Chapter 15

Dalton

The following morning, I headed into the office for our weekly team meeting. As soon as I’d made it to the conference room, I found Brycen, Cade, Tate, and Theo already waiting for me. I had asked Devolin to show up a half-hour after our usual start time, so that I’d have enough time to make the big announcement, and feed everyone’s curiosity, not to mention, possibly extinguish a few fires.

When I noticed Shane hadn’t arrived, I asked, “Where’s Peters?” to the room at large.

“Here,” the man in question answered as he entered, then dropped into one of the vacant seats. “Sorry I’m late.”

“So, D, you want to let us in on why the hell these two are here?” Cade motioned toward Shane and Theo, who did do work for me from time to time, but they had day jobs of their own. Then again, so did Cade.

“I asked them here because I have some news that’ll play into the Wentworth case. With the calls pouring in, business is booming.” A few heads nodded. “I’m bringing someone in.” Judging by everyone’s gaze intent on me, it seemed that that little piece of information was being taken in easily enough. “As you all know, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Max Wentworth, has contacted me, and it’s come to my attention that a one-man effort isn’t going to cut it, what with the information Brycen and I have discovered this week.”

“I was wondering why you hadn’t left town yet,” Tate, the newest on the team said.

“The Wentworth clusterfuck is only part of why I haven’t left. My gut tells me I need more boots on the ground. People I can trust to be on task for this one. This goes without saying; if I didn’t trust you, you wouldn’t be here.” Heads nod and I continue, “If everything stays on schedule, I’ll be heading to Ottawa on Tuesday to talk with the minister. I’ll need all of you to come along when Mexico comes into play. I’m telling you right now guys, this reeks of cartel.”

“So back to the new guy. What’s this person’s specialty?” Tate asked.

“Computers.”

That got Brycen’s attention.

“Did I just hear you right?” he asked.

“Matthews, you’ve been busting a nut to get out from behind the desk, these last couple of months. You have the field training, and I could use someone who’s good with computers, in case we run into something that can’t be tackled here from headquarters.”

“So who’s—” The man’s eyes widened. “You’re not serious! You’re bringing her in?”

I nodded.

Cade leaned forward, looking between the two of us, a pissed off expression. “Who? Why didn’t we know about this shit until now?”

“Hello?” came from out in the hall.

“In here,” I called out. Within seconds, my eyes set themselves on a suit-clad woman I barely recognized. I should have told her that kind of attire wasn’t needed, unless she was needed in a client meeting. Then again, I wasn’t disappointed with what I saw. She carried the office-assistant-slash-hot-librarian look better than any other woman I know. Complete with small eye glasses, tucked in her lapel pocket.

“What the fuck?” Tate broke me out of my musings.

I cleared my throat, proceeding with introductions. “Men, I’d like you to meet our newest team member, Devolin Taylor, also known around here as Hussy, Huss, or White Hat Hussy.”

The room had gone so silent that I swear I could have heard crickets.

Cade was the first to break silence with a whispered, “Holy shit, you found her!”

Brycen was second, and far from subtle. “Marry me. We’ll make a bunch of beautiful, little dancing computer genius trolls together.” At this, Devolin burst out laughing. The laughter was cut short when the man found his feet and walked over to her, grabbing her hands in his.

Devolin immediately fought to reclaim her personal space by yanking her hands from my teammate. It got my attention enough that I moved to get between them. “Do you mind?” I pushed Brycen back gently. “Sit down.”

“Okay, okay.” He leaned to the side to peer over my shoulder and watched Devolin reclaim her composure. “I’m sorry, hon.”

Devolin nodded despite her obvious embarrassment.

Theo, with a guarded air to him, got up next and approached her. A foot now separated him from the woman as they studied each other. “Huss?” His voice was husky.

“Theo,” whooshed out of her.

He extended his arms before asking, “Can I?” Before he even finished, Devolin launched herself into his arms for a bear hug. “Goddamn, sweetheart, but you gave us the scare of a lifetime that day you showed up on my doorstep. I know I said it last year when everything went down, but thank you for what you did that night.”

She nodded into his chest. “You’re welcome, and I’m sorry I freaked you all out.” It came muffled due to the big lug’s tight hold on her. “I’m okay.”

“I can see that.” He chuckled. “But do us all a favor, and quit wasting poor D’s resources. They’ve had a tough go chasing a ghost around this last year.”

“I make no promises, but I’m here for now.” Devolin pulled away and gave him a sheepish smile.

“Right.” I clapped my hands together once. “Now that we have the introductions out of the way, let’s talk about how we’re going to do this job.”