Page 33 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)
“What in the ever-loving fuck were you thinking?” Mateo said through thin lips.
Two hours after she’d called him, McKinley, Howie, and Mateo were sitting in the mobile unit that'd been ransacked by one of Cross’s men.
“This is partly my fault,” Howie admitted to Mercy. “When I thought you were in danger, I abandoned the unit. My only concern was locating you, not safeguarding the equipment and chip.”
Mateo looked like he could rip someone’s head off, and completely ignored Howie. “Not only did you jeopardize yourself, but you also destroyed our only chance of capturing Cross.”
“I can get back into the system. I’ll get the information,” Mercy said.
With a jagged shake of his head, he said, “It’s too dangerous now.”
“I’m sorry.” Her chest tightened.
He blew out a long breath. “What did you expect would happen?”
“I want Cross and men like him to go to prison.”
He shook his head. “I need to speak to you alone, Mercy.” He stuck out his hand to McKinley. “Thanks for saving my sister’s life. I owe you a big one.” Then he stomped outside.
She didn’t look at her partners. Mercy knew it had taken a lot for them to sit and listen to Mateo’s rampage, some of it directed at them.
She stepped outside.
“I’m sorry—”
Mateo stopped her. “I don’t want an apology.” He tore a hand through his hair. “Cross isn’t a man who will let this slide.”
She nodded. What could she say? He was right.
“Get in my truck,” he demanded.
She gave no argument but climbed into the passenger seat.
He settled into the driver’s side, and some of the tension was missing from his expression. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just shook up. You have every right to be angry with me but in my defense, I wanted to nail those assholes who are taking advantage of women and getting away with it. I had to take the risk.”
“You didn’t need to do anything, Mercy! You’re not undercover. I assigned you a task, and you chose to take a risky approach.” He shifted uneasily. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
She told him in detail from the beginning until she called him.
“There’s something I didn’t want to say in front of Howie and McKinley.
I don’t plan to leave the case. My cover’s blown, so I’ll have to figure out another way to bring Cross down.
Your life is in danger. Cross won’t stop until he finds you.
There’s too much at stake. Too many powerful people can go down. ”
She lowered her eyes to her clasped hands. “There’s also something I want to tell you, or rather, give you.” She reached into a hidden pocket on the dress and took out the chip, holding it up for his view.
“What the hell?” He took it from her.
“The chip was my responsibility, so I wanted to keep it close. Hart mentioned that the hidden pocket in this dress is excellent for holding items. It turns out to be as secure as Fort Knox.”
“Smart move,” he whispered. “Let’s hope we have enough here to nail Cross.”
“Hopefully, it’ll help you forgive me a little for making such a dumb move.”
“When I tell you what’s going to happen, remember you only have yourself to blame.” He secured the chip in the console. “Now that you’re in danger, you have no choice but to disappear until I can put Cross where he belongs.”
“What are you talking about? Disappear?”
“I’ve set up a safe house for you. You’ll be leaving tonight.”
“I refuse to run. Why are we allowing a criminal to disrupt my life?”
Mateo sighed in exasperation. “I’ve already explained this to you. You’re not safe right now.”
“I know what I did was…careless, but I can’t just up and leave. I have a life here.”
“A man like Cross doesn’t know how to let things go. He knows you’re not working alone.”
As much as she wanted to argue, she knew she didn’t have a leg to stand on.
She’d made a risky decision to enter the club, and it'd backfired.
Her desire to see a man like Cross brought to justice outweighed her sense of safety.
She'd intended to gather enough evidence that a wealthy lawyer couldn’t come along and get Cross a reduced sentence.
“I’m grateful that you’re not giving up on nailing Cross.”
“He fucked up, royally. Even when you don’t listen to directions, I still have your back.
I’ll be going rogue, so that means I’ll be laying low myself for a while.
I need to know that you’re safe. Instinct tells me that Cross was tipped off.
From your version of events, he knew from the very beginning you were undercover. ”
“You’re thinking someone from SMH is working for Cross?”
“He hasn’t gotten this far without stoolpigeons. There’s a lot at stake here for a lot of people. Cross’s reach is like the gnarled roots of a tree. They continue to grow and spread.”
“You’re pointing fingers at McKinley and Howie.”
“Who else knew you were going there? You said Cross knew your name.”
He had a point, but accusing her partners didn’t seem plausible. “I trust them.”
“I hope you’re right.” He rubbed the creases from his brow. He’d aged considerably since he started the undercover agent position. His marriage was also on the rocks, which could have contributed to the physical change.
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re not telling me something important?”
“The less you know, the better.”
She crossed her arms defiantly. “If you’re not willing to tell me anything, then I’m not willing to uproot my life. You’re not the only one with responsibilities,” she reminded him.
“Do you have to be so stubborn?”
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black.”
“Look, I’m sorry I dragged you into this from the start. I should never have asked you to infiltrate Cross’s files. I knew it was risky, but I knew I could trust you. It seems not everyone can be trusted these days.”
“You can trust me. Ethical hacking is my job, and it’s what I’m good at. You’ve never protected me from my job before. You’re starting to worry me about your safety. If someone is leaking information to Cross, then your cover was blown a long time ago.”
Mateo was too young to look so old. She almost felt sorry for making things so difficult, but having him as a brother had never been a walk in the park.
He’d always been too protective and overbearing.
As a teen, he’d been watching over her shoulder no matter where she went.
He vetted every man she’d dated like they were applying for a position in the CIA.
If he saw so much as a speeding ticket, he felt like it was too risky for her to get involved with them.
At times, he treated her like she was two, not thirty-two.
He’d probably be upset if she told him he should be more worried about his love life than hers.
“Talk to me, Mateo. I’m not asking for a play-by-play, but I’ve never seen you so worried.”
“The case…it goes far deeper than I first suspected. I’m finding more connections every day. We uncovered something else that makes things more dangerous. I can’t trust anyone on the inside.” He exhaled and shook his head. “You shouldn’t trust anyone either.”
“What are you not telling me?”
His hesitation built up suspense. “Uncle Joe and some of his police friends are under surveillance. There’s critical information that many badges and other high-profile individuals want to keep from falling into the wrong hands.
Cross has had connections in the police department for a while now.
They turn a blind eye, and he pays the officers. They will protect one another.”
“Uncle Joe? That’s not possible. He and Aunt Sue have always been good to us. Do you remember how often we stayed summers with them as kids?”
“It is possible, Mercy. There are so many people involved, and that is why you need to be safe. I can’t focus on this case if I have to keep an eye on you.”
She couldn’t seem to wrap her head around the idea that Joe, a bubbly, kind soul, would be involved with a criminal, especially one like Cross.
“It doesn’t look good,” Mateo said quietly. “I know it’s difficult to digest. When I found the connection, I couldn’t believe it myself.”
“I understand. I do…but…”
“If you truly want Cross to be taken down, then this is what you need to do. Listen and stay low.”
“I could stay at my apartment. I won’t go anywhere.” She had a feeling she wasn’t going to like the answer. At this point, she was grasping at straws.
“Cross already knows where you work, where you live, and your hobbies. This time, you escaped. Next time, they won’t make a mistake.”
“Your life is in danger, too.”
“I can take care of myself, but I need to stay focused.” He blew out a long breath. “I know you’re stubborn, but knock off the conflict and let me do what’s best.”
“I’ll go home and pack a bag—”
“No, you won’t. It’s not safe to go back there until this case is done and dusted. I’d bet my bank account that Cross already has one of his men camping near your apartment.”
“What about Russ and Lulu?”
“Who the hell are Russ and Lulu?”
“My ferns. I forgot to water them.”
He blew out an irritated breath. “I’ll take care of them. You take care of yourself. Now go inside and talk to Howie and McKinley. Tell them as little as possible. Make up an excuse why you’re leaving. Tell them I’ve convinced you to lay low for a while.”
“They’re my partners, Mateo. I trust them.”
“And that’s a mistake,” he growled.
“Are you suggesting that they are somehow involved in this crime ring? That makes no sense.”
“I’m saying that for now, you can’t trust anyone. Now hurry. The quicker we get this wrapped up the better it’ll be for all of us.”