Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Phoenix scrubbed a hand down his face, blinking a few times to get his eyes to focus. It had only been four hours since they’d attempted to get some sleep, not near enough for the past week. Though, he was more disappointed that he hadn’t gotten a chance to love Olivia a second time.
She’d passed out in his arms in the space of a heartbeat.
Smiling up at him one second, gone the next.
He hadn’t been far behind her. Just long enough to memorize the smooth contours of her face.
How well she fit against him, and he’d drifted off.
Knowing Cannon and Jericho were on duty had allowed Phoenix to lower his guard.
Do more than just catnap like he’d been doing at the lodge.
It also meant he’d been out cold when Gibson had knocked on the door—told him they needed to get back over to Bishop’s.
Which had spoiled Phoenix’s plans for the shower.
The one he’d intended on taking with Olivia.
Where he was going to soap every inch of her, rinse her off, then lick her into a frenzy.
What would have been followed by making love to her against the shower wall.
Maybe, again, once they got back to the room.
Instead, they’d had a quick, no-nonsense scrub in all of two minutes and been out the door. Back into the SUVs and the same seats they’d been sitting in when Becca had shooed them all from the room.
The woman hadn’t said a word since they’d walked in, but it was obvious she’d discovered something.
The way her fingers flew over the keyboard as she muttered to herself both clues.
The only time she’d paused was when Priest had brought her a cup of coffee.
She’d actually taken her eyes off the screen for a split second as she’d smiled and thanked the man, turning back when he’d motioned to the computer, smiling in return.
Phoenix glanced at Olivia, inhaling when she immediately focused on him. As if they were the only two people in the room. Those big green eyes gleaming in the lamplight. Damn, the woman was beautiful.
He’d come close to telling her he loved her, especially after she’d teared up when she’d discovered the dog tags.
He’d been worried she’d think he was crazy.
More proof of why she should cut her losses and jet back to London the moment the opportunity arose.
But then she’d smiled, and he’d realized she wasn’t sad.
That she was touched. Maybe humbled by his devotion.
That it didn’t matter if he hadn’t known all the facts because he’d known her.
That Anna was exactly what he’d said—a part of her. Just as real. Just as true.
After that... It had been hard to hold back.
To keep the words, “I love you,” from slipping free every time he opened his mouth.
Hell, breathed. He’d eventually managed to phrase the words differently.
Tell her he wasn’t going to lose her, again.
But in his mind, it was the same as confessing his love.
And, sooner or later, he’d have to come clean.
Chance that she might not want the same future.
Though, the way she was staring at him, right now. ..
It made turning to look at Becca when she cleared her throat nearly impossible.
Some kind of medal-worthy feat because he didn’t want to break eye contact.
Lose that green gaze. But he did. Ignored the dopey smile Gibson flashed him.
The man seemed to take way too much pleasure in the fact Phoenix had fallen for Olivia a second time.
Becca made a point of looking them all in the eyes before sighing and shaking her head. “Before I go into details about what I’ve discovered, no one here is allowed to ask how or where I got this information.”
A snort from Cannon. “Hacker-speak for illegally.”
She gave the man the stink-eye. “If you’d like to go to jail for the rest of your life, I can walk you through it. Or...you can smile and wave, and we’ll all forget we ever had this conversation once we’re done.”
Cannon sobered, though it was evident he was still smiling beneath the stoic facade. “Yes, ma’am.”
“So, listening to Gibson say he felt as if this whole thing was a setup got me thinking. How would Smyth arrange a setup without anyone suspecting it was a setup? I mean, you guys all take paranoia to a whole new level, so...what would it take to fool you?”
Dungeon shrugged. “Easy. Make us think it was our idea.”
Becca smiled. The kind that could stop traffic. “I’ve changed my mind. I like him.”
Cannon laughed. “That sounds like a challenge, Dungeon. I’d watch my six if I were you.”
Becca stuck her tongue out at Cannon. “Anyway, Dungeon’s correct. If Smyth arranged it so you all thought you were getting the drop on him, then you wouldn’t hesitate walking right into an ambush.”
Gibson scoffed. “While I agree with your way of thinking, I got that information from a rather...unique source. No way that bloke was lying.”
“I assume you’re referring to Mr. O’Leary. The hitman you had a ‘chat’ with?” There was no mistaking the tone of Becca’s voice. That she thought Gibson was nuts, too. “And no, I don’t think he was lying to you. He just didn’t know he was also part of the con.”
Gib frowned, glancing around the room. “Afraid, you’ve lost me, love.”
Did every woman blush when Gibson called them love? Because there was no hiding the slight flush on Becca’s cheeks from the endearment.
“In order for Smyth to get to all of you, he had to devise a plan that made you think he was the vulnerable party. To do that, he needed someone outside of Cannon’s crew to uncover a genius opportunity and get the rest of you to sign up.”
“But Smyth doesn’t know about me.” Gibson arched a brow. “Otherwise, I’d be on that list.”
She nodded at Gibson. “He didn’t know about you until that day on the pier. That’s the only time most of you were together, along with Slader.”
“Are you suggesting Smyth was at that pier? Was part of Slader’s squad?”
“He didn’t need to be.” She tapped a few keys then turned her laptop until it was facing everyone else. “All he needed was to have someone hack into Slader’s drone feed, and viola... He’s got you all smiling pretty for the camera.”
Phoenix cursed at the image. The one with all of them gathered together. Slader lying on the ground. The rest of them scattered around. Gibson’s face clearly visible as he searched the sky for that second drone.
“Bloody hell.” Gibson stood, moved over to the computer. “How the hell did Smyth hack Slader’s second drone? And how the hell did you uncover it?”
She tsked. “No asking about how or where this came from. And I told you, Smyth has a master hacker. I recognize a few signature codes in the routing the guy used to breech Slader’s secure firewall.
He calls himself ‘Morpheus’, either because of the movie, or after the Greek god of dreams. I’m not sure which, but I digress. ..”
She showed a few more images, clearly outlining everyone who’d been at that takedown. “As you can see, there are clear images of everyone there. All Smyth had to do was get an informant to slip you the name of that assassin, Gibson, and the rest fell into place.”
Bishop stood. “But like I said. That retreat is legit. Are you suggesting everyone there was in on it? All those other delegates?”
“Not quite.” More tapping, then more photos popping up. “This is one of the teams that was supposed to take part. Do they look familiar?”
Bishop frowned. “First, you’re scary, lady. None of that should be hackable. Second, I don’t remember you flying that team in, Olivia.”
Olivia shook her head. “I didn’t. Just like I didn’t fly in all those blokes we encountered in the lower levels.”
Becca sighed. “My guess is, they replaced all the teams with their own personnel. The real teams either got taken somewhere else for their dealings or will wake up in a hotel never the wiser. Nothing but blank memories for the past week.”
“Wouldn’t Smyth simply kill them?”
“And open up a possible international scandal? I doubt the man makes those kinds of mistakes. Not if there’s another option.”
“So, Smyth thinks he can set up my company.” Bishop glared at the screen. “Not on my watch. Give me a second.” Bishop had his cell to his ear, talking as he walked into the hallway.
Phoenix shifted in his seat, looking over at Cannon. “I don’t get it. If they wanted us dead, why not just wait until we showed up then cap us instead of trying to waylay us in ways they knew might fail? And why keep up the ruse for five days?”
Dungeon stepped forward. “First off, those attacks would have worked if you weren’t the best damn sniper in the world.
Taking out a helicopter with a hunting rifle, then a guy in the woods three clicks off?
That’s insane. Second, they obviously had another agenda.
They’d talked about trading us for that key code Crow had.
They just underestimated how batshit crazy you are, bro. Because...that rescue...” He whistled.
Phoenix shrugged. “We didn’t have many options. Besides, it beat dying.”
“Hell, yeah.” Dungeon looked over when Bishop reappeared in the doorway.
The man huffed. “I just talked to the sheriff. They’re onsite now, and there’s no one there. Nothing. Whole place is deserted.”
Phoenix grunted. “That doesn’t bode well. Does he know where they went?”
“Says there are tracks leading north. Looks like they brought in some snowcats. Other Arctic based transporters. But the weather’s too iffy to try and follow.” Bishop smiled at Olivia. “Guess their pilot isn’t quite as crazy as ours. Seems to be a recurring theme with you and Vale.”
Olivia grinned. Becca’s smile could stop traffic, but Olivia’s could stop time. “I prefer to look at it as being highly motivated.”
Bishop chuckled. “You would.”