Page 20 of Wicked Intention

“That’s it?”

“Almost,” Ski said, “but yeah, it’s why Pru decided it wasn’t worth calling you again.”

That fragment of information was next to nothing. “You said almost. What else did Pruitt learn about her?”

“She lives in Los Angeles, where the Paladin League isheadquartered,” Ski told him. “Pru said he has her address if you need it.”

“You don’t need it,” Griff said with a growl to his voice. “What you do need is to quit thinking with your dick. I don’t know what it is about her that makes your brain shut down, but it’s possible she’s working for Ramos. Maybe that’s why she’s following the boss’s second, did that occur to you?”

Two hours of sleep made it difficult for Finn to exercise self-command, but he managed it. Griff acting like an assholewasout of concern. The memory of Tahoe and what could happen when a man’s cock overruled his brain was fresh for all of them, but it impacted JT the most. Instead of replying, Finn watched Winter make his way through the mercenaries back to the table, the necks of the bottles threaded between fingers on both hands. When he reached them, he put a beer in front of each of them before he sat down.

“Everyone friends again?” Winter asked sarcastically.

Finn turned a look on him and caught Griff and Ski doing the same.

“Watch yourself,” Pienkowski warned him.

“Yeah,” Griff agreed. “We’re the fucking three musketeers.”

“Got it,” Winter said. “You guys can say things to each other that outsiders like me can’t.”

“That’s family for you,” Ski agreed.

Family.Yeah, Griff and Ski were like his brothers. That was the only drawback to leaving the Army. They’d keep in touch, but things would change. Finn frowned. He’d do what it took to keep the friendships strong, but he had to get out. Tom Finley was becoming less of an act with every covert op they were assigned. If he didn’t escape, Finn was afraid he’d lose himself.

“Earth to Stone Man,” Griff said.

“What?”

“Your chick was right about Ramos being at war. There’s been a series of skirmishes between his men and the employees of a drug lord to the south named Bianchi.”

He bristled at how Griff referred to Zo as achick, but if he called him on it, his friend would know how far gone Finn was. “The boss is going to make a killing arming both sides,” he said instead.

“No shit, but the good news is he’s going to need more weapons in a hurry. It should play into your hands.”

“We could use a break. The man is cautious as hell.”

Winter nodded and said, “That’s how he’s survived. He lets the second take the risks while he sits safe and happy in his compound.”

And getting him out was going to be a bitch. Finn took a swig from his bottle.

“The Big Dog wants to start coordinating with the locals,” Griff said.

Finn nearly choked on his beer. “Fuck. He knows it’s too soon. One of you needs to convince him to wait until things are farther along.”

“We’ll try,” Ski said, “but I think he got orders, because yeah, he does know better.”

This was just fucking great. Captain Nguyen did need to bring in the Puerto Jardinese Army, he understood that. The plan was for them to arrest Torres and let the team fade into the background, but that was a big problem because many of the officers were suspected of taking kickbacks—including from the arms dealer. The earlier the captain brought in the locals, the greater the chance that Finn’s cover would be blown.

Torres didn’t just murder the men who betrayed him. He tortured them first.

Finn took a long drag on his beer.

Rio Blanco, Puerto Jardin

Present Day

Patience had becomeFinn’s mantra over the past three hours. He’d also reminded himself repeatedly that causing trouble wouldn’t get him to Zo any faster, but he was fighting to hang on to his calm. He didn’t give a rat’s ass that his woman was probably safe in San Isidro. He wanted to see her for himself.Now.