Page 52 of Being Bold
“Leave the one off the den for him.” Bo shrugged, mainly for their benefit. “I’ll take whatever’s left.” He couldn’t care less.He’d yet to even peek into the bedrooms. And with his record . . . yeah, he likely wouldn’t sleep anyway.
“Okay, now that that’s settled, let’s talk security.” Romeo set a slim laptop on the kitchen island, explaining, “We’ve got eyes on each entry and exit point thanks to this casa being wired like a smart home.”
Duke cut in, “You’re welcome.”
Romeo ignored him. “I’ve set up an alert to ping our burners whenever there’s activity.”
“Great.” Herc clapped Romeo on the back, nearly sending him folding over the counter.
“Shit, ham hands! Keep those mitts to yourself.” Romeo glared at Herc, who only smiled back at him.
“Now all we need is our intel.”
Bo ground his teeth together at Herc’s statement, tired of waiting. TOP wasn’t large, but it employed a small cadre of analysts. The “techies” dug up intel for his team—TOP’s operational arm. Anything involving a computer wasn’t his thing. Still, he needed todosomething because having too much time to think wasnothelping. He had no solution for what he was starting to feel for Selene. Telling himself to steer clear of her only went so far. He needed a distraction.
And fucking soon.
Lucky for him, Romeo’s laptop began beeping.
“What the fuck is that?” he growled.
“Video call.” Romeo glanced at each of them. “It’s Victor.”
When they all crowded behind Romeo, Selene half-stood from her perch across the island. “Should I . . .” She made a shooing motion with her hand, asking if she should leave.
Bo shook his head, and she sat back down on her stool while Romeo clicked something that had Victor appearing on the screen.
“Victor,” Bo addressed their commander.
He nodded in response. “Great, the gang’s all here.”
“Except the newlyweds,” Herc commented.
“You sent them to California?” Bo asked, checking to ensure Victor had followed up on his request to look in on Selene’s parents.
“Affirmative, frogman.” Victor’s terse response didn’t surprise Bo. His team leader was used to being followed and not questioned, but Bo had to be sure in this case.
“Good.” From the way Selene had reacted, he knew she was close to her parents. It made him feel better knowing they weren’t left to fend for themselves. Crane and Rogue would get eyes on but keep their distance unless something suggested that Dao targeted her parents. Then they’d step in and keep them safe.
“So, our inquiry into Dao set off alarms. TOP is bankrolling the op because they’ve been trying to get this guy for a long time.”
Interesting.
“Why?”
“Is that Selene?” Victor asked, hearing the sound of her voice but not seeing her.
She blushed and put a hand over her mouth in an “oops” gesture. It was damned adorable. Choking back a smile, Bo grabbed the laptop and turned it in her direction. “Yeah. Selene, this is Victor, our team lead. Victor, this is Selene.”
They exchanged greetings, then she came over to stand with them, so Bo turned the laptop back where Victor could see everyone.
“There’s not a single reason. This fucker’s name is tied to multiple terrorist attacks and black-market dealings. Last year, he allegedly took out a high-profile competitor, and Interpol almost had him. The guy is greasy as shit, though, and always seems to slide his way out of trouble.”
“So, how do we get to him?”
“I think I can help with that.” Everyone jumped, spinning in the direction of the hallway. Yumi stepped into the kitchen with a smirk.
Shouts of “who the hell are you” bounced off Bo’s ears along with Selene’s excited voice. He’d let the agent do her own explaining, but he gave Romeo a sharp look. They’d had zero warning of her arrival.
