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“Deal.” He liked she was confident enough in their relationship to see them as a couple in the future.
“You’re not worried about what I’ll choose?”
“Why should I be? I’ll spend one-on-one time with a fascinating, beautiful woman. I can’t lose.”
“Even if I take you shopping?” she teased.
He chuckled. “Sweetheart, I can carry bags with the best of them. Bring it on.” Seth wasn’t a fan of shopping, but if that’s what she wanted to do, he’d go without complaint. As long ashe was with Teagan, life was good. And that thought right there proved how far he’d fallen for this mysterious lady.
The rest of their teammates filed into the room. “Any coffee left?” Marsh grumbled.
Seth studied his teammate much as he had Teagan. “Couldn’t sleep?”
“Did you expect otherwise after what we witnessed in that dining hall?”
He squeezed Marsh’s shoulder. “Keep your eyes open today. Look for opportunities to connect with Jillian. I want her out of here as much as you do.”
“What’s our schedule today, Major?” Knight asked as he cracked the seal on a bottle of water for himself and tossed a bottle to Marsh.
“Taking it easy on you today. Four-mile run before we head to the training center. After we’ve passed whatever tests Richardson has cooked up, we’ll go back to our normal training routine in the mornings.”
“Sounds like fun,” Noah muttered. “Not.”
“Have to stay ahead of the criminals and competition.”
Bowen groaned. “Do you have to be so cheerful about it?”
Seth grinned, the grousing a reminder of their time in the military. “Suck it up, buttercup. Stretch out and let’s go. I want to find out how early people wake in the compound.”
Minutes later, he locked the door and set a slow pace for the first circuit of the compound. Nothing much had changed since he and Teagan were out the night before. If anything, the guards were more tired than ever.
Seth frowned. He glanced at Teagan. “Same guards.”
“Yep. Big mistake.”
“One of the first changes I’ll recommend.”
“Don’t make many suggestions,” she said wryly. “We don’t want to make it too difficult for our friends outside to get in if we need backup.”
“Right.” This was why he despised undercover assignments. He hated living a lie. If he didn’t offer the suggestions, men and women inside this compound might die when the feds or the enemy attacked the place. Not only that, Peters and Richardson would wonder about his expertise in security if he didn’t make suggestions to improve things in the compound.
Teagan was correct, though. If he beefed up security too much, he’d make the job of their backup team harder. He hated walking the undercover tightrope.
Seth glanced around as they began the second lap. According to the distance readout on his tactical watch, they needed to run eight laps to make the four miles.
By the time Seth and his team finished their run, they’d drawn an audience. Several of The Brotherhood members watched as they jogged back to their quarters.
He unlocked the front door and signaled for silence until Violet and Teagan had checked each room for new electronic devices.
The women returned minutes later. “House is still clear,” Violet said. “Breakfast or not?”
Seth glanced at his watch. “If anyone wants to eat, make it light. No telling what we’re in for. First stop for me after the training center will be the machinist’s shop to make a key for each of you. You can get food whenever you want as you have time. The rest of our lunch and dinner meals should be on schedule with everyone else. We can’t be antisocial if we’re hoping to learn The Brotherhood’s agenda.”
“I vote for a protein shake.” Teagan headed for the kitchen. “I saw a blender in the kitchen as well as what we need for shakes. I won’t need anything else until lunch.”
“Same.” Knight trailed after her, followed by the rest of the team.
Soon, each of them had downed a shake and put their glasses in the dishwasher.