Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(18)

Yes, that summed up the situation nicely. “That’s why I’m delaying her.”

“Okay, what’s the plan? Are we stopping the investigation or helping her?”

The ache had set in, but Michael had been right. It was somewhat better now. He couldn’t tell Michael what his real mission was, but he wouldn’t hate backup. Mia was slippery. And things could change when he got boots on the ground. He wouldn’t take over the op the way Ian would. He would have his team lay low and watch out for Mia. They might not even have to know what they were looking for.

“If I don’t help her, she’ll do it anyway,” Case mused.

“Or you call her brother and he stops her.” Michael summed up what would likely be the most practical plan of all. It was also the one he wouldn’t use.

He couldn’t do that to her. Yes, it would be the smart play, but Mia was wild. He liked her wild. He didn’t want to see her brother force her into some glass case where she was nothing but a pretty face at a party. Mia was passionate about her work. He’d found that out the hard way. Besides, he knew damn well what it felt like to be in the shadow of an older, brilliant brother. It was hard to step into the light. He couldn’t shove her back there. “No. We back her up.”

“Cool. Colombia is hot this time of year. I’ll pack swim trunks and work on my tan.” Michael set down his beer. “Am I driving to the airport or do you want to do it?”

“They’re way less likely to tow you.” One of the perks of being an heir to Malone Oil.

Hutch walked back in, carrying his laptop. “Okay, delaying Mia’s plane was a breeze. She wasn’t actually scheduled to take off for two hours, but now she’ll find herself stalled for a rather lengthy maintenance evaluation. She’s now scheduled to leave at ten p.m. But the interesting part, and by interesting I am referring to the part most likely to get us all murdered in our sleep, is about a man named Tony Santos. He’s definitely ex-Agency. I just called Ten. Ten says Tony is batshit crazy but has a thing for blondes. When Ten wanted information out of Tony, he had to send a blonde.”

What kind of exchange was Mia planning to make? “What else did Ten say about him? Can I catch this f*cker and make him talk? I’m a blond. You telling me I’m not his type?”

The idea of Mia flirting with some crazy dude made him…well, it made him a f*cking crazy dude.

Hutch frowned. “Are you serious? I think Ten was talking about women.”

Sometimes Case understood why his brother smacked his more ridiculous employees upside the head. “Can I find him and take him?”

If Ten thought he could, maybe he could leave Mia out of that part. He would indulge her, let her go with him, but he wanted her out of the truly dangerous shit. If this guy had worked with Tennessee Smith, he was dangerous.

Hutch shook his head. “According to Ten this guy was one of his best and he knew how to make himself scarce. I think if you’re going to take him, you better be damn certain you get him because he’ll disappear and he won’t resurface for a very long time.”

Michael nodded his way. “Your call, brother.”

He had to make a decision. God, he needed Theo. Theo was the voice of reason. Theo was smarter.

Theo could die and this time it would be all Case’s fault.

“Saddle up. We’re going on a little trip.”

Hutch stared at him, his face serious for once. “But there’s cake at Erin’s.”

“And there’s a severe beating for you right here if you don’t go and pack.” Yes, Ian had it right.

“Wait, does this have something to do with Mia Lawless?” Hutch seemed to have missed the important parts of their conversation.

Michael sighed. “If he wasn’t so good with a computer…”

If Hutch thought he might meet his hero, he would be easier to deal with. “We’ll be commandeering that 4L jet. You can sit exactly where Drew Lawless sits.”

“I bet they have awesome cake.” Hutch ran back to start getting ready.

Case walked out with Michael, who promised to pick them back up after he’d packed. Case made his way to his place. He had some packing to do, too.

He would play this her way for now, but she was about to find out that he had some rules of his own.





CHAPTER TWO





Mia stared at the pilot. “What do you mean we can’t leave until ten? We’re supposed to be leaving in fifteen minutes.”

Every second counted. Case was likely getting his ducks in a row even as she sat here in the very nice lounge of the private airport her brother used when he flew into Dallas.

That overgrown ape had probably called one of his tech guys and was already trying to find Tony. He would trip one of Tony’s many traps and send him running and then nothing would get done.

Why hadn’t she simply done it this way in the first place? She should have followed this lead on her own and given up on that man a long time ago. She should have taken his cues. After she’d discovered his romancing her had been all about finding out if her brother was a member of a shadowy, Illuminati-like organization, he’d been cold as ice.

They’d been playing each other, although her feelings had been real. She’d thought maybe after he’d had time to cool down he would see how unfair it was for him to blame her. He’d done the same damn thing. But no, Mr. Stubborn-as-a-mule Taggart couldn’t be bothered to think about fairness. He was an * and she was so done with him.