Chances Are - By Christy Reece Page 0,8
family.”
It’d been a long time since a father or brother had warned him away from corrupting a young woman, but from McCall’s expression that was exactly what was about to happen.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” Jake growled, “but there’s nothing going on between Angela and me.”
“You’re sure?”
“Hell yes, I’m sure. I think I’d know if there was. Did you call me in for an assignment or to dig into my personal life?”
“So if there’s nothing going on between you two, you won’t mind working with her.”
Feeling like a dimwit, he said, “I haven’t had any problems working with her.”
“I mean on an op.”
Jake’s entire world shifted. “Angela? On an op? But she’s a researcher.”
“She’s also a fully trained operative. She’s asked for her first assignment and I’ve agreed.”
His thoughts reeling, he tried to come up with a reasonable objection that didn’t look like it was more than simple concern for a fellow co-worker. “She’s had a tough time the last few months. You said yourself she’s still vulnerable. You really think she’s emotionally ready for an op?”
“She’ll go through a mental eval, just like all operatives.”
“But why put our best researcher at risk?”
“Angela’s been training Deidre for the past few months. She’s highly qualified and Angela believes she’s ready to take over the researcher task full time.”
Hell, he had no issues with Deidre. She was a sweet, middle-aged woman who had a tendency to mother everyone. She was also, reportedly, a whiz on the computer. What he had problems with was putting Angela in harm’s way. His mind told him if she was a fully trained operative then she had every right to be out in the field, his gut said something different.
“Angela’s wanted to be an operative since she came on board with LCR,” McCall said. “We both agreed that her family came first. Since she was supporting them, she couldn’t put herself at risk. Sadly, that’s no longer an issue.”
A heartbeat of a pause, then McCall raised a cool, questioning brow. “You have some objections?”
Yeah, he had some objections, but none of them were valid. Voicing the real reason for his concern was out of the question. Especially when he refused to pull at that particular thread himself. His shrug was deliberately casual. “Just surprised, that’s all.”
“I think you’ll be impressed with her skills. I’ve asked her to complete a two-day refresher. Dylan will oversee it, but I’d like you to be there, too.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to be her partner on the op.”
Hell, hell and double damn hell. So much for staying out of her way. Still, even as he cursed, he couldn’t deny the relief. He would protect her. He had failed in protecting the last woman he cared for…he would not fail Angela.
McCall stood. “The other operatives will be here tomorrow afternoon. Be back here at three for the briefing.”
Still feeling off-center, Jake got to his feet and followed McCall to the door. “How many are on the op?”
“Ten, including you and Angela.”
He didn’t know whether to be concerned with the size of the op or not. Having that many experienced operatives should ensure Angela’s safety. “So what’s the mission?”
“We’ve been asked by British authorities to assist in apprehending the Red Rose Killer.”
Jake froze mid-stride. No way could he hide his reaction at the news. Angela was going to be working to capture a man who had been deemed one of England’s most horrific murderers of the 21st century? A killer who had been referred to as a modern day Jack the Ripper. And the bastard liked only one kind of victim: Tall, beautiful brunettes…just like Angela Delvecchio.
Shit!
Chapter Three
Anxious for the meeting to begin, Angela tapped her pen impatiently against the conference room table. As she waited, her gaze wandered around the room, touching on each operative assigned to this mission. She knew some of them almost as well as she had known her own family. Now they were her only family. Familiar grief clutched at her heart, causing a stabbing ache in her chest and a burn of tears behind her eyes. Taking slow, even breaths, Angela battled the pain.
Samara had told her it would be like that, perhaps for years to come. She’d be doing fine, carrying on with her life, and then it would hit her like a sledgehammer, making it all seem fresh and newly horrific. Her entire family was gone.
Losing her parents had been excruciatingly painful but in some ways easier than losing her brother and sister. Though her