Page 13 of Being Bold (Tactical Operations & Protection (TOP) Security #1)

That explained how Yumi had tracked his phone when it was supposed to be untraceable, but it didn’t make Bo trust her any better.

Especially, not after one of TOP’s members, who’d been former CIA, just turned on the team.

That fucker was the reason Crane wound up in the hospital with a gunshot wound.

Selene’s gray-green eyes widened with shock. “You work for the C-I-A?” she emphasized each letter, disbelief clear in her voice.

Yumi only shrugged. “I’m sorry, Selene. You were safer not knowing. At least, until . . .”

Either she was an outstanding actress, or that was genuine concern in Yumi’s expression. Bo wanted to believe it but wasn’t ready to let down his guard.

Selene blinked. “Does he know?”

“No. He believes my cover, which is that I have connections to the Yakuza and can provide him with,” she paused as if she’d almost revealed something she shouldn’t, then finished with a vague, “things he finds useful.”

Remembering the blades she’d carried and her skill in using them, Bo had a feeling her connection to the Japanese mob was more than just a cover.

“Yumi, what was on that microchip?”

His people skills might be rusty, but the hurt was evident in the tone of Selene’s voice and the hand she’d fisted over her stomach. She felt betrayed. He was familiar with that feeling.

Damn Jordy for turning on TOP.

“Nothing. The one you found was empty, a fake copy I hoped I wouldn’t need.”

“A copy of what?”

When her friend hesitated, anger flashed in Selene’s eyes. “Dammit, Yumi! I have a right to know. You almost got me killed.”

The woman flinched, closing her eyes on an exhale. When she opened them, he read the apology before she said, “I’m so, so sorry, Selene. I never meant for you to get hurt.”

When he sensed Selene softening, he spoke up before Yumi had another chance to evade the question. “What was on the real one?”

His gruff voice seemed to startle the women as if they’d forgotten he was there. Yumi recovered first, hands flexing before she forced them still in her lap. “Information, files, and an AI model.”

Bo knew weapons, explosives, and several forms of hand-to-hand combat, but tech had never been his strong suit.

“Artificial Intelligence?”

Yumi nodded at Selene’s request for clarification. “Not just any AI either. Saber Tech has weaponized it.”

Well, fuck.

Bo had plenty of nightmares, but AI being turned into a weapon was one of those apocalyptic fuckers that scared anyone with half a brain shitless. How the hell did you fight that kind of thing?

“Weaponized how?” He wanted to know exactly what they were up against.

“Think of the model as a virtual brain. It’s autonomous. It can search and engage targets without human intervention. And it’s constantly learning and evolving. Any machine with a digital signal? It can hack into it.”

Oh, so the worst possible scenario, then.

Bo could’ve groaned. If Dao had a weapon that could target anything, anywhere . . . it needed to be destroyed before he had a chance to use it.

“Oh my God,” Selene breathed, ocean eyes swirling with a tempest of emotion.

“Where’s the real chip?” He wondered if she’d already turned it over to the CIA and what they planned to do with it.

Her gaze darted to Selene before she answered, “Selene’s apartment.”

“What?” Her gasped question made Yumi wince.

“I needed a hiding place in case I was compromised.”

Selene clutched her head and closed her eyes. “Was everything a lie?” she half whispered through the hurt in her tone, making Bo itch with the urge to comfort her.

What was it about her that triggered this need to protect her from anything, even emotional pain?

Yumi beat him to it, grabbing Selene’s hands, she tugged until those gray-green eyes focused on her. “No. Your friendship wasn’t part of the job. I care about you, and whatever it takes, I will make this right.”

Refusing to acknowledge the answer his brain conjured, he said, “Let’s start by retrieving that chip.” He didn’t trust Yumi to get it and not disappear.

Despite what he didn’t say, she understood his message, giving a slight nod in acknowledgment.

“We head over there now. The temps will continue to drop, and it’s a half-hour trek to my outfit—on a sled.”

At least she could drive her own. He kept his hidden under a tarp near the woodpile, and he’d rather not share it with someone he didn’t fully trust. No need to make himself vulnerable to another knife attack. Because he’d bet she had more hidden on her person.

“Outfit?”

Selene’s question had him blinking at her. Oh, right. She hasn’t been in Montana long. “My truck,” he explained.

“Oh.” She gave a sharp nod. “I’m coming with you.”

He and Yumi swiveled to look at Selene. Her friend shook her head, but he spoke first. “No. It’s too risky. They could be watching the apartment. You’ll be safer here.”

“He’s right. We don’t want them to find out you’re still alive.”

Selene stood with a jerk. “No. They did this to me .” She smacked her chest. “This is my life. I’m not going to just sit here and wait for them to find me. Either I go or none of us do.”

He admired her ability to glare her demand at them but keeping her here would be laughably easy. And yet . . . he ached to give her what she wanted because he’d feel the same way in her shoes.

With a sigh, he stood. “Fine.” He’d scout for any surveillance and ensure she stayed in the pickup truck.

“Fine.” Yumi eyed him like she wasn’t happy he’d given in.

Bo felt a headache brewing, right between his eyes. He needed to talk to Victor and bring TOP up to speed because this mission had morphed into a lot more than a simple protection op.

“Oh, but wait.” The steel left Selene’s voice. “Let me help you with that first.” She pointed at his chest, and he cursed. He’d forgotten about the cut—again.

With a grunt, he headed for the bathroom. Hoping and dreading she’d follow him. He was only human, and the idea of Selene’s hands on him . . .

Yeah, it didn’t suck. He could clean the wound on his own, but letting her do it meant he could keep an eye on her, away from Yumi. Whom he still didn’t trust. Maybe she was just cagey because of her job, or maybe she was hiding something. He intended to find out.