Engaging his Enemy (Shattered SEALs #4) - Amy Gamet Page 0,30

to get out of his predicament. “I wasn’t implying I had everything worked out.”

“No, you weren’t implying it. You very specifically told me exactly how this was going to go.” She pulled her hand away from his. “You can’t just decide how relationships will go. You can’t just plan them like you’re planning a military attack, and you can’t dictate your relationship with Wyatt any more than you can dictate your relationship with me.”

“Of course not. I was just—”

“You were just doing everything you could to keep people out of your bubble, isn’t that right?”

“No, you’re misunderstanding me. I care for you. I’d like to keep seeing you. That’s what I’m saying.”

She crossed her arms. “When you’re in town, when it suits you, as long as I don’t get too attached, right?”

He wanted to backtrack, to start this scene from his entrance and try again, but it was far too late for that. He was suddenly very tired. “I didn’t say that.”

“You need to control everyone and everything. You always did. Back when we were kids, I didn’t know any better. I would have followed you to the moon and back if you’d crooked your little finger. But that isn’t what I want anymore.”

She shook her head. “Where do you breathe, Zach Sato? Where do you let your chest rise and fall as it might, rather than forcing each inhalation into a predetermined rhythm?”

Ben walked into the room from the kitchen and immediately came up short. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Yes,” said Zach.

“No,” said Davina.

“I’ll just, uh, head on upstairs to the guest room.”

Moto watched him go, suddenly sure he would be sleeping on the couch tonight and none too happy about Ben having claimed the extra bed. When he was gone, Moto said, “That wasn’t what I meant, Davina. I care about you. I just worry a relationship between us could be confusing for Wyatt.”

“Confusing.”

“That’s right.”

“You know what I think? I think a relationship between us would be confusing for you.” She stood. “And on that note, I’m going to clean up and go to bed. There are blankets in the hall closet.” She walked into the kitchen.

He looked into his empty soup bowl. At least there was more zuppa toscana. He could nurse his wounded pride with bits of bacon and potatoes. Tiny leaves of kale.

The loud whirring of the garbage disposal had him turning his head. Davina walked out of the kitchen with a smile pasted on her face. “There. Sweet dreams, Zach.” She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and pointed to the couch. “Oh, and watch out for the loose spring. It gets you right in the back.”

16

Every muscle in Razorback’s body was flexed and ready to pounce, the lights of the DEA command console illuminating the shipping container in which he stood. HERO Force would not be the primary on this mission, but his neck was on the line as surely as if he was leading the charge alone. It was a test of not only his leadership abilities but of his diplomacy skills and ability to coordinate smoothly with a government agency.

A big fish was on the line, the potential to catch DeRegina red-handed waiting like a prize on a shelf. It would be a big accomplishment for Razorback’s team, even if they weren’t the ones doing the heavy lifting. They’d brought the feds in on this one. The credit would be theirs.

It was fourteen hundred hours, cool with a light rain. Eleven DEA agents and several FBI were already stationed around the port. A manifest had been filed for the ship less than twelve hours before, an irregularity that likely would have been overlooked without the input of HERO Force. The customs declaration was for fireworks from China, but drug dealers weren’t known for writing “opium from Afghanistan” on the official paperwork.

Moto’s brother had put on a suit and tie that morning and taken his bruised and battered self down to sign the closing documents for his client. The port warehouse officially belonged to DeRegina now, and Razorback couldn’t wait to nail that man’s ass to the wall. To prove to himself, to Mac, and to his men that he was truly ready to lead this motley crew of soldiers.

Champion, Sloan, and Trace were scattered around the scene, ordered to stay out of the way and remain at the ready in case they were needed, which Razorback highly doubted they would be. They were extra sets of eyes and ears, witnesses to