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“I still don’t like it,” he muttered. “I should be by your side protecting you, not your teammates. You’re everything to me, Teagan. I love you.”
“I love you, too, but we have to let this play out. You were right about Peters assigning me a location for a sniper’s nest. Instead of looking for the perfect shot to take out the president, I’ll be looking for Russ King.”
Worry gnawed at her gut. If she took too long to locate King, he would fire on President Martin, then pick off Seth and his men. What he couldn’t finish, Salitto would. Seth and the others also had to watch for members of the militia in the audience.
Seth cupped her face between his palms. “I have faith in you. You’ll find him in time. I’m more concerned about the plan Peters and Richardson have for you and Violet. If your teammates can’t stop them, the retrieval team will take you and Violet. We’ll find you, baby, but it will take time. I don’t want that for you.”
“I’m worried I won’t spot King in time to stop him from shooting you and your friends. I wouldn’t survive without you, Seth.”
“That won’t happen. You’re better than Russ King, and you have more discipline and training than he does. You also don’t have his ego. Besides, we’ll be wearing bullet-resistant vests.”
“The vests don’t stop a bullet to the head.”
“Russ will go with the higher-percentage shot. He has a better chance of hitting one of us in the chest than the head.”
“Maybe.” She had to find King and stop him. “When King realizes I won’t take the shot at the president, his priority will be Martin.”
“You’ll find King before that happens. I believe in you.”
She believed in herself, too, but the stakes were high. So much rode on her skill. Teagan could lose everything. She reminded herself of the many hours she’d spent under the tutelage of Alex Morgan from the Durango unit. No one was a better sniper than Alex, and he said she was nearly as good as he was. Guess they’d see how her skills held up against traditional SWAT training.
Teagan hugged Seth. “Your belief in me means everything.”
“You ready?”
She nodded. “Let’s finish this so we can go home. I’m eager to go on our first actual date without an audience.”
“I’m looking forward to it myself.”
“No pressure, but I’m expecting a spectacular experience.”
Seth laughed. “Noted. I’ll do my best.”
After one more kiss, Teagan stepped back and picked up her Go bag, which held her sniper rifle and the other equipment she normally carried on a mission.
An hour later, after having gone through a gauntlet of security, the infiltration team walked into the ballroom where the president would speak in a few hours. Teagan glanced around the room and frowned. This was an enormous space. When filled with people, Seth and his team would have a difficulttime finding the backup team sent to make sure she and the others did their jobs.
She was also glad to see two ballistic shields in place in front of the podium where the president would speak. If she was slow in refocusing her scope on King and the other sniper got off a shot, hopefully the shields would do their job and protect Martin.
Seth turned to Teagan. “Are you sure you want to do this? It’s not too late to back out.”
“We have to act like we’re following orders,” she murmured. “It’s the only way to smoke out the conspirators and protect Martin.”
“All right.” He cupped her nape and drew her close to his body. “Be careful, Teagan. Protect yourself and Violet however you have to do it. Are you hearing me?”
Teagan drew in a ragged breath, understanding what he’d left unsaid. Her cop wanted her to kill if necessary to protect herself and her teammate. She gave a quick nod.
“If they take you, know I will tear the world apart to find you. No one will keep me from your side.”
“Any more instructions?”
His jaw clenched. “The time Peters wants the shot is 2:20.”
Twenty minutes after Martin began his speech. “I’ll be early.”
“Martin’s ready, and so is his security detail.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek. “I wish I could go with you.”
“You’re needed here. Watch your back. Salitto and King will look for payback.”