Lost and Found (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten #2)(37)

Yeah, he got it. “The opposite. Did McDonald combine your bloody brains when she was playing about in them?”

“You have to admit, not many women turn you down,” Robert mused. “It’s got to be tough on the old ego. I’m perfectly fine with it. I’ve been turned down lots of times.”

“Only because you tended to go after unavailable women,” Tucker pointed out. “I, on the other hand, go in for the kill. Not really a kill. By that I meant the sure thing.”

“You mean hookers,” Owen shot back.

Tucker didn’t bother to look ashamed. He merely grinned. “They never turn me down.”

Rebecca Walsh wasn’t a hooker, and she’d totally turned him down. It rankled. No. It didn’t rankle. He was at least going to be honest with himself, even if he lied to everyone else.

It hurt.

“She’s going to Jax’s on Saturday?” He wasn’t about to give up, and it wasn’t entirely about the op. Apparently she was bonding pretty well with Jax and River. It would be easy for them to keep her occupied while he and Robert searched her place. But that wasn’t how he wanted this to go.

Because he wanted her.

“That’s what he said,” Robert replied. “She’s told River she would be there. That’s where we were all supposed to meet and show off what a great couple we were, how crazy our manly love was. Now I guess I’m going as your sidekick. Mostly I’m going to see if she blows you off again.”

“I wish I got to go,” Tucker said, a frown on his face. “River makes good lasagna. Did I mention Ezra doesn’t have any food in our place? Do you think I could find a hooker who can also cook? I would pay extra.”

“Get yourself a freaking frozen dinner like the rest of the single male world. You are a coddled baby,” a deep voice said and Ezra Fain was suddenly there, like he’d peeled away from the shadows. No one Owen had ever met moved as quietly as Ezra. “And I thought I told you to stay away from here.”

Yeah, he was starting to worry that having the lads around constantly would tip off Becca that something was going on. All they needed was Jax to feel the man vibe going on down here and heed its call to have them all in one place. He discounted Dante and Sasha since they didn’t believe in rising before noon.

“Nina told us the doc always heads out before seven. I was safe enough,” Tucker explained. “And Carter texted me asking if I can take a few extra shifts. He slid in that he was going in to work with Dr. Walsh this morning. He’s got a thing for Owen’s girl.”

“For Owen’s brief fling?” Robert was an arsehole who seemed to be enjoying this far too much.

Ezra frowned as he sat down next to Owen. “Brief? Because I thought that was our play now. Did Owen magically find our data? Did you go see her after I left last night?”

“Nope,” Robert answered. “The woman in question got her lick of the lollipop and now is moving on to other lollipops. She’s a kid in a candy store.”

But she hadn’t even touched his bloody lollipop, and he wanted her to. “She’s playing with me, that’s all. I’ll go see her tonight.”

Ezra shook his head. “No. You play this slow. If you go after her too soon, she might run the other way. Nod and smile at her the next time you see her and walk on. Saturday night you can make your play.”

He could be patient. Sort of. “I’ll have her again Saturday night. You’ll see. If I don’t get my hands on her again, I’ll pay up on whatever bets you have going, and don’t tell me you don’t, you bastards.”

They all tried to look innocent.

It was his turn to frown. “You, too, Ezra?”

The boss shrugged. “Hey, the days are long and Dante has cash stashed. I’m not getting paid by the government anymore. Speaking of the CIA, I came here to tell you that Levi Green’s gone missing.”

Shite. Exactly what he needed, that bugger running about town. “He’s here then.”

Ezra’s curt nod let Owen know that he agreed. “We had a couple of McKay-Taggart agents watching him. They couldn’t follow him past security at Dulles. According to passport services, he flew to Heathrow, but we all know he can manipulate those.”

Tucker looked serious all of the sudden. “Then it’s starting.”

They’d always known Green had a game plan. They were his pawns. But pawns could be quick. Pawns could maneuver in ways none of the stronger pieces could.

If only they could see the whole board in front of them.

“He’s using us to find what he can’t.” It was the only explanation.

“I agree. Theo Taggart is coming up this weekend,” Ezra said. “Big Tag is apparently making more small demons with his wife and he said something about ovulation that I didn’t want to hear, so he’s sending the Baby Tag.”

“I think we have to call Theo a mediumish Tag,” Tucker corrected. “There are a whole bunch of tiny Tags crawling around now. Is Erin coming with him?”

“I’m sure she will,” Ezra shot back. “Taggarts rarely travel without their wives. It’s like they’re tethered or something.”

How much of Ezra’s bitterness came from longing? It was a stupid thought and one he likely wouldn’t have had a few days before, but now he wondered if Ezra had once been “tethered” to Solo and how much he missed the feeling.