepped into the room. His hair was longer than the last time Declan had seen him, and he’d pulled it back into one of those stupid man buns. He’d put on some weight, too, and a beard outlined his jaw.

Gone was the young man so full of eagerness to serve his country, and in its place was a seasoned soldier. “Heard you were looking for me,” he said, sticking out his chest in a show of bravado.

Hagar’s face brightened. “Mendoza, come, come.” He held out his hand. “You owe me something, I believe.”

The guard used his gun to push Tommy forward.

“Tommy,” Meg whispered under her breath, her disbelief echoing Declan’s own.

The boy didn’t seem panicked. In fact, he looked almost…pleased. As if he’d planned this all along.

Surprise number…? Right, he’d forgotten to keep track.

Declan’s jaw tightened as Tommy held up a small object between his fingers. “Did you think I would renege on our deal?”

“You didn’t show up at the designated meeting spot,” Hagar said. “What was I supposed to think?”

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