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“And why would we let you do that?” sneered Kyle.

“Because if you did put me in charge…” Markus said, in low, even tones. “Even temporarily?”

Very slowly he glanced around the room, from one person to the next.

“We could all set a trap for him.”

Forty-Seven

RYAN

We walked together for a while, just the four of us, with Kyle hanging back to watch over our guest. Soon we were stomping across the grounds in the chill night air, down where the moonlight played across the lake in a silvery blur.

“So what do you think?”

The question came from Briggs. He walked with his usual confidence, right past the spot where he’d fought off one of Markus’s hired attackers. I couldn’t believe it was almost four long years ago.

“His plan is solid,” Dakota admitted. “Especially since Goddard’s back is to the wall. At least for now.”

“Yes, but can we trust him?”

At this Dakota shrugged. “We did before,” he admitted, nodding in the direction of Sammara. “And he didn’t let us down.”

“Yes, but this time he’d have control of Di Spatia,” Briggs warned. “He’d be in command, with the entire company at his disposal.”

We walked some more, and Sarge ran up alongside us. I was suddenly jealous of how obliviously happy he was, just trotting along, wagging his tail.

“What do you think, Ryan?”

Up until now I’d been quiet. I didn’t like either one of our options, to be honest. Trusting Markus Ladrone seemed like an all-too obvious mistake. But not doing anything…

Well, that wasn’t an option either.

“What if we let some of the higher officers in on it?” I asked. “The ones we trust?”

“That might be good,” Dakota agreed. “The only problem is the mole. One or more of them is working with Goddard. If we tell the wrong one…”

I made a sour face, indicating he was right.

“So then let’s go with the only option we have,” Sammara said, matter-of-factly. “We give him a shot.”

Everyone stopped walking at once, except for her. She got another three steps before turning around.

“What?”

“Sammara, you do realize we’re talking about Markus Ladrone here.”

“And?”

“The guy who almost abducted you,” Briggs went on. “The one who almost got us all killed.”

She shifted one sexy hip and folded her arms. Sarge ran up happily to sit next to her foot.

“Also the guy who rescued you,” she pointed out. “The guy who left his own private paradise to fly halfway across the world to come find you.”

Briggs laughed. “Yeah. Because you promised him something you couldn’t deliver.”

Her expression went instantly cold. She didn’t look outright angry… but she didn’t look happy either.