Chapter 22
Completely and utterly emotionally drained, the team sits around the table after having one of the hardest meetings they have ever had to endure. Tyler didn’t want to wait until he went through the files after he saw what Liz found hidden in their general’s desk, so he called an emergency meeting.
They spent the last few hours laying everything out, sitting in silence ever since. Liz wishes she could say something, anything to make it better, but she knows she has done enough damage agreeing to make sure Matt is included, making everything uncovered that much harder to face.
“Well, this sucks.” Mikey is the first to speak since they showed Riley the photos. “What do we even do with this? As far as we know, those are ransom notes, ignored ransom notes, but it doesn’t prove anything.”
“I won’t have proof of anything until I comb through the general’s computer and get those photos translated.
Either way, he was hiding that he knew exactly where Riley was, but with his connection to the joke of a man that runs the country, he will never face any consequences for it.
He can justify it by saying it was to keep everyone else safe,” Tyler says.
“I’m sorry, guys. I panicked when he came in.
I never should have agreed to anything he asked,” Liz says quietly.
The hand that wraps around hers eases the guilt, but not nearly enough.
She got Riley his position back, but it may have cost them everything.
If they don’t follow through and let Matt be as involved as he wants, Scott will, without a doubt, punish Riley for it.
If they do let him in, they will never be able to figure out what Scott is really doing.
“Don’t,” Riley orders. “Don’t do that to yourself. None of us knew what you would find, and that asshole was never supposed to show up. You did what you had to do and got the job done. I’m proud of you.”
A sharp knock echoes through the silence, drawing their attention away from their defeat. Whoever it might be is not welcome, forcing Liz to grumble her way to the door.
She glances over her shoulder in time to catch Riley sliding his black neck gaiter over his face, covering the bottom half. Mikey tosses a handful of paper menus into the center of the huddle, clearly no one is taking any chances.
The door swings open, and to absolutely no one’s surprise, she is left face to face with the last person she wants to see. Matt glances around her to the group of men watching them. His hazel eyes lock onto her, smiling wide enough to make his dimples pop.
“Can I please take you out to dinner?” he asks, more of a plea than a question.
Liz responds with a sigh, motioning for him to come into the apartment, beating back the urge to tell him to go to hell.
“We were just about to order something. Maybe next time,” she says, flashing a fake smile.
“That’s what you said last time. One date, and if you don’t have a good time, I will never ask again,” Matt pleads. A satisfied smile tugs at his lips when Liz looks at Riley, only to find him browsing a pizza menu, paying her no mind.
“I really can’t. Ry had some things he needed my help with,” she starts.
“I can manage,” he says without looking up. “I think you should give him a shot.”
The remaining men exchange glances, sensing the tension beginning to build. The three of them simultaneously stand, scrambling for the door before anyone can stop them, leaving with nothing but the promise to return with food.
“Okay. Fine. Where are you taking me?” she says through a sigh.
“Just a little Italian spot I know. Nice, but not too fancy.”
She gives him a quick once over, thinking of what she can wear to match.
“Give me a few minutes to get ready. I need to try and draw attention away from my fucked-up face,” she says, glaring daggers at Riley.
His lips shift under his mask, smiling mischievously, he winks, making her mad enough to walk away.
If she didn’t love the man so much, she would ring his neck.
The last thing she sees before ducking into her room is a chair kicked out in the way only Riley has mastered—a silent order for Matt to sit.
“How’s it feel to finally get what you’ve been after?” Riley asks, trying to stop himself from looking at the door Liz is tucked behind, dolling herself up for another man.
“Incredible. Thank you, sir, for stepping back and convincing her to give me a chance,” Matt says, following Riley’s eyes to the door.
“Just know, if you hurt her, if you offend her, if you do anything, and I mean anything that makes her even the slightest bit unhappy, we will kill you. Well, the other three will. I will take my good, sweet time, savoring every second of ruining you. I can break you in ways you can’t even begin to imagine,” he says coldly, smiling to himself under his mask.
He watches Matt with the same intensity as any other enemy he has faced before.
Their heads snap up as Liz comes strutting out of the other room.
The moment Riley lays eyes on her, regret hits him like a punch to the gut.
She is stunning. A white and blue floral milkmaid dress hugs her waist while still hanging loosely around her legs, the bodice cinched just right.
A set of white, chunky heels with thick straps wrap around her ankles and up her lower calf before tying neatly into a bow.
He catches Matt staring, both their eyes drifting to her exposed thigh where she is slightly bent at the waist, tightening the strap on the gun holster Riley had gifted her, his heart swelling at the sight.
Her long, black hair is half pulled back into a clip, holding it away from her face and cascading over her shoulder before she stands back upright.
The sway of her hips with each step has both men scrambling to their feet, rushing to her side.
“Fuck,” Riley mumbles, barely loud enough for them to hear. Matt’s head snaps to him, jaw clenched, fists balled at his side.
“Hey, beautiful,” Matt says proudly. The only acknowledgement he gets is a tight smile, watching her step over to Riley instead of him.
“Are you sure you don’t need me?” she asks, meeting his eyes, silently pleading with him to ask her to stay.
“God knows I do,” his tone is a low, a sultry promise of what will be waiting for her when she returns. He leans in, just close enough so only she can hear, “But if you don’t leave now, I will remind both of you exactly who you belong to.”
“Okay,” she says, trying to ignore the flash of heat growing between her legs. “I will see you later, I guess.”