SATURDAY. AEGIS GROUP Safe House, Erbil, Kurdistan.

Erin sat at the head of the table and picked at her food. She didn’t have much of an appetite though she knew she should. Her body hummed with awareness of the man to her left. She refused to think too much about their stolen moments together. They were adults. They had needs, but needs didn’t have to mean more than simply satisfying themselves.

Yeah, when had that ever worked for her?

She glanced up and caught Thomas staring at her. He hadn’t said much of anything to her. not an I’m sorry or a glad you’re okay. Her skin crawled and the last urge to eat shriveled and died.

When he’d first been assigned to her Erin hadn’t paid him much mind. She’d gotten an email her previous guard was being replaced, and the next day Thomas was there to pick her up and take her into the office. They’d hardly spoken to each other.

It was after she’d wrapped up Osman’s project and got a little caught up that she’d stopped working during the drives. That was when she’d begun to notice the way Thomas looked at her, like he’d smother her in her sleep.

He performed his duties to the letter. There were no grounds to fault him or ask for a replacement. It was all in her head. Then why couldn’t she shake this uneasy feeling about him?

The only thing for her was to beef up her security at home and always make sure he didn’t follow her to her condo.

Maybe after this incident she could get him reassigned.

She hoped so. She hadn’t felt this uncomfortable doing her job in well over a year. Or was it two years now?

Fuck. Maybe she did need a trip home, but not yet. Something was going on here and she didn’t want to leave things unresolved. Everyone was still trying to sort out Osman’s workload. If she left, that would create a bigger backlog.

The backlog was killing all of them. She’d barely had a moment for herself.

“You don’t like the food?” Melody leaned toward Erin.

The woman was nice. A little too nice for Erin’s taste. The too-bright smile and perfect manners were a front.

“It’s wonderful. I think I’m just too exhausted to eat.” She held up her hand and feigned a yawn.

“Well, there’s plenty if you’re hungry later.” Melody smiled.

“What is our plan, exactly?” Erin asked.

“We have everyone on a plane out late tomorrow afternoon.” Melody picked at her food. She moved it around more than she ate.

“When can I go to the office? I have a lot of work I’d like to take with me.” Erin pushed her plate away.

“Actually, we were told to take you directly to Texas,” Melody said.

“But what about my work? Packing a bag?” Erin frowned. That didn’t make sense unless they were firing her.

“I think everyone is very concerned about ensuring your safety, and the rest of it is stuff that can get sorted out later.”

More like there was a reason behind the attack buried here and someone didn’t want her digging.

No, that was unfair. Her employers were decent people, but that couldn’t be said of everyone.

Erin couldn’t leave Erbil until she had everything figured out.

The attack was not random.

It was not happenstance she’d been kidnapped.

There was a purpose behind it all, and she was going to get to the bottom of it.

“You know, I’m going to go ahead and turn in. That’s going to be a long flight tomorrow and I’m tired.” Erin pushed her chair back and stood.

“Did someone show you to your room?” Melody asked.

“Yeah.” Erin smiled through the lie.

She didn’t want Riley, Melody, or anyone else following her.

Erin climbed the stairs to the second floor. A few of the guys were already done with dinner and off in the living room staring at screens. Their gig was a whole lot more high-tech than the units she’d worked with during her years in the army.

With the guys watching the house from every angle, they were going to see her if she tried to walk out the door. How was she going to get out of here?

The best thing to do would be to wait until it was dark, and they began rotating sleep schedules. That would mean fewer people to see her slip away, but that would mean crossing the city in the dead of night by herself.

Erin edged out into the hallway. The voices from downstairs indicated the meal still continued. No one paced the hall. She went down two doors and pushed it open, peering into an empty bedroom.

She crossed to the balcony and slid the doors open. The outside space wasn’t any bigger than a hotel balcony. The wide railing, however, could provide a nice place to grip. But where was she going?

The wall between the properties was a good four feet away. Despite her balancing skills, she wasn’t going to vault herself over the fence and onto the neighbor’s property without seriously hurting herself.

The bedroom door eased open.

She turned and tightened her grip on the rail.

Thomas stared at her. She swallowed but kept staring right back at him.

“I’m glad they found you,” he said. The statement wasn’t reflected in his face or his voice. He might as well be delivering the day’s agenda.

“Me, too. I hope no one held you responsible.”

“You know how these things are.” Again, his physical response and voice didn’t match up with his words. He was cold. Distant.

“They’re taking me back to America tomorrow. Any idea where you’ll be assigned?” It felt as though a million bugs crawled on her arms, legs and across her stomach.

“Not a clue.” Thomas took a few ambling steps into the room.

Erin stared at the door. It swung almost shut on silent hinges. Thomas could reach her before she’d be able to call for help.

“I’ll call my boss. Tell them how great you’ve been. Maybe you’ll get a cushy assignment?” She glanced at the wall dividing her balcony from the next room.

“That’d be awful nice—”

“Hey, Erin?” Riley called out, his voice far too loud. The door shoved open and Riley stepped in, hauling two large bags with him. Riley’s gaze went straight to Thomas, as though he’d known Thomas was there. “Oh, hey. There you are. Grant and Melody are looking for you downstairs. If I were you, I’d leave them together for as short a time as possible. They don’t like each other.”

“Well, I guess those are my marching orders.” Thomas glanced back at Erin and nodded. ”Talk to you later.”

God, she hoped not.

Riley watched the other man exit the room, no hurry to his stride.

The bedroom door clicked shut behind him and the tension snapped. Erin bent forward bracing her hands on her knees and sucked in a deep breath. Riley was at her side in a moment. His hand squeezed her shoulder, and he knelt at her side.

“You okay? He do anything? I swear he was downstairs one minute and gone.”

“No, I’m fine. Totally fine.” She shook her head, as though she could rid herself of the sleazy, creepy feeling of Thomas’ presence. Maybe it was all in her head. Perhaps the impact of three days in captivity wasn’t just an aversion to darkness, maybe she was seeing danger where there wasn’t any.

“Erin, talk to me?”

She straightened and pasted on a smile. Riley had run to her rescue, proving yet again that he was one of the good ones. Even if she wanted to throttle him and his team for not allowing her home or to her office before leaving the country.

“I’m fine. Everything is fine,” she said.

“What did he say?” Riley’s frown telegraphed his disbelief.

“Just that he was glad I was back. I asked if he was in trouble and what he’d do next. Nothing, really.”

“Yeah?” Riley peered over the edge of the balcony at the ground below. It was harder to make out the landscaping in the quickly fading light. “I wouldn’t recommend trying to get out this way. That fall would be a bitch.”

“How? I wasn’t...” Erin gaped at him.

“Oh, come on. Give me some credit.” Riley nudged her back inside the room and closed the sliding doors. “I can spot someone who wants to slip away. Tell me why?”

He perched on the edge of the bed, completely serious in his request.

“Someone wants me out of Erbil. Why? Why was I targeted? What do I know? Or what should I know?” She began pacing the bedroom, her mind whirling. “A month ago, one of the other Project Managers died from an allergic reaction. I inherited Osman’s workload. What if there’s something in those boxes? I can’t just leave and hope it all turns out okay because the company wants to cover their ass by pulling me out of here.”

“Where are these files?”

“My office at the NexGen complex.”

“How far from here is that?”

“Twenty miles? I’m not exactly sure.”

“Safe area?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you lying to me?”

“No. Erbil is as safe a place as you can get in this part of the world. It’s why they want me out of here. They want to cover up that an attack even happened.”

“Okay, then get dressed.” Riley opened one of the black bags and shoved a handful of material at her. It was dark colored and thin.

“What the...?”

“It’s something with a scarf. You know how to wear that, right?”

Erin stared at Riley. What was he implying?

“Look, you’re going to be a pain in the ass about this unless we get whatever it is you think you need. You’re going to keep looking for a way to slip away or whatever, and that makes my job more difficult. So, the only solution I see is to make a hard pitch to Grant and Megan about why we need to go get this stuff together. Otherwise we’re toeing the line of holding you prisoner and that’s not what we do.”

“You’re going to help me?”

“Your safety is on me. If you get hurt, even if it’s because you ran away, that’s still on me. Give me a chance to do this the right way with the right support. We go to your office, get the files, come back here, and you get on the plane tomorrow with us. Deal?”

He was serious.

She swallowed and blinked a few times, unprepared for Riley’s willingness to go to bat for her.

“What gave me away?” She shook out the garment and its complimentary scarf.

“Turning in early,” he said.

“Maybe I’m tired.” She laid the scarf on the bed and held up the long-sleeved, floor length garment.

“You did everything you could to not be in a room by yourself last night,” he said, a softness to his voice.

She swallowed, and her insides quivered.

Erin pulled the garment on over her head and shimmied it in place. The burnt orange color wasn’t something she’d pick, but it was popular among locals. The desert hues always went off well, it seemed. She wrapped the scarf in her best imitation of a hijab. Her mother would no doubt scoff and have a few words, but it wasn’t like she’d ever worn one before her first deployment.

“There. Not my favorite color, but it’ll work. How do I look?” She held out her hands.

“It works.” Riley pushed to his feet. “What is your favorite color?”

“Blue. Why?” She frowned, caught off guard by the question.

“Curious is all. Wait here. I’m going to go get Melody and we’ll make our case to her first. Grant’s going to say no, so our best bet is getting her on our side.”

RILEY JOGGED DOWN THE stairs.

Melody and Grant had retreated to opposite ends of the house, which meant their nightly sparring for who was really in control was over. Riley knew what he was about to do was over the line. Grant wasn’t going to forgive him for this easily, if ever. But it was the right thing to do.

“Hey, Melody?” He leaned against the kitchen counter where she stood going over something on her tablet.

“Hm?”

“Can I speak to you? Upstairs?” He kept his voice low.

Melody didn’t say anything but her body grew still and her gaze slowly slid toward him.

“It’s about Erin,” he said even softer.

Melody jerked her head once.

Here went nothing.

He turned and led the way back up the stairs, sweat breaking out under his arms and along his spine. Before Melody, when the team was divided, he and Grant weighed in with voting. Now that Melody was in the picture, there were three of them in charge. If Riley got her on his side, Grant would be out-voted. He would see this as a betrayal. In Grant’s mind, Riley was his loyal second and should do what he wanted. Riley thought the world of Grant, but the truth was they were human. Grant’s objectivity since Melody’s introduction was shit. More than a few of his judgments were out of spite.

Riley opened the door and ushered Melody into the room with Erin.

“Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like where this is headed?” Melody turned toward Riley.

“Because you aren’t, but I need you to hear me out because Grant won’t.” And Riley was counting on that last fact hooking her into at least listening to him.

“Go on,” Melody said.

“Erin’s going to be a flight risk for as long as this job lasts if we don’t give her some leeway. I know Grant’s instructions were pretty strict about us not even going to her house for a change or clothes or personals, but that’s not right.”

“I don’t even need to go home,” Erin said.

“What is it you want to do?” Melody crossed her arms over her chest.

“I want to go to the office. Someone has set me up and NexGen wants to cover the whole thing up. I want to know why.” Erin’s eyes flashed.

“We can’t hold her against her will, and I’ve already talked her into not climbing out the window once.” Riley took a deep breath. “It’s a twenty minute drive to her office. Twenty minutes inside and twenty back, we’re gone under an hour.”

“Grant will never go for this, you realize that?” Melody glanced between them.

“That’s why we’re going to vote on it. You’re Grant’s equal. I’m second in command after him. I just need you to see that this is important to fulfilling our job,” Riley said.

“Have you considered how Grant will see this? Going behind his back to talk to me?” Melody clasped her hands in front of her.

Riley winced. He knew Grant had a chip on his shoulder about Melody. Going around him this way with her help wasn’t going to do positive things for the team, but it was the right thing to do.

“I’m willing to do it if you’ll back me up. I know I’m right on this,” he said.

Melody turned toward Erin.

“Is he right? Are you going to be a flight risk?” Melody asked.

“I’m not leaving without answers.” Erin stood up straighter.

“Alright. Fine.” Melody blew out a breath and rubbed her temples. “But we do this up here away from the others. It’s going to cause enough problems without having the rest of the team watching. Erin, wait by the patio doors. Riley, go get Grant. I’m going to tell Brenden to prep to go. Myself, Vaughn and Nolan will stay here.”

Riley could have hugged Melody, but the look on her face was all business.

He opened the door and they each went their separate way. Melody down the hall, he and Erin down the stairs.

Riley found Grant still at the dining table while Nolan and Vaughn were flipping channels.

“Hey.” Riley braced his hands on the table. “Mind if we have a word? Upstairs?”

Grant glanced up, his frown etched deep on his face.

“Sure.”

Riley turned and swallowed. He’d worked side by side with Grant for years, and this was the first time he was going around his Team Leader. Grant had always seen reason so long as they remained faithful to the spirit of the mission, but lately with Melody part of the team he was more black and white than ever.

They returned to the room, but this time Melody was the only one waiting for them.

“What’s going on?” Grant eyed Melody like she might bite him.

“We need to talk about Erin and our instructions,” Riley said.

“What about them?” Grant turned so Riley was on his left, Melody on his right.

“I caught her trying to sneak out. She’s not going to stay put, and we can’t hold her against her will. Even if it’s in her best interest. The only way we bring her home—willingly—is if we work with her. All she wants to do is go by her office for twenty minutes.”

“No,” Grant snapped.

“You want to lose the asset?” Riley threw up his hands.

“She doesn’t know what’s good for her,” Grant said.

“Pull your head out of your ass, man.” Riley met Grant’s glare with his own. “She’s an American. We can’t treat her like a prisoner. If we call Zain or Crawford and run this by them, you know what they’ll say.”

“Orders are orders.” Grant shook his head.

“Fine. Then we vote on it. Or, we call home for further instruction.” Riley knew Grant wouldn’t call if he didn’t have to. Not for something like this. He’d take additional instruction as a slap in the face or a critique of his work.

“I vote we give Erin an armed escort to her work place, then back here.” Riley held up his hand.

“No,” Grant snapped.

“I’m with Riley on this one,” Megan said. “Holding someone against their will is a federal offense. Erin is smart and pissed.”

“No one asked you,” Grant said.

“According to the leadership hierarchy, she’s your equal. That means her vote weighs just as much as yours.” Riley couldn’t look at Grant. Riley knew this was the right call. If he didn’t push for this Erin would leave. Then where would they be? What would happen to her?

The room descended into silence.

Riley could feel Grant’s stare, the betrayal. In Grant’s eyes Riley was siding with Melody. The enemy. Riley didn’t understand what their deal was or why Grant couldn’t play nice with her, but as of now it was getting in the way of the job. At the end of the day Riley had to do what was right.

“Incoming,” Brenden’s voice bellowed through the house.

The word sent an electric charge of panic up Riley’s spine. He whirled and bolted for the door. Incoming could mean anything, but in that tone? It meant an attack.

“Get Erin out of here,” Grant barked.

Riley bounded down the stairs.

Erin stood near the doors, her dark, wide eyes on him.

She wasn’t wearing a vest. Neither was Riley. And they had an incoming threat.

“What’s going on?” Erin asked.

“We’ve got to go. Now.” Riley scooped up his vest and the smaller one sitting on top of the gear.

He drew his hand gun and pulled the door open.

The security gate was open.

It shouldn’t be open.

“Get in. Get in. Get in,” Riley chanted. He shoved Erin toward the passenger door.

“What’s wrong?” She climbed inside.

A bright flash of light went off inside the house. Riley ducked his head before the flash grenade blinded him.

“We’re under attack.” He started the SUV and shifted into reverse, slamming his foot on the gas.

Riley twisted, and they bounced out onto the road.

Riley twisted the wheel, sending them out into the near lane at an almost perfect ninety degree turn. His only goal was to get Erin clear. The others would draw the attackers; keep them distracted while he and Erin got away.

The headlights glinted off the black body armor of a trio of people carrying guns. In Erbil. For a moment, they stared at the vehicle and Riley stared back.

“Fuck,” he spat.

Those were mercenaries.

“I NEED EYES ON that vehicle.” Mark watched a pair of tail lights whip around a corner and disappear from view.

Fuck.

With any luck, the target was still inside.

“Go,” he barked at the forward team ahead of him.

This whole plan was a risk. Striking in the heart of Erbil would bring the full power of the combined military forces down on them if they didn’t make it out fast.

He had to stop that woman. He needed her off the playing field.

The two men in front of him proceeded through the open gate. There was enough space for two vehicles to park, and two entries to the house.

The lights inside were off, casting everything into shadow.

Shit. The targets knew they were there. These weren’t a couple of hired bodyguards. Aegis Group had stolen a couple plush contracts out from under him. He wouldn’t mind getting his pound of flesh back.

“Find her or don’t bother coming back,” Mark said.

The two men in the lead moved forward, toward the glass doors.

“Making our approach from the front,” the other team chimed in.

Mark finally stepped through the glass doors into the swanky house. Plates sat in the kitchen. Cords were on the cream-colored sofa.

They hadn’t known he was coming.

Something made of metal hit the tile, the musicality of the impact causing the hair on the back of Mark’s neck to lift.

He ducked and turned moments before a blast of light erupted, chasing shadows away. The ring from the explosion pulsed behind his eyeballs.

Hands grabbed him, yanking him around.

Mark swung his fist, punching a man in the shoulder.

The man—Thomas—gripped Mark by the face and pressed his mouth to his ear.

“She’s not here,” he yelled as though at a great distance.

Mark stumbled back.

Fuck.

The slippery bitch was gone again.

A bullet whizzed past him, shattering the glass at his back, showering shards down on him.

“Retreat,” Mark bellowed.

He turned and ducked through the blown-out window.

It was every man for himself. They all knew that. It was the first thing he said to the guys who came to him looking for the lucrative work. The shit that paid better than anything else.