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“Yes, he would have.” Case got a hard look. “Since we mostly like him, we decided it would be a good idea to give him the assist.”
“Whatever the reason,” Nyx said, “I appreciate your help in getting me back to Trujillo. It’s been a rough week.”
“Understatement,” Case whispered near her ear.
BD addressed him. “Make sure she calls Archer. That’s number one on your to-do list, understood? If that man phones me and asks for an update because you put it off, someone is going to be filling sandbags for at least a month. Maybe longer, depending on how irritating he is.”
Now it was Case’s turn to come to attention. “Yes, sir, first thing. Understood.”
BD turned to go, but Chief Cordell stayed. He stared at Nyx, his expression not quite puzzled, but more quizzical.
“You have a question, Cordy?” Case asked.
The chief shook his head. “She looks familiar. I was trying to come up with why.”
BD returned to where they stood, although this time he stayed back from Cordy.
“Maybe you met my dad?” Nyx suggested. “I’m told I have a strong resemblance to him. Chief Jack Templeton?”
“Looper? Loop Templeton is your dad?” It was clear Cordy knew her father.
Nyx nodded.
Cordy turned to look at the captain. “It’s a damn good thing we rescued Looper’s daughter. I wouldn’t want to face his wrath if anything happened to her. The man is a bulldog and very protective of his little girl.” The chief’s gaze bore into his. “You hear that, Lurch?”
“I heard you loud and clear.” It didn’t make a damn bit of difference either.
“Come on, Cordy,” BD said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Lurch is an adult, even if he doesn’t look old enough to vote. He can make his own decisions.”
“And deal with the consequences,” the chief said.
“That, too.”
BD left, and the chief went with him. The rest of the team followed in dribs and drabs until only he and Nyx were left on the dock. She turned to look at him. “Are you still taking me to a hotel? I’d like a shower and maybe some fresh clothes.”
“Yeah, let’s go. But the shower waits until after you talk to Archer.”
He guided her toward the street. Even dressed in camo gear and carrying, Case didn’t get much attention. Armed mercenaries were nothing new here, and if they weren’t going to gawk at him, they weren’t going to risk pissing him off by staring at Nyx.
“Fireball,” he asked quietly, “are you still thinking you want me to…” he let his voice trail off, unsure how to ask the question.
“Do I still want you to be my first? Yes. If you’re willing, after hearing about my dad.”
“I’m willing. More than.”
He had her on his left side, and Case reached out to take her hand, linking their fingers. She gave him a squeeze. Nine days. Nine days ago, she sat down at his table at the open-air market to eat her lunch and nothing had been the same since. She’d rocked his world. Now he couldn’t imagine not having her around, not?—
There was one more conversation they needed to have.
“You’re going back to LA,” he said. “It’s already arranged. Archer set it up. Saturday morning you fly up to Rio Blanco and then board a plane to Lima. You’ll spend the night in Peru and then fly home Sunday.”
Case waited for an argument, a growl of outrage, for fire to shoot from her eyes. That wasn’t what he got.
“I can’t remain here. I know.” Nyx didn’t sound happy. “Even with the colonel no longer an issue, I still have Vargas to worry about. If I stay, I endanger Frankie and Ellis.”
“I’m surprised you’re being so reasonable about this.”
“Vargas isn’t going to give up on the treasure because we escaped. In fact, he’s going to be extra pissed off about that. My presence creates all kinds of problems and not just for Frankie and Ellis. He can use me against you again, too. I won’t allow you to be in even more danger than you already are because of me. Bank on that.” She gave him a glare for good measure and practically marched down the street.