Chapter 2 #2
Radley laughed, practically feeling gleeful.
“Exactly. Although from what you’ve told me about Sawyer, I highly doubt he’d ever want to be called lover boy.
I’m happy you’re happy,” she admitted. “And hey, you’re welcome to stay here if you want to come visit.
Although who’d want to trade sunny Hawaii for gloomy Seattle? ”
“Trade it? Not a chance. But coming to see you is always a yes.”
“Just name the day,” Radley said. “I’ll get the guest room all set up. I can’t believe I’m officially a homeowner now—well, a condo owner, at any rate.”
“A condo is a home. And yours is in a luxury building, nonetheless. It looked amazing in the pictures you sent. You’re living the high life now,” Riley teased.
“Something like that. You’re the one with a man, but hey—I’m perfectly happy to stay single. Forever.”
She could almost picture her sister rolling her eyes. “You say that now, sure, but we both know you’re going to meet the right guy and—bam. Fireworks. Explosions.”
“That’ll probably just be me blowing his shit up when I’m mad,” Radley said dryly.
“You’ve always had a quick temper,” Riley said with a laugh. “But no, Rad, even you are going to fall head over high heels for a man eventually. He’ll probably need to have a gruff, take-no-shit kind of personality to put up with your temper, but his big dick will make it worth it.”
Radley nearly choked on her water.
“You okay there, sis?” Riley teased.
“I’m fine. And damn. I’ll admit my vibrator isn’t the same as the real deal, but it also doesn’t expect me to cook it dinner every night.
” She was grinning now, just getting into her element.
She missed her sister, she realized. They’d lived together for several years after leaving the government, and it wasn’t the same having to pick up the phone any time she wanted to talk.
“Speaking of dinner, I’ve got to head into work soon. Gotta get there before the dinner crowd and all that jazz.”
“Gotcha. One more thing before you go,” Radley said, frowning. “You haven’t gotten any weird texts lately, have you?”
“I’m guessing you don’t mean from Sawyer,” Riley said, suddenly all business. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, but I think someone has been following me the past week in Seattle. Either that or they’re tracking my phone or vehicle. I got some texts this afternoon, and whoever sent them knew every move I’ve made over the past few days.”
“That’s creepy. Did they threaten you?” Riley asked, her voice filled with tension.
“They claimed they were going to expose some wrongdoings I’d committed. It was pretty fucking vague, to be honest, but I don’t like that I’m being watched.”
“Me either. Think it’s related to Schultz?”
“Most likely, although we’ve been in our fair share of shit over the years, so it could be something else. We weren’t exactly making new friends helping to bring in terrorists overseas,” Radley said.
“And that dickbag exposed you. Be careful,” Riley said.
Radley’s thoughts churned. When the bastard who’d assaulted her had realized she was going to the higher-ups, he’d leaked her name.
Ruined her cover. She’d fled the country with her sister, but her photo was still out there.
And clearly, someone was watching her. It fucking sucked to realize she not only had to worry about danger from the evil men they’d tracked overseas but also from evil men in her own country—from within her former agency.
Just because Schultz was locked up didn’t mean others weren’t involved in the cover-up.
“Did you hear me?” Riley asked. “I said to be careful.”
“Always. It was disturbing to realize my movements are being tracked. I’ve barely gotten settled here in Seattle.”
“Maybe someone from the agency wants to offer you your old job back.”
“Ha. Unlikely, and not that I’d ever return.”
“What’s your new boss say?”
“Holt wants me to forward the messages to the guys in IT. I’ll probably have to loop in Bravo Team as well. The newest guy just came on board today. They’re doing their own teambuilding session, but we have an all-hands soon. I’ll officially meet everyone then.”
“Keep me posted,” Riley said. “You know I’ll do whatever I can from here.”
“You’ve got your own case to deal with,” Radley reminded her.
“And I certainly can handle more. I mean it, Rad. Send me whatever info IT finds out. If someone is tracking you, there’s a good chance they’ll come looking for me, too.”
“I know.” Her phone buzzed with an incoming text, and she tensed for a moment before realizing it was someone she knew. “Hey, I gotta go. I’ve been chasing down something and just heard back from my contact.”
The women said their goodbyes, and Radley swiped to read the text that had just come in. It was nothing more than an address, but it was an additional clue. She slid her phone into her back pocket, her thoughts whirling as she strode through her new place.
Her eyes swept the empty living room, furnished with nothing more than a single sofa and entry-way table.
She needed furniture. Art work. Cozy little throw blankets and decorative pillows.
Maybe a plush rug in front of the gas fireplace where she and her lover could get busy in front of a roaring fire.
Except wait—she was alone. And the last man she’d trusted, as a mere colleague, had betrayed her in the worst way possible.
She moved down the hall to her bedroom, her thoughts turning stormy once more. Radley had wandered the world for so long, it was somewhat surprising that she’d chosen to put down roots here in Seattle of all places. It wasn’t even sunny or warm.
She trusted Jett with her life, however. In turn, that meant she trusted Holt and the team of men she’d be working with.
And if it didn’t work out? She’d been on her own before, taking assignments with Riley, and she’d do it again if necessary.
One thing Radley knew for certain—she would never depend on a man when she was one-hundred-percent capable of providing for and defending herself.
Radley was a force to be reckoned with, and the men of Bravo Team would find that out sooner rather than later.