“Well, since we’re currently chained to each other.” He lifted their connected wrists while Ruby shot an annoyed look at him that did nothing but make him want to kiss her until she again made that little moan she made only a few minutes ago. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
Jasper grumbled under his breath and glared at Lucas.
He did not have time for this. “However, little brother needs to wait in the hall. Quietly.”
“That’s not gonna
happen.” Jasper took a step forward, the look in his eyes just daring Lucas to try and move him.
The ego on this one was unbelievable. Lucas stuffed down his natural, inborn instinct to beat some respect into the drug-dealing asshole. “You’re our prisoner, or did you forget the two kilos of cocaine we found on you?”
Clausen cleared her throat. “There’s been a development, sir.”
His stomach twisted. God, he hated developments.
“I stay,” Jasper said, cocky satisfaction written all over his smug face. “Ruby gets off this island as soon as we can get that chain off her wrist.”
Lucas’s blood pressure skyrocketed. “You’re not in the position to be calling the shots.”
“Actually, the United States government says that I am.”
“Bullshit.”
“It checks out, sir,” Clausen said.
Lucas whipped his attention over to the Silver Knight agent. She had the tense, pinched look on her face of a woman about to go before a firing squad.
“I got back channel confirmation on the flight over here,” she said. “He’s with the agency.”
Of all the explanations she could have given him, that was the least expected. He mentally scanned over the brother’s and sister’s files until he hit on the one factoid that made it all make sense. Rolf Macintosh wasn’t their biological father. That honor went to a low-level gangster in New York. They’d been born in the United States and therefore had dual citizenship. Add to the mix the fact that every governmental spy agency from the Kremlin to Washington and everywhere in between wanted to keep tabs on Rolf Macintosh’s criminal empire, and the CIA turning Jasper into a protected asset made perfect sense.
“You’re sure.” He already knew the answer, but had to ask.
Clausen nodded.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ruby said, her words so soft they barely registered, even if the amount of fury pouring off her could be measured onto the Richter scale. “I agreed to this whole farce to protect you.”
The smart-ass slid off Jasper’s face, replaced by a softer, more concerned look. “Rubes, how many times have I told you that I don’t need your protection anymore? You, however, are in way over your head. You can’t be here for what’s about to go down.”
She crossed her arms, yanking his connected wrist over so it lay against the knot of her robe. “What exactly is that?”
“The less you know the better,” Jasper said.
Her brother may have known Ruby for his entire life, but even after only a few days, Lucas knew she wasn’t going to let go that easily.
She jerked her chin up. “I already know about the gun sale.”
“Jesus. Are you trying to get her killed?” Jasper glared at Lucas, his gaze dropping to Lucas’s arm held out at an awkward angle. “Or just get some entertainment while you search for the date and location of the exchange? She’s not one of us. She doesn’t know the rules. She could get hurt—or worse.”
It took everything Lucas had not to look over at the twisted sheets on the bed. What happened to Ruby after the operation was finished wasn’t his concern. He had to focus on keeping Elskov safe. The mission didn’t have room for anything else. Still, he moved over so not even a fraction of light could get between them.
“That’s not going to happen.” He wasn’t fooled by the bored look on Jasper’s face as he looked between them and then the rumpled bed.
“Oh really?” Jasper asked when his attention landed square on Lucas.
“Dammit, Jasper,” Ruby hissed. “I’m not an idiot.”
“No,” Jasper said, his voice low and tight. “You’re just a cover.”