Page 128 of Covert Mission

Ryan studied him for a beat. “You don’t trust easily.”

Understatement of the year. The only people he truly trusted were his teammates and Artemis. “No, I don’t.”

“Do you have a reason for the caution here?”

Seth nodded. “With you taking the watch outside our quarters, you may find yourself under scrutiny, especially when Peters and Richardson realize Jillian and Rubin are gone.”

“I knew the risk when I volunteered to help. I’d do it again in a heartbeat to keep them safe.”

“I’ll do what I can to keep the heat off you.”

“I appreciate that, sir. I can handle whatever happens.”

Seth studied him a minute, then asked softly, “Are you packed to bug out if necessary?”

Ryan’s gaze sharpened. “Do I need to be?”

“Yes.”

“Consider it done. As soon as I leave my post, I’ll pack what I have. For that matter, if I need to go without my gear, just say the word. I’d rather be safe than dead.”

“Just be ready. Colton Wells should also be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”

Ryan’s eyes widened. “Yes, sir.”

Seth clapped him on the shoulder and returned to his quarters. On the hope that Teagan was asleep, he let himself into the kitchen and locked the door behind him. His woman was armed and dangerous. She wouldn’t appreciate him coming through the front door unannounced. He might find a knife or a bullet in his gut. Neither appealed.

He filled a mug with coffee and walked to the living room. Teagan was asleep on the couch. What he wouldn’t give to curl up on that comfortable sofa with his woman and take a nap.

Not happening, though. Seth’s skin was crawling. His gut said something was very wrong.

He stood to the side of the window and sipped his coffee. Right on time, Ryan’s replacement took over the watch. The two men spoke for a minute before the machinist loped off toward his quarters.

Every few minutes, Seth changed his watch location. All remained quiet but his trouble radar still warned him something bad was coming.

At 2:55, four men approached the guard on watch outside Seth’s quarters. After a brief conversation, the guard glanced toward the house, nodded, and walked away.

Nice. Kent was finished as a guard. Seth glanced over his shoulder. “Teagan.”

She sat up, alert. “What’s wrong?”

“Four men just convinced the guard posted in front of the house to leave.”

“Who bailed on us?”

“Kent. Wake the others.”

“Copy that.”

She hurried toward the bedrooms as Seth monitored the men talking outside their quarters. Finally, they split up to surround the house.

Seth’s teammates assembled in the living room.

“Sit rep,” Noah snapped.

“Four men convinced the guard posted outside our quarters to leave. They just split up. Find them and detain if possible. I want answers.”

“Yes, sir.”