Page 48 of No Mistake

“Yeah, we are. That’s not the point. You walked away from your team when the op was not complete, putting us all at risk.”

He’d been kissing Sophie, while his team were getting shot at. Jesus, this was bad, really bad.

Ryan sat down, head in hands. “Fuck Dex, I’m sorry. I mean it. Christ, if one of you guys had...” He shook his head. Nothing he could say was going to make this situation better. “Shit, I owe the team an apology. And Sam. Jesus, I’m surprised I’m even here.”

“You’re here because despite how fucking angry I am at you right now, I covered your ass, and Sam is letting me make the call on this. But he’s pissed.” Dex paused, raked a hand through his hair and Ryan was flooded with shame. “Look, I get this op means more to you, but if you put one more foot out of line, Ryan, I can’t cover for you again. You got that?”

Ryan stood up facing him. “It won't happen again.” He’d screwed up, badly, and let his team down. Worst of all, his best friend, his brother was furious with him. He’d put Dex in a hideous situation.

“Ryan, I’m only going to say this once. If you don’t think you can keep your head straight, then go home. I can’t have any doubt about my number two on an op.”

“My head’s good. I mean it. If I was distracted before, this little conversation has made it crystal clear.”

Dex studied him for a minute before finally nodding. “OK. Hell, I know I’ve fucked up before, and you’ve nailed my ass over it, but leaving your team? Jesus, Ryan, you are the last person I thought I would ever be having this conversation with.”

“And you shouldn’t have to. This is on me. I walked away. I knew what I was doing and did it anyway. I swear, brother, it will never happen again.”

Dex walked toward the door. “I need to make some calls.”

Fuck, he was still pissed. That much was obvious.

They stepped out of the room to find Sam, arms folded across his chest. No doubt he’d heard some of the conversation.

“Sam, I'm sorry. I was way out of line.” It sounded lame, even to him, but what else could he say?

Sam didn’t respond, instead looked at Dex. “Is everything good here?”

Dex glanced at Ryan, then back at Sam.

“Yeah, it’s good. I’m going to make that call.” Dex walked away and Ryan moved to go back into the war room.

“Baxter.” Ryan stopped turning at Sam’s voice.

“Dawson might have saved your ass this time. There better not be a next time.”

Sam didn’t give him a chance to respond, walking away in the other direction.

TRACER FOUND PEREZ outside the sister’s house on Coronado. He’d clocked Ryan Baxter sitting in his Mustang and gotten Perez out of the back yard seconds before Ryan came nosing around. He’d had to knock Perez out cold to stop him causing a big fucking scene.

He’d stayed out for the two-hour drive back to the new house, but had come around a few minutes ago to find himself tied to a chair. To say he was pissed would be putting it mildly. Tracer was finding it quite amusing.

“Untie me, right now.” Perez snarled.

Tracer took out his knife, but instead of untying him, he reached for an apple off the dining table.

“Not until we understand each other a little better.” He sliced a piece of apple, bringing it to his mouth.

“I don’t work for you, Tracer. Now fucking untie me.”

Tracer calmly ate another piece of apple.

“You need me for this meet,” Perez challenged.

“Do I? I have the details. They want to deal with Vitelli. Not sure where you fit in anymore.”

“They trust me. I already met with them once.”

“And look how that turned out. A shoot out in a warehouse, the man you were meant to be protecting, shot, a dead cop, and a dead FBI agent. Yeah, I’m sure they’d be thrilled to do business with you again.”

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