Page 30 of Embedded
“All right,” Frank thankfully started. “First off, General Bruce wasn’t able to make his flight, so he won’t be here. Apparently, something happened with an Eagle Eye member.” That caught my attention.
“Who?” Cole and I said at the same time.
Frank paused for a second and glanced briefly at Nicole. He pursed his lips but seemed to get past that she was in the room and continued. “Mills. Someone took a run at his truck about ten minutes after he got through the last security checkpoint at the safehouse. It’s mostly likely nothing, but the kid he was training with got a busted-up shoulder. The truck was hit on that side, and Mills got a bit banged up, nothing serious. Driver of the other vehicle didn’t stick around, and there weren’t any witnesses. Things like that do happen, but they’re looking into it.”
“Shit,” Cole shook his head, “I’ll give him a call later today to check in.”
“Okay.” Frank pushed his wire-framed glasses up his nose. “So, that means we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to have our official meeting on what’s next for you, Nicole.” I shifted uneasily on my chair and wondered where she’d end up. “Also, our meeting will be in Washington rather than here.”
“Washington?” I said out loud. I didn’t like the idea she’d be going anywhere on a plane. “Why Washington?”
“General Bruce has someone he wants us to meet.”
“Wait,” Nicole also looked worried, “I can’t leave. What about Chase?” Warmth settled in my chest for a hair of a second, then I pushed it away.
Cole jumped in. “Abby and my mother will look after him. You can check in with them or Savannah whenever you need to.” He smiled, and I appreciated his effort to put her at ease about Chase. I also could see by his glance at Daniel that he didn’t like the idea of the meeting being held off site.
“All right,” she rubbed her chest, “but for one night max.”
“Understood.” Frank glanced at me. “As for now, sit tight, and I think you should go to Zack’s tonight with the others. A little normalcy will do you good.”
“I’m fine,” she shot back, but her gaze dropped to the table. “Perhaps you’re right. Savannah mentioned it as well. I think I would like to join them.” She tried to smile.
“Good.” Frank looked at me. “Paul, since you know Nicole already, I’m assigning you to her detail.”
Her mouth dropped open, and I knew we were in for an argument. A part of me already looked forward to it. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“It’s not up for debate.” I egged her on.
She shot me a cold look. “You think he’s going to protect me?” She laughed darkly. “He’s admitted he doesn’t trust me and accused me of using the child for my own purposes. Which, for the record, I would never do. My luck, he’ll leave me in the middle of the town to find my way back here.”
“Don’t tempt me.” I gave Cole a smirk.
Nicole raised her arms. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m seriously too old for this job,” Frank muttered under his breath and ran a hand over his silver crew cut. “I have no doubt that you can defend yourself, Nicole, but there are a lot of things that can happen in town, and we never let any of our guests or family members go there without someone to watch their six.”
“And not to mention, one Cartel family that’s looking for you because you told them you were working for us.” I wanted that out on the table so Frank was aware of how much damage she’d done to herself.
“You did what?” Frank’s head snapped up.
“First, I never said for, I said with.” She scowled. “And second, they’d know anyway. Bruno has eyes and ears everywhere. Christ, he knew Eric Noah was the father of that child before I even got my hands on the birth certificate.”
“What?” That shook me. “When did you find this out, and why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why the hell would I think to tell you that?” She looked at me like I was crazy. “Before or after you tore a strip off of me for following your orders?”
“Christ,” Mark who I’d seen slip into the room to sit quietly by the door, piped up. “I feel like I’m watching Ross and Rachel. We’re on a break!” He chuckled but stopped when Cole looked at him, confused. “Sorry, Mia makes me watch it.”
“Yeah, Mia does.” Cole rolled his eyes. “Anyway, Nicole, are you sure Bruno would’ve known that? Because if you ask me, he’d kill if he knew that.”
“Yeah,” her anger tamed some, “he tried to kill me, but I shot him in the foot so he couldn’t.” She shrugged like shooting a gun didn’t freak her out. “He told me when I was at the border. Along with a threat that he was going to find me, the baby, and the safehouse. And that Ben was only the start.”
“That might be something to have told us right when you arrived here,” I growled.
Frank held up a hand to stop the next fight steamrolling my way. “Nicole, you report anything out of the ordinary to Paul. If you remember anything else, you also report it to Paul.” He pushed his thumbs into his eyes. “Paul, you and Cole will come with us to Washington.”
I could see Nicole didn’t like that. I was pleased until I began to digest the thought of leaving my son behind. I also hated to admit that Chase seemed to be drawn to her. He needed her almost more than me. That thought pissed me off.
