The Boss Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 3) by Victoria Paige (summer beach reads .TXT) 📕

on the spot like that and in front of me—”

“I may have gone a bit too far …”

“A bit?” Declan laughed without humor. “Why did Nadia really quit helping you?”

“We had a disagreement,” John said, his mouth thinning. “She can’t hack it.”

“Did you say that to her?” Bristow shook his head. “Man, you can be such a prick.”

Charly wondered how many synonyms for asshole in the male organ flavor John was going to be called before breakfast would be over.

“She wouldn’t stop apologizing for leaving us stranded in Mexico.”

“People apologize because they give a shit, John,” Declan groaned.

“Let me guess, you told her to suck it up,” Bristow said dryly.

Garrison mumbled into his coffee; it could have been an affirmative reply.

“You didn’t,” Charly said. She didn’t know John that well, but if Nadia was the one guiding their team during their rescue, then given the circumstances, she was more than capable.

“Look, I called her when we landed,” John said. “She didn’t pick up. I don’t leave voicemails if it’s not a phone vetted by me.”

“I thought she had one,” Bristow said.

“She returned it.”

The ginger haired SEAL frowned. “When? We went from Mexico straight to Rio … well there was that few hours we were Stateside …”

Bristow trailed off, his brows shooting to his hairline.

Garrison sent him a silencing look.

Now that’s interesting, Charly thought.

“Send her an email,” Declan said as he took another bite of the sandwich he stole from Bristow. “Do you need help framing an apology? We need her. Although Gabby said the LAPD has her tied up.”

“Wait, Nadia isn’t CIA?” Charly asked.

“No,” Bristow said. “She’s LAPD.” He angled a smirk at John. “Not sure why Garrison enlisted her help.”

“I like her skill set.”

“I bet you do,” Bristow’s smirk turned into a shit-eating grin.

“Doesn’t the CIA have analysts?” Charly asked.

Declan laughed. “I don’t think anyone wants to work with John. He frequently goes off script, bullies everyone to go rogue with him and everyone gets exiled.”

“Ariana told me that story. How Migs had to leave her for eight months,” Charly said. “Were you two banished too?”

“No,” Bristow said. “We’re contractors.”

“On paper, I work for a security company,” Declan said. “Which is why I’d make a good cover as a bodyguard,” he sighed. “I was kind of getting used to Nadia. You better get her back, Garrison.”

“Groveling might help,” Charly muttered.

Garrison had been largely ignoring them and was quickly packing away his breakfast. “The subject of Nadia is closed. We’ve got work ahead of us. Charly, you’re back at the CDC. Looks like Homeland Security and the CDC released the news of the contaminated party pills. They want you there to provide the science and assure the skeptics that we have a cure should the XZite be used.”

“I haven’t tested the antiviral.”

“Then you have to get started,” he glanced at Declan. “You’ll stay with her at the CDC. They might not let you into the Biosafety levels but stick to her as much as possible.”

“Got it.”

“Andrade and I are going to see Claudette.” Garrison was still looking at Declan. “What did Gabby say?

Declan’s face looked pained. “She’s coming with.”

“Great.” Garrison frowned at his phone and got up from the table. “I’ve got some calls to make.” When the CIA officer disappeared onto the patio, the three of them looked at each other.

“He’s been making a lot of secretive calls.” Charly observed.

“Get used to it.” Bristow packed in the last bite of his second croissant sandwich. “He moves the chess pieces and we’re his executors.”

“Does he always get it right?”

“Depends what you mean,” Declan said enigmatically.

Charly hitched her shoulders. “I don’t know—”

“What to make of him?” the detective’s husband volunteered.

“Yes.” Because he certainly needed a lesson in sensitivity.

Declan’s brows drew together. “The only thing that would hang in the balance is whether he has to choose the greater good or your life.”

“That’s not very reassuring,” Charly laughed in derision.

“I agree. He doesn’t give a shit about politics, but he’d give his life for someone else rather than save himself.”

“Okay. That’s more reassuring.”

“Garrison’s always one step ahead,” Declan said. “The day he’s not, then we’re in deep shit.”

22

Prison didn’t agree with Claudette. Antonio almost felt sorry for the woman who once shared his bed. For all her beauty, her voluminous head of pale blond hair was what drew his attention at first, followed by her hourglass figure. He could hardly remember her features the first time he saw her. Now she’d gathered her hair in a braid, and the top half of her head indicated she hadn’t maintained its color for months.

Sitting across from her in a private interrogation room with a two-way mirror, all he could muster up was loathing. How had he allowed himself to be so careless with his lovers? He admired her for her ruthlessness, but to steal someone else’s baby was beyond repugnant.

On the other side of that mirror was Detective Woodward. She and Garrison agreed it was best she stayed out of this conversation. Besides, it was him who Claudette wanted to see.

“Antonio,” she breathed. “You came.”

The way her face lit up when she saw him made him uncomfortable. He wasn’t here to save her. He was here to get answers. And to give her closure in case she thought they were still a couple. “It appears we have unfinished business.”

“I had nothing to do with those virus pearls,” she said in a rush. “You have to believe me.”

“I’ve read your interview with the detectives. It seems it didn’t cover anything about the Z-91 virus,” he replied. “Do you know why someone would want to kill you?”

She glanced at Garrison who was letting Antonio do the talking. “Surely the CIA knows this person who attacked me.”

“We have an idea. Related to a Ukrainian criminal brotherhood,” Garrison said. “You said you have a name.”

“I want a reduction in sentence,” she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed.

“That’s not ours to decide.”

“Then I’m not talking.”

Fuck. Now what?

Garrison emitted a chilling laugh. “You may be in isolation