Master No (Masters and Mercenaries, #9)(46)

“So he’s got a mistress.”

Markovic shook his head. “How is this a scandal? Politicians in Russia have many mistresses. It is cold country. Many women are required to keep a man warm.”

“Really?” Desiree said, an elegant eyebrow arching over her right eye.

Markovic put a hand on her head. “It is different here. This is warm country. Only one woman required.”

So they obviously had something going on. Ten didn’t understand it at all. Operatives didn’t have relationships in his world. They were loyal to the mission, to the Agency. Not to each other.

He really wanted to get back to the world he understood. Things were clear at the Agency. Things made sense. He knew his purpose there.

“Besides, we can’t really call her a mistress,” Theo said. “The senator isn’t married. She’s more like a girlfriend. I don’t think we can spin it to hurt him, but I’ve got Michael looking into her. So how do we handle Faith now that we know it’s not the mob after her?”

He’d already dealt with that. “I told her it was safe. I want her to feel comfortable enough to go about her business the way she normally would. I want to see where she goes and what she does.”

But that wasn’t what he’d really done. He’d totally intended to do exactly what he’d said when he’d spoken to her earlier. He’d meant to let her off the leash and see where she led them, but the words that had come out of his mouth hadn’t been the ones he’d meant to speak. He’d told her that despite the fact she was safe, she should stay with Erin and Theo until he could protect her himself. He hadn’t corrected himself.

What the f*ck was he thinking?

Theo frowned. “We don’t know that she’s safe. I don’t like this plan, Ten.”

Ten wasn’t used to having his own team question his decision making. Despite the fact that he could easily put Theo’s worries to rest, the idea of telling anyone how he’d screwed up rankled. “You don’t have to like the plan. You merely have to follow it, soldier.”

“I’m not a soldier anymore.” Theo’s eyes had narrowed. God, he looked like his brother, and Ten could remember that same stubborn tone of voice coming out of Tag’s mouth. “You should know I’m going to watch out for her.”

“And you should remember why we’re here. Have you forgotten what her father did to Jesse Murdoch? To my own brother? What he’ll continue to do to our servicemen if we don’t stop him? You might not be a soldier anymore but does that mean you no longer give a shit?”

Theo sighed. “Of course not. I haven’t forgotten anything, but I also don’t think it’s a good idea to leave her unprotected. We don’t know that Kozak was the only one coming after her. He was likely hired, and that means whoever wants her dead can hire someone else.”

At least he could think with something other than his apparently tender heart. “Which is why you shadow her if I can’t. Actually, you and Erin should shadow both of us when we’re together. You might be able to see things I can’t. And that’s all I’ll say on the subject for now. Just get me the information I need, Even Littler Tag.”

He used the nickname the rest of McKay-Taggart had started using to describe the youngest Taggart. It got the rest of the group laughing and let some of the tension out of the room. He didn’t need the rest of the team thinking he and Theo couldn’t get along.

Theo growled. “I hate that. How about Even Younger Tag? That’s more fitting. And trust me, by tomorrow you’ll have more data than you can handle.”

Ten liked data. Data was actually one thing he could handle.

Then he saw something he was fairly certain he couldn’t.

Faith stepped into the bar, her arm through Erin’s as they talked together. Delicious. She looked utterly edible in a scarlet red corset and tiny thong. Fishnet thigh-highs covered her legs and led his eyes down to a truly spectacular pair of f*ck-me shoes. Her hair was down, tumbling softly around her shoulders. She’d curled it, giving her glossy waves.

“Your girl is lovely,” Knight said.

“Yes, she is,” Theo replied as he stood up.

Ten frowned. For a second he’d thought Knight was talking about Faith. He kind of wanted to point out that Faith was the most stunning woman in the room and any man who couldn’t see it was f*cking blind.

But she was only the mission and his fellow operatives knew that so they reserved their brotherly praise for Theo, who looked like a goddamn groom waiting for his bride.

Theo put out a hand, gesturing Erin forward.

Erin looked like a completely different woman. With her fiery red hair up in a demure twist, she looked oddly ladylike in her sapphire blue corset and matching thong. Her long legs had been left bare and she wore nude five-inch heels that made them look like they went on forever.

Still, for all her height she only came to the top of Theo’s shoulders. She stepped into his embrace like she belonged there, her whole body seeming to relax as he put his hands on her.

“You look absolutely gorgeous, love.” Theo’s fingertips found her chin, lifting her gaze to meet his. “I’m the luckiest man here, and one day you’ll believe everything I tell you because I’ll keep saying it.”

Ten could almost swear he saw a fine sheen of tears in Erin’s eyes as she nodded.