Defending Raven (Mountain Mercenaries #7)(44)

“I know you think that’s an option, but it’s not a good idea,” Ball said loudly in the other room.

“The only other option is scaring the shit out of my son,” Dave argued. “And I have to consider any other alternative that would prevent that.”

“You’ve been our handler for years,” someone else said. Mags couldn’t tell who it was. “And you’ve preached time and time again that we’re a team. We go in together and get out together, so why are you pushing for this so hard right now?”

“There are situations where sometimes it’s necessary for just one person to go in,” Dave said.

“Like when?” Ro asked. Mags knew it was him because of his accent.

“Like when Gray climbed aboard that boat and found Allye,” Dave fired back. “Like when Arrow had to split off from the rest of the team in the Dominican Republic to keep Morgan safe. When Black went into that burning building to get Harlow.”

There was silence for a beat, then someone said, “Those are completely different.”

“No, they’re not,” Dave said heatedly.

“Bullshit. Gray didn’t go onto that boat expecting to find a female captive. If we’d known Allye was there, the plan would’ve been very different. Arrow didn’t want to split off from the team; we were forced to split up because of the circumstances. And Black didn’t go into a burning building . . . he caught those kids from outside. Your examples are a crock of shit, and you know it.”

Mags held her breath as she listened intently.

“And how about the fact that you’re not trained?” someone else asked. “The last thing you want to do is fuck up the most important mission of your life because you don’t trust the team you’ve relied on for years to come through, just when we’re needed the most.”

Mags winced. Over the last few days, she’d gotten the impression that Dave felt somewhat at a disadvantage because of his lack of military skills, but from what she’d seen, he was perfectly competent regardless.

“That right there is one of the main reasons Rex was born,” Dave told his friends. “I knew you would have a problem taking orders from Dave the bartender. But here’s the deal—I know what I’m doing. I’ve paid attention over the years. I’ve studied. And I’ve got a motivation in this mission that none of you have. David is my son, and Raven is my wife. I’d never do anything to put either of them in danger. I know where my strengths and weaknesses lie. And if any of you tried to go in there and talk to that asshole, he’d see through you in a heartbeat. He’ll know you’re military. You all have an air about you.”

“And you don’t think he’ll see that you care a little too much for the boy?” someone asked.

“I can make him see what I want him to,” Dave insisted. His voice lost a bit of its edge, but he was still talking loud when he said, “I’m not an idiot, I know what’s at stake here. I also know if I fuck things up, you’ll all be there to get my family out of the country.”

“Damn straight we will,” Ro said.

“You aren’t going in alone,” Ball growled. “I hear what you’re saying about this being your family at stake, but going in by yourself isn’t smart—and you know it.”

There was a long pause before Mags heard Dave speak again. “Losing David would destroy Raven. I lost her once, and I’m not willing to lose her a second time. I’d happily sacrifice myself to get David away from del Rio.”

“We know you would,” Ro told him. “But you don’t have to. That’s why you formed the Mountain Mercenaries. For situations exactly like this one. As soon as we get word that David’s passport is processed and ready to go, we’ll get him out of there.”

Mags didn’t hear Dave’s response, but she did hear the door next door being opened, and she tensed, waiting for Dave to come back into his own room, where she was waiting for him.

Within seconds, he was there.

“Are you all right?” The question popped out of her without thought. “That sounded intense.”

“Damn paper-thin walls,” Dave muttered, then he came toward her. He kneeled down in front of where she was sitting on the bed, careful not to crowd her or touch her. “We’re going to get David out of here. Okay?”

She studied his eyes and saw no doubt. No hesitation. She needed his strength and confidence more than she’d been willing to admit. “Okay.”

“Good. Now, how about we head out. You ready to play tourist for a while?”

She’d been in Peru for a decade and hadn’t once thought about having a carefree day. What she really wanted to do was see her son, but since that was out of the question, she nodded.

Dave stood and held out his hand, waiting for her to touch him. It was one of the thousand-and-one things she appreciated and loved about him. He never rushed her. Never forced her to do anything she didn’t want to. She knew if she said she wanted to stay at the motel, they would. If she said she wanted to go hang out in the barrio, he’d agree, and stay with her to make sure she was safe. The only thing he wouldn’t do was let her put herself in danger. Not for David, not for him.

She’d been determined to keep Dave at arm’s length. She wasn’t sure she could pick up where they’d left off that day in Las Vegas. But with every day, every hour, she spent with him, her defenses were crumbling. She liked the man he’d become. A lot. She needed his hardness and outward strength to keep herself going.