Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(21)

“Why do you care if I’m safe?”

“You know why.”

She totally didn’t. “I don’t understand you at all.”

“I’ve thought about this. Maybe you were right and we should…I don’t know…try it out. I know that I’m not going to be satisfied until I know how good it could be between the two of us.”

Anger flared through her system. “You prick. You have a girlfriend, Case. You can’t expect me to f*ck you on the side.”

He flushed. “I don’t. Baby, I lied about that because I was embarrassed and I didn’t want you to think I’d been…I don’t…pathetic and alone.” He turned and yelled out. “Michael, do I have a girlfriend?”

There was a loud snort. “He’s a pathetic, lonely dude, Mia. Not even a hookup in like a year or so.”

He couldn’t possibly be serious. “Why would you lie?”

One big shoulder shrugged. “Why did you kiss me when you had a fiancé?”

It was her turn to flush. He knew about that? “I broke up with him.”

“But you kissed me. You let me think you were single. You put me in a position I can’t stand.”

His words hurt because they were so very true. She hadn’t meant to fall for him, hadn’t meant to do anything but investigate. “I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t make it right, Case. But kissing you that night made me understand I couldn’t marry Jeff. I didn’t even argue it in my head. I knew I was going to end the engagement. I shouldn’t have said yes to him in the first place.”

Case took a step back and she felt the loss of his touch. “Let’s just start again. Thank you for finding that picture. Would you please allow me and my team to escort you down? I haven’t told my brothers. I’m trying to keep it as quiet as I can because you’re right. Ian would take over and we could lose Tony Santos.”

“You found out his last name?” That was fast.

“Hutch is very good. My team is very good. Let us work with you.”

It was dangerous. This helpful Case was infinitely more dangerous than the jerk. This Case was looking at her like he could like her again. Like he could actually start over.

Was she pathetic as hell that she wanted to start over? No lies between them. But in the end, she had to take him along because it was his brother at stake.

“All right. Do you have everything you need? If Hutch is as good as he says, we should be able to take off soon.”

He breathed an obvious sigh of relief. “I’m good to go, but we need to check with maintenance about the fuel. How many passengers did you count on?”

“You and me,” she admitted. That had been the most foolish idea of all. “There’s a pilot and copilot and one flight attendant.”

“Well, now you have to accommodate two more. It should be an easy adjustment. I’ll talk to the pilot.”

“It’s okay. Ezra can do it. And it’s three more.” She wasn’t going to fire the man. He’d come all the way out here. And honestly, it might be good to have her own team. Case’s men would do his bidding and only his bidding.

Case’s lips turned down. “You don’t need him. You have me.”

That was where they would have to agree to disagree. The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea of having her own guard. If she needed to go somewhere Case didn’t approve of, she wouldn’t have to sneak out alone. “You have your team. I have mine. Let’s get going.”

She slipped off his jacket and handed it to him before heading back inside the small, elegantly appointed terminal.

Case was hard on her heels. “Mia, you do understand that I’m in charge of this operation.”

Yes, she knew he thought he was. “You can be in charge of your team and I’ll deal with mine. Ezra, the McKay-Taggart team will be joining us. Could you inform the pilot for me? And ask the flight attendant to make sure there’s a disgusting amount of candy only a five-year-old would eat on board.”

“You rock, Mia.” Hutch gave her a wink.

Ezra nodded. “Absolutely, boss. Anything you would like? Wine or a special dinner? We could go over what all you’ll expect from me once we get to Colombia. I happen to know that jet has a private dining room.”

“This isn’t a date, *. This is a mission and one that doesn’t need dead weight.” Case looked over at Hutch. “Who the f*ck is he?”

Hutch took the Red Vine out of his mouth. “Facial recognition tells me he’s Ezra Fain. Super-douchey name for a former Marine. Did they give you hell? I would have. He also works for Ferland. Double douche. Were you the one who almost lost an eye?”

Now she was confused. “Why would he have lost an eye?”

“Because Ian Taggart can be a dick. Literally. I’ll go and handle the pilot.” Ezra stepped away.

She turned on Case. “You’re looking into my bodyguard?”

“You don’t need a bodyguard. You have me.”

“No, you’re here for different reasons. Ezra is only here to watch my back. You have your guys; I have my guy.”

Case loomed over her. “Your guy is a mercenary douchebag.”

“He’s a former Marine who was a member of MARSOC.” She’d gotten a dossier on his qualifications. She wasn’t a complete moron. He’d been a part of a team formerly known as Force Recon. That made him a badass.