bad guy. Or hell, maybe I’ll play bodyguard. It’s been a long time since Ivy allowed me to shoot someone. I’m getting a little rusty. A man needs to stay sharp.”
Such a smartass.
“The issue is the ‘something’ you’re talking about is Evette. You want to dangle her in front of Delilah. And that shit is not happening. There are other ways to find Delilah. Ways that do not include putting my woman in danger. Have Garrett reach out.”
The room went silent. Utterly.
Mother…fuck!
“Your woman?” Zane smiled.
I ignored my fuck-up and the lump in my chest that was now blocking my airway.
“Are you trying to piss me off?” I snapped.
“Pretty much.”
It was safe to say I now had a strong urge to shoot Zane. My skills were not rusty, and it had not been that long since I’d had to shoot someone, thus I wouldn’t miss.
“We’re not using Evette as bait. No fucking way.”
“Why not?”
That asinine question came from the woman herself and when my gaze sliced to her she looked genuinely curious. As if her life wasn’t in enough danger and adding a new element wouldn’t be an issue. The problem I was facing was, Evette had already made up her mind, she viewed Delilah as an asset, not a threat.
“Because you could get killed.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” she returned disbelievingly. “You’ve said it yourself, you wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”
Fucking hell. That particular shot to the heart felt good. So good I had to take a moment and let the feel of it wash over me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t allow myself much time before I had to burst her bubble.
“Right, Evette. And that means, under no circumstances am I going to agree to any scenario where you put yourself out there. Too much can go wrong.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you don’t have to agree.”
I overlooked the way her shoulders snapped back. I completely disregarded her squinty eyes. And lastly, I dismissed the steel in her tone.
No goddamn way was this happening.
My eyes swung back to Zane, ready to go to battle until he backed down but his smile was gone and he was staring at Evette. And fuck me, he was looking at her with respect. I’d get no help from him. I glanced at Owen and he looked thoughtful; I might find an ally in him. Cooper could be talked into backing my play as well. Garrett would side with Zane and Evette.
I was totally fucked.
She was going to reach out to Delilah and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop her.
“New rule,” Zane rapped out. “No one gets to start giving me shit until they’ve known the female in question for more than a week. That means I’m still in charge of how we use Evette.”
“Zane—”
“Unless of course you’re telling me you’ve laid claim to Evette. Because if you have, when Phantom calls for his hourly updates I’ll direct him your way. And you can be the one to talk to the surly bastard and assure him we’re keeping Evette safe. I’m sure it will set his mind at ease to know you personally are seeing to her. If that’s not the case, then the woman’s under my protection which means Evette’s on the phone and calling Delilah.”
Sneaky fucking bastard.
I felt my jaw tighten and that knot in my gut turned to acid.
You wouldn’t let anything happen to me.
Evette believed that.
But what if I couldn’t? What if none of us could? What if Delilah Watts sent a team to take out Evette and I lost her?
Too many what-ifs.
But the biggest one was what if Evette didn’t forgive me when I put my foot down like some caveman and refused to allow her to do what she was inclined to do. I could lay claim all I liked, Evette was not the type of woman who would allow jackshit.
“You know if you call Delilah and she is indeed on the inside working with Abrams within a few hours there could be a chance that multiple gunmen will be in Annapolis to hunt you. You get that, right?”
Something akin to disappointment flashed across her face. Which I didn’t understand. I was giving in and giving her what she wanted.
“I understand.”
“Right. And you’re willing to take that chance?”
“I trust you all to protect me.”
You all.
Not me.
“But I don’t think Delilah means me any harm,” she added.
“Make the call.” I swept my hand out in front of me and leaned back in my chair.