Page 61 of No Mistake

His phone vibrated on the bed next to him. He’d turned the ringer off, so it didn’t wake Sophie. Seeing Sam’s name, he rolled to his back to answer.

“Sam?”

“We got some news. Need you to loop in via video as the team is briefed.” Sam got straight to the point, his tone telling Ryan he was still on his shit list.

“You bet. How long?”

“Mackie will call you in ten. Make sure Sophie can’t hear.” Sam ended the call.

Ryan sighed, carefully climbing out of the bed. He walked around to Sophie’s side and sat down, gently placing a hand on her hair. She stirred, slowly opening her eyes.

“I’m sorry to wake you, honey.”

“What is it? Has something happened?” Her voice held an edge of panic.

“No. I’m going to be downstairs. My team need me on a call. I didn’t want you to wake up and find me gone and... I need you stay here while I take the call.”

“Oh. Does that mean they have something?” Sophie pushed herself upright.

“Maybe. I don’t know exactly what yet. Go back to sleep. If there’s any news, I’ll wake you.”

Ryan stroked her cheek and leaned in to kiss her gently. The woman was becoming a drug to him. One he couldn’t get enough of.

Reluctantly, he left her and headed downstairs. He set his laptop up on the kitchen island and then put on some coffee. His cell rang.

“Your head good for this?” Dex asked bluntly.

“Yeah, I’m focused.”

“Good. I’m giving you a heads up that Sam is watching your every move. One wrong step, Ryan...”

“I figured. He sounded pissed when he called.”

“Can you blame him?”

Ryan’s laptop began to chime. “That’s Mackie. I’ll see you on the call.”

Answering the video call, he could see the rest of Raven already in the war room. Sam faced him.

“Ryan, how’s Sophie?” he asked.

“Hanging in there. Just so you know, I told her that we learned Chloe was alive and unharmed right now. I had to tell her something.” If he was going to get shit for that, might as well get it over and done with.

Sam nodded. “Fair enough. Just so you know, I’m not entirely on board with you watching Sophie. So let’s be clear about where your focus needs to be.”

Ryan swallowed. Fuck.

“Yes, sir. I’m focused.”

“Good. I’ve arranged for one of our SUVs to be dropped off at your place so you have wheels. We’re just waiting for Sanchez to join the video link, so we can update everyone.”

Sam turned his attention back to the screen. Ryan glanced at Dex who stared straight in the camera, his eyebrows raised in a “I warned you” look.

Sanchez appeared on screen and Sam took his place at the front of the room, the rest of Raven, including Kelly and Mira, gathered around the table.

“Alright, it took some time, but the tracking device worked,” Sam said. “We have an address of where Tracer is.”

“You put a tracking device on Tracer and he didn’t notice?” Ryan looked at Dex.

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