“Another word you don’t know the definition of.”
He looked at the ceiling. “I should’ve ordered Marcus to pay me back sooner. Perhaps then you wouldn’t have been so stubborn, so independent.”
A harsh laugh left me. “We both know how independent women scare you, Gordon.”
An alarm wailed outside and the door opened. “Got a problem, boss,” a masked man said, leaning in.
My ex sighed and looked over at me. “We have so many things to talk about, babe. One of them being why you’re on an FBI protection list.”
I blinked, my anger sobering.
Gordon shot me another glance, and then he and his men were gone. Leaving me alone.
I looked over to the camera in the corner, focusing on the red recording light. My heart skipped a beat.
Red Snake was here.
My Superman was here.
Chapter Thirty-One
Hayes
Ishoved a second piece of gum into my mouth as the blades of the chopper slowed. We orchestrated an emergency landingon the FBI helicopter pad and Agent Samantha Carson was waiting for us. I knew her, but she either didn’t remember me or had chosen not to acknowledge it when we spoke on the phone a few weeks ago. Agent James Garner assured me she was capable of handling this case. She’d been trying to stop the influx of Nightwalker into the PNW for the last three years.
It had been over an hour since I’d last heard Margo’s voice, and it was all because of Agent Carson.
Margo’s tracker was off and I was two seconds away from losing my mind. The FBI unit on Gordon’s case assured me this morning that he’d gone underground, possibly out of the country. I’d gotten that call just after I’d made love to my woman and she had strolled into the kitchen to make us coffee before getting ready for the day. Even though I still wanted someone with Margo until Gordon was behind bars, she’d gone to her classes this morning thinking she was safe. I had plans to take her out to dinner before driving back to Astoria for the weekend.
Then everything went to shit.
I pulled off my headset and shot a glare over my shoulder to Grayson before glancing at the brace on his knee.
“You need to sit this one out, boss,” Ash said from beside him, reading my thoughts.
“Like hell,” Gray barked, getting out of the chopper. “Look, we get a debrief and then we roll out, understood?” He looked at me. “You got a lock on it?”
“No,” I answered honestly.
Dominic looked up from his gun. “Just don’t kill any federal agents. I don’t want to deal with the paperwork on Monday morning.”
Grayson gave me a nod, and they all got out.
Taking a second, I looked out over the city. “I’m coming, Temper. Stay angry and fight, baby,” I whispered.
I hopped down, my jaw popping every time I chewed. Red Snake was dressed for the mission, ready to do whatever was necessary to get Margo back. Fury boiled in my gut at the sight of the woman who’d given me the wrong assurances less than twelve hours ago. She was calm, cool, and collected. Logically, I couldn’t fault her for that, because Margo was a stranger to her. Whether she lived or died, this woman wouldn’t lose much sleep over it. She wouldn’t grieve my angry woman like I would. She wouldn’t go insane. She’d get up on Monday, put on her badge, and move onto the next case.
As we approached Agent Carson, the grim look on her face made my stomach twist. “Where is he?” Dominic asked. “Where is Jake?”
“Mr. Murphy has been transported to Seattle General. I have three agents there,” she answered before looking at me. “Mr. Mitchell, I believe you and I spoke on the phone this morning.”
“Yes,” I clipped. “You told me Gordon had left the country.” I took a step closer, nostrils flaring. “You assured me of that, Agent Carson.”
The woman blanched, flinching at my harsh tone. “I understand Ms. Bennett’s safety is a top concern for you and I want—”
I was nose to nose with her then, Gray and Ash trying to pull me back. “It is extremely imperative that you, your fucking department, and the goddamn government do everything in your power to make sure my woman is returned back to me without so much as a scratch.” I leaned back, snarling. “You don’t even have your fucking gun on you. You aren’t prepared to do a goddamn thing. Your boss sent you up here to pacify us.”
Ash let out a low whistle.