Desperate Girls (Wolfe Security #1)(68)

“Lot of good it did.”

“I don’t know where you got the idea you could put me under house arrest, but it’s not happening. I’ve got obligations to people, Erik. Not just my client but Ross and Reggie and our legal team.”

“Understood. We’re working on a plan.”

She put her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun. “Is that why you’re here? Is that what was so urgent that you had to talk to Liam in person?” She paused, trying to read his expression. “Because after our conversation last night, I had this insane idea that you might have come out here to quit.”

He just looked at her.

“Erik! God damn it, I knew it. That’s crazy. You can’t quit your job because of me!”

“It’s not you. I had a lapse in judgment.”

“But I didn’t realize when we . . . Look, I had no idea this was such a big deal to you. It won’t happen again. We won’t let it. We won’t even think about it.”

He arched his eyebrows.

“Not until this is over,” she added.

“Brynn—”

“What? You’re being an idiot! I won’t let you do this.”

He glanced around, and she realized their heated conversation was attracting attention from some of the trainees.

“Let’s go over here.” He took her gently by the elbow and steered her across the grass toward the business office. When they reached the side of the building, he pulled her into the shade.

“I didn’t quit. Although that would have been the honorable thing to do.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “The truth is, Brynn, I’m the best man for this job. I know that. And I’m not willing to hand it over to anyone else.”

She stared up at him. He looked so conflicted, and she could tell he’d been torturing himself over this.

“Then why are you here?” she asked.

He looked past her. “Last night at the hospital, talking to the marshals, I realized we underestimated this thing. We misjudged the threat.” His eyes met hers, and she could tell he felt personally responsible for something—once again—that wasn’t his fault. “I came to persuade Liam to bring in more people.”

She watched him, saying nothing. She wasn’t sure she wanted more people. And she definitely didn’t want them if they didn’t include Erik. She could work with him, talk to him, negotiate with him. They argued, yes, but he also listened when she voiced her opinions.

Which was one reason she’d been surprised he’d left so abruptly and dumped her on Jeremy.

“Liam asked me flat-out if I had a personal relationship with you,” he said.

“How did he—”

“He picked up on something. I don’t know. He reads people.”

“What did you tell him?”

“The truth.”

She huffed out a breath. “I would have advised you to take the Fifth on that. It’s none of his business.”

“Yeah, well, you’re not my lawyer.” His gaze held hers. What was she, exactly? No longer just a client. “Anyway, it is his business.”

“I disagree. How’d he respond?”

“I’m pretty sure he wanted to yank me off the job and reassign me.”

She heard a “but” coming.

“But in light of new developments, that’s not happening.”

“What new developments?”

Erik stared down at her, and a feeling of dread came over her. What was it? She’d talked to Ross’s sister less than an hour ago, and he was recovering in his hospital room, guarded by marshals. Was it Corby?

The door opened, and heavy boots sounded on the steps. Brynn turned to see Liam. He was in black commando clothes—no more business attire—and he had that warrior look she remembered from the first day.

“Brynn.” He nodded at her.

“Liam.”

He looked past her at Erik. “You tell her yet?”

“I was just about to.”

“Tell me what?”

Liam’s gaze settled on her. “Mark is here. Probably better if you hear it from him.”





MARK WOLFE was in the conference room, files and papers arrayed in front of him. In contrast to his brother, he wore a dress shirt and a blazer, which Brynn took for his casual look.

The expression on his face was anything but casual, though. The former FBI profiler appeared dark and brooding. Skipping pleasantries, Brynn took a seat.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

Mark looked at Erik as he took the chair beside her. “I was just going over all this with Liam.”

“All what?”

“Liam knows the head of the task force, and we were able to get copies of Corby’s files.”

“Which files?”

“Those pertaining to his criminal case,” Mark said. “I’ve been reviewing everything to come up with a fugitive assessment. That’s basically a criminal profile but with a special emphasis on predicting what a fugitive might do. Where he’s going, where he’s likely to hide, people he might reach out to. It’s a tool for police.”

“What did you come up with?” she asked.

Mark paused and tapped his pencil, as if not sure where to begin.