Page 21 of Dangerous Mission

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out. Xavier's name was across the front.

“Xavier.”

“Orion is on his way to Terri’s condo. Director Ernest is going to meet him there. He wants a statement from everyone. Don’t say anything about Hex. Tex and I talked earlier. We think there’s a leak somewhere and wonder if it’s the FBI.”

“How long do we have?”

“Ten minutes. Afterward, he’s moving April to California, where the team can keep an eye on her. I think it would be smart to do the same for Terri. Then we can have everyone in one damn state. If it wasn’t for this other job we have, I would have my ass there, too, but I can’t. So get through this meeting with the director. Then get your ass back to California. Remind Terri not to say a word about Hex.”

“That will work because I need help at an event she wants to attend in two weeks.” He still felt like that was a bad idea but knew she would do what she wanted. “It’s in California.”

“We’ll discuss it when you get here. Come to my office, and we will make plans from there.”

“Okay.”

The phone went dead. Xavier never said goodbye.

Terri stared at him. “Tell me what he said.”

She didn’t seem too happy about the FBI director coming to her place but didn’t argue about going to California.

They quickly ate breakfast, then Terri disappeared into the bedroom to change and get ready. He told her to pack for two weeks.

While she was doing that, he pulled out his computer and logged into the secure portal. The team had orders to leave. He couldn’t see any of his team’s mission details or where they were going, so he felt out of the loop.

Someone pounded on the front door. Axel rested his hand on his gun as he looked through the peephole. Orion stood with one arm around April and a scowl on his face. Axel swung the door open, and the two stepped inside, followed by Director Ernest.

“How the fuck do the paparazzi know you’re here? Don’t you fuckin’ know how to sneak in?” Orion grumbled as he walked farther into the condo with an arm still protectively wrapped around April. The young woman didn’t seem to mind the mercenary’s arm around her.

“They shouldn’t. We came in under false IDs. The only people I texted to let them know where I was were Tex and Xavier. Neither of them would leak my info. So my guess is a leak in the FBI.”

The director crossed his arms. “We don’t have a leak.”

“Then who else did you tell?” Orion asked.

Shrugging, the director said, “I told my second in command.”

Orion stepped away from April and paced the living room. “God, I hate working with the feds. They make shit so much harder.”

Terri walked back into the living room, rushed to April’s side, and wrapped her in a giant hug. “Are you okay? Has he treated you okay?”

The woman smiled. “He’s gruff but treats me good. Well, if I don’t eat, he gets really growly, but sometimes I can only eat so much.”

Orion shrugged. “You’re too skinny.” He glared at the FBI Director. “Still think the leak is with the FBI. I don’t trust you, but boss man said we need to talk with you. Something about not pissing the feds off. That’s the reason he’s the boss and I’m the grunt. Let’s get this over with, because I need to get her to California. Not sure how much time we have after we got caught in the crossfire of the photographers.”

Director Ernest crossed his arms. “Well, I need Terri’s statement, since you guys failed to tell the police the real story about what happened at the restaurant. I have to wonder what else you’re keeping to yourselves.”

Terri’s eyes narrowed, and Axel knew she was pissed. For the last twenty-four hours, that anger had been sent at him. He was glad someone else was on the receiving end.

“Well, Director Ernest. I think the last time we talked, you told me to stay in my lane and model. I believe those were your exact words. So how could a dumb model know what to do without a man telling her?”

Axel coughed to cover his laughter, though Orion didn’t even try to hide his. “Dude. Some of the best spies in the world are women. Angel, who I think still works for the CIA, is better than most men on our team because she looks like that.” He waved at Terri. “But they catch every little detail someone says. Then they take the guy's balls off when he least expects it. How did you make it this high in the FBI without knowing this?”

“It’s not hard to know everything about her. It’s all over social media and every magazine. The last thing I needed was to babysit another entitled snob.”

Axel had seen many men like Director Ernest in his military career. They couldn’t see past the blinders they put up. Axel might hate social media, but he knew Terri’s reach on the platform could help.

“Do you believe everything you see online?” Axel didn’t wait for him to answer. “So I should believe the scandal that came out in the papers about you a few years back? I think something about having an affair with your secretary.”

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