Iris (Mike Bravo Ops 1)

But as the warm blanket of safety covers me and sinks in, my body gives out, my knees buckle, and I fall to the floor.

Suddenly, I can’t breathe. I can’t stop trembling. And then my cheeks are wet with tears I didn’t even know were falling.

“Saint?” Ghost says and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

All I can do is shake my head as I break down.

There’s nothing I can do to stop it now.

Chapter Seventeen

Iris

There’s something wrong with Saint, and I’m desperate to get to him. Instead, I’m stuck here on Danyal’s couch trying to ward off all of his advances.

Like right now, how he’s inching toward me.

“How about we have something to drink?” When I stand, he follows me, sliding his hand over my ass as he watches me mix the drinks. “How long are you here for?” I ask.

“Not sure. My business … it has me traveling a lot. This might be the only night we get.”

Angel was right. Being the honey sucks.

I need to get out of here. The last I heard in my earpiece, Saint had made it back to Ghost, but he wasn’t in good shape. I could hear his harsh breaths right before Ghost asked if he was okay, and then Saint’s comms cut out.

I turn to Danyal. “You know what we need?”

His lips move closer to mine. “What do we need?”

Even though I’m cringing on the inside, I smile outwardly and lean in to kiss Danyal’s cheek. “I have just the thing in my room. I’ll be right back.” I boop him on the nose and make my way to the door, my feet moving as fast as I can make them without making it look like I’m about to run away.

“Don’t forget to come back,” he says.

“I’ll be two minutes.”

As soon as the door is shut behind me, I want to sprint to the other end of the hall to our room, but Ahmed is standing watch.

“I’ll be right back,” I say breezily.

I keep waiting to be questioned, but I’ve played the part of himbo so well, I don’t think any of them are remotely suspicious of me.

When Ghost opens the door to our room, my heart breaks. Because behind him, Saint’s on the floor, leaning against the bed with his head in his hands.

I sink to my knees. “Brock?”

“I’m okay,” he says. “I’m okay.”

I don’t know if he’s trying to convince me or himself. “We need to get you out of here, but Danyal’s bodyguard is basically guarding the hall. We can’t get anyone in or out of here without them knowing.”

“You take him,” Ghost says. “Have him act drunk on the way out. Tell them you need to help your friend. They saw you two together, and this gets you out of going back to Danyal’s room.”

“The photo,” Saint croaks. “The selfie of you and him.”

“What about it?” I ask.

“Need to get rid of it so they can’t identify you.”

“Oh, my sweet precious Saint. That photo was so blurry you could barely tell people were in it. Then I pretended to send it to me while I loaded the tracing app onto his phone. They won’t question it.”

“Hopefully,” Saint says.

“We can go now,” I say softly to him. “The job’s done.”

“You take him,” Ghost says. “Angel, you good?”

Angel’s voice cuts in, and she’s laughing. “Oh my God, you’re sooooo funny.” Ah, there’s valley girl Angel. “I wish I could stay, but I have to go. My daddy will be wondering where I am.”

A couple of minutes later, she says, “I’m out.”

“Don’t come back to the room,” Ghost says.

“Wouldn’t dream of it. Getting in a taxi now.”

With her gone, I have no need for her comms anymore, so I turn off my earpiece.

Ghost turns to us. “You two take the car. I’ll stay in here and keep watch. Just … can someone come pick me up tomorrow, please?”

“Mm, keep watch … Sure,” I say.

“Hey, I am not passing up a free five-star hotel room.”

I turn to Saint. “Do you think you can handle going out there?”

“I’m okay,” he says again.

“Let’s get you out of here.” I don’t even bother going to put on a shirt or change out of my board shorts. I need to get Saint somewhere he feels safe as soon as I can.

I help lift him off the floor, and it won’t be hard pretending like he’s drunk. He’s lead in my arms, almost dead weight, and his feet don’t want to move.

I half carry, half drag him down the hall and wave to Ahmed. “I’ve got to get my friend home. He drank way too much. Can you tell Hameel I need a rain check?”

Saint’s head lolls to the side, and he groans.

Danyal’s bodyguard gives a sharp nod.

We get to the elevators, and I hit the call button about a thousand times, knowing it won’t make it hurry up but hoping for it anyway.