Page 38 of Stone
I might be in the security business, but I knew from years of training and rescuing innocent victims that you had to remain detached at all times. For their safety as well as your own.
Now I was pacing the floor while listening to Gray expound on the operation international law enforcement had bungled.
“I know that’s not what you expected to hear,” Gray returned. “Not for Interpol or the CIA either.”
“My team managed to take out something like, oh, I don’t know, twenty soldiers with big, bad weapons, yet two fucking highly trained international law enforcement groups couldn’t handle capturing one man?”
“I can tell you’re pissed.”
Was he kidding me right now? How much was his organization being paid?
“Pissed isn’t the word for it.” I was ready to toss the third cup of coffee across the room or at minimum smash it into the window. Every muscle was so damn tense, my chest was constricted, making it hard to breathe.
“It doesn’t change anything, Stone. You’ve been ordered to bring Ms. Vale to Washington DC where she’ll be kept safe until Matis is apprehended.”
I slammed the mug on the end table and planted my hand on the window. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, the golden glow of the woods scintillating yet nothing like the view I usually woke up with every morning. “And just how are you going to do that? From what I’ve read, Matis has eluded police for years, killing anyone who got in his way. He’s managed against all odds to enter several countries to extract his victims without being seen. What makes you think he’ll stop at the American border?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kage had stumbled into the room, yawning as he studied me. The two men had slept ontwin beds in the adjoining bedroom. I could only imagine what they’d overheard through the walls.
I grimaced from the thought. Both their comments from the night before had plagued my mind. About a dozen red flags had gone off in the back of my brain. Now, with Matis escaping persecution, Dani could be targeted again.
“We have methods of protecting Miss Vale. She’ll be locked down in another safehouse.”
“Another safehouse. Uh-huh. You don’t know Dani at all, Commander. She won’t stand for being held prisoner. She’s already told me she has no intention of coming with me to the States. I’d need to hogtie her to the plane to make that happen.”
“Then that’s what you need to do. Bring her home, Stone. Then your job will be completed.”
“How much are you getting paid to be the vice president’s lackey?” Exhaling, I closed my eyes. I could feel the hum of discontent between us.
Gray took a deep breath. “I can understand why you think that. Yes, the firm I’m working for is a for profit organization, Stone. You already knew that. However, the ultimate goal is Miss Vale’s safety.”
“Then I think it’s best if I handle the remainder of the mission my way.” I rubbed my eyes while attempting to keep my anger in check. “As in doing my job. Then I guess you won’t mind me saying do yours and apprehend Matis before he strikes again.”
“Stone. Don’t do anything rash.”
“Oh, I don’t plan on it. You know me.”
When I ended the call, I reminded myself Gray Jenkins was no longer my commander. I was doing him a favor and in turn, he’d caused me to reopen Pandora’s Box.
“Fuck this shit,” I growled.
“Trouble in paradise?” Kage asked.
“Typical political bullshit. Nothing I’m not used to with the great vice president.” Only then, he’d been nothing more than a disgruntled asshole father. I rubbed my arms, every muscle aching.
“Long night?” I heard the amused tone in his voice and definitely wasn’t in the mood for a sparring match.
“Whatever.”
“What’s really going on here? I’ve never seen a conversation with the commander piss you off this much.”
I shoved my phone into my back pocket and turned around. “They didn’t catch Matis. For all we know, he’s hanging around in Paris waiting for another crack at taking Dani.”
“You really think he’ll be that stupid?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Kage sighed. “Then allow the folks in Washington to do their jobs. Drop her off and you can return to your life.”
