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Authors: T. C. Archer
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makes sense if he wanted every law enforcement agency to make finding me a priority. Though that doesn’t explain how I got out of Colombia so easily.”
Cole frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Getting back to the States was easier than it should have been.”
“The Colombians didn’t try to kill you along with your contact?”
“They put up a good chase,” she replied. “But I wasn’t surprised that I eluded them. We’re trained for that.”
“Why not kill you along with your contact?” Cole asked. “That way, any defense is buried with you, and OIA closes the file.”
But Jesse knew why. “Because Lanton wants something I have.”
Or believed she had. Why hadn’t she seen it before? Green Leader had intended from the start that she take the fall for selling out Green Team, just as he intended that she make it back into the States. After all, he couldn’t chance an incriminating leak occurring as a result of her sudden death—and he needed her to lead him to the evidence.
Cole frowned. “What could be bigger than evidence that he’d sold out to the Colombians?”
Jesse gave a low laugh. “Nothing. He wasn’t worried about getting nailed as the mole. I reported what had transpired during the meeting with my contact, including the fact the mercenaries shot him before he revealed the mole’s identity.”
Cole released a slow whistle.
Jesse nodded. “I couldn’t have walked into a better trap.”
“You couldn’t know.”
But she should have. “How long have you been with OIA?” she asked.
“Ten years. I was recruited six months before my enlistment was up.”
“And they enlisted you to find me because they knew you had a personal stake?”
“Makes sense,” he replied.
“Just like it makes sense you set me up in that alley.”
“I didn’t—”
She shook her head. “Don’t tell me you didn’t want me bad enough to fuck the devil if you had to. I would, if I were in your shoes.”
“All right,” he replied. “I planned a setup, but it wasn’t the guys in the alley.”
She lifted a brow. “Or what happened at Rayburn’s?”
His eyes darkened. “Charlie is a longtime friend. I wouldn’t use him, and I sure wouldn’t sacrifice his dog.”
“No,” she agreed, “but mistakes happen.” Her not heading straight for the Colombian village was a prime example.
“Last night, or Charlie’s place , isn’t my style,” Cole said through tight lips.
Jesse shrugged. “Have it your way.” She started to scoot from the booth.
Cole grabbed her wrist. “I found you, Jesse. That’s how they found you.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jesse stared at Cole. “What?”
“Green Leader put me on the scent, then sat back and waited.”
“You’re saying you found me on your own when Lanton, with all his resources, didn’t come close?”
“Lanton did find you; through me. Listen, Jess, you know what it’s like to lose a team member. But do you know what it’s like to lose a whole team?”
“Yeah,” she snapped.
“No,” he cut her off gently but firmly, “you don’t. You’re outraged those men were murdered, but they weren’t your friends. You didn’t train with them, know them for years, watch them get married and have kids.” Cole’s mouth thinned. “You didn’t have to tell their wives, kids, and girlfriends they weren’t coming back. I wanted you even worse than I wanted those Colombians. I called in every favor owed to me—and found you.”
She started to rebut, but he was right. If she’d been in his position, she would have found him. Hell, she was in his position. Nothing was going to stop her from proving Lanton’s guilt.
Cole slid his hand from her wrist to her fingers and gave them a squeeze. “You can still win, Jess.”
She startled, the thought that he’d read her mind freezing her brain for an instant. Then she realized the idiocy of his statement and yanked free of his grasp. “Don’t tell me, you’re going to save me? Play me and
Cole frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Getting back to the States was easier than it should have been.”
“The Colombians didn’t try to kill you along with your contact?”
“They put up a good chase,” she replied. “But I wasn’t surprised that I eluded them. We’re trained for that.”
“Why not kill you along with your contact?” Cole asked. “That way, any defense is buried with you, and OIA closes the file.”
But Jesse knew why. “Because Lanton wants something I have.”
Or believed she had. Why hadn’t she seen it before? Green Leader had intended from the start that she take the fall for selling out Green Team, just as he intended that she make it back into the States. After all, he couldn’t chance an incriminating leak occurring as a result of her sudden death—and he needed her to lead him to the evidence.
Cole frowned. “What could be bigger than evidence that he’d sold out to the Colombians?”
Jesse gave a low laugh. “Nothing. He wasn’t worried about getting nailed as the mole. I reported what had transpired during the meeting with my contact, including the fact the mercenaries shot him before he revealed the mole’s identity.”
Cole released a slow whistle.
Jesse nodded. “I couldn’t have walked into a better trap.”
“You couldn’t know.”
But she should have. “How long have you been with OIA?” she asked.
“Ten years. I was recruited six months before my enlistment was up.”
“And they enlisted you to find me because they knew you had a personal stake?”
“Makes sense,” he replied.
“Just like it makes sense you set me up in that alley.”
“I didn’t—”
She shook her head. “Don’t tell me you didn’t want me bad enough to fuck the devil if you had to. I would, if I were in your shoes.”
“All right,” he replied. “I planned a setup, but it wasn’t the guys in the alley.”
She lifted a brow. “Or what happened at Rayburn’s?”
His eyes darkened. “Charlie is a longtime friend. I wouldn’t use him, and I sure wouldn’t sacrifice his dog.”
“No,” she agreed, “but mistakes happen.” Her not heading straight for the Colombian village was a prime example.
“Last night, or Charlie’s place , isn’t my style,” Cole said through tight lips.
Jesse shrugged. “Have it your way.” She started to scoot from the booth.
Cole grabbed her wrist. “I found you, Jesse. That’s how they found you.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jesse stared at Cole. “What?”
“Green Leader put me on the scent, then sat back and waited.”
“You’re saying you found me on your own when Lanton, with all his resources, didn’t come close?”
“Lanton did find you; through me. Listen, Jess, you know what it’s like to lose a team member. But do you know what it’s like to lose a whole team?”
“Yeah,” she snapped.
“No,” he cut her off gently but firmly, “you don’t. You’re outraged those men were murdered, but they weren’t your friends. You didn’t train with them, know them for years, watch them get married and have kids.” Cole’s mouth thinned. “You didn’t have to tell their wives, kids, and girlfriends they weren’t coming back. I wanted you even worse than I wanted those Colombians. I called in every favor owed to me—and found you.”
She started to rebut, but he was right. If she’d been in his position, she would have found him. Hell, she was in his position. Nothing was going to stop her from proving Lanton’s guilt.
Cole slid his hand from her wrist to her fingers and gave them a squeeze. “You can still win, Jess.”
She startled, the thought that he’d read her mind freezing her brain for an instant. Then she realized the idiocy of his statement and yanked free of his grasp. “Don’t tell me, you’re going to save me? Play me and
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