“You know, if you had convinced her to let you into her apartment for some after-date time, the guy may have taken you out before you could have saved her.” Davis shrugged as he sat down sideways in the chair across from Ben and stretched his long legs out in front of him. “So it’s good she had no trouble resisting you.”
There were times Ben hated the lack of privacy in this group. They were connected by the intercoms in their watches and phones. Joel tracked their movements and each had cameras in their houses that reported back to Corcoran headquarters and could be turned on in the event of an emergency call. It reminded him of his time in the navy—all structure and little alone time. Having been out for years, it was taking time to get used to the intrusions again.
“Are you doubting my abilities?” Because by the fifth time Jocelyn said no to coffee, Ben had started to.
Davis shrugged. “Just pointing out that Dating Ben might not be as on top of things as Agent Ben.”
“Feel free to go to bed. I don’t need conversation.” But he would stand watch. Ben stared out the double glass doors to the backyard and into the darkness beyond.
He knew from hanging out there that the large rectangular space consisted of mostly mud in the middle covered with some boards, thanks to all the renovation work Davis and Lara were doing. They also refrained from building anything out there or working on the landscaping because Davis wanted a clear sight line and limited places for intruders to hide.
Not that the guy was paranoid or anything. Though the elaborate security system complete with heat and motion sensors and a secret door to the neighbor’s yard suggested some trust issues.
All those precautions meant they should be fine staying there tonight. But almost anything could be breached, and until Ben knew if the attacker wanted him or Jocelyn, or was just part of some unlikely random event, he planned to be ready.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Davis said.
“Worried?”
“Let’s say confused.”
It wasn’t a surprise that Davis phrased it that way since he was the more serious one of the group. Much more than his younger brother, Pax.
Like Connor, Davis led by example and wouldn’t hesitate to throw his body in front of any of them to make sure they survived. He ran them through drills to keep their instincts and skills sharp.
He demanded the best and gave the exact same back. That kind of dedication inspired loyalty. So when Davis showed signs of concern, they all did.
Ben gave a voice to the questions churning in his mind. “None of this makes any sense.”
“Any chance the attack is about you?”
That was the worry. The one Ben wrestled with as guilt sucker-punched him. “The guy asked Jocelyn to give him something. Wish we knew what.”
“Could be subterfuge. We’ve seen that sort of thing before. The guy fears he’s caught and throws some nonsense out there to send us spinning in the wrong direction.”
“It does seem convenient.” That ticked Ben off. The idea he put Jocelyn in this position kept his mind turning to find a way to save her now.
“You start dating a woman and someone comes after her. It could be a one-plus-one thing.” Davis wiped a hand across the wood top of the table. “I don’t like it.”
“You think it’s blowback on the NCIS deal.”
“There are some angry people out there who don’t like that you spotlighted the corruption.”
“Well, that’s tough sh—”
Davis held up a hand. “Hold on there. I’m not one of them. You helped save Lara and put your neck out there to weed out the losers in an otherwise fine group. It’s all pretty damn heroic to me. I’m just saying some of the crazier elements might not agree.”
Three beeps cut off Ben’s answer. He glanced around for a phone. “What was that?”
But Davis was already up and opening the small door beneath the cabinet holding dishes and other delicate things that looked far too easy to break for Ben’s liking.
After pressing a few buttons, Davis took out a gun and another clicked against the table when he set it down. Next he took out his phone and talked in a low voice.
Two words: stay upstairs.
“Motion sensor,” Davis said as he pulled out of the direct line of sight through the back doors and motioned for Ben to do the same.
“An animal?” But he didn’t wait for an answer. Taking up position on the side of the opposite door, Ben peeked into the yard now bathed in a bright yellow light. Something out there had those shining through the trees.
“Maybe.”
Ben checked the gun and prepared for battle. “So, no.”