Glitter and Gunfire/Bulletproof (Shadow Agents 4)

Her face went from feeling too hot to icy cold. “Why?” Her gaze was on Mercer. “If this is about us—”

Mercer gave a fast, negative shake of his head. His eyes darted to Gunner, then right back to her. “Right now, we have to assume Genevieve’s abduction and the attempt on your life are both related to the Executioner. That case isn’t over.”

Ian was dead. Just how much more over could that get? “We have to find Genevieve.” The words were so familiar—because she’d been just as desperate to find her friend back in Rio. This can’t be happening again.

Mercer nodded. “We will find her. I have a team on the job right now. And Sydney’s pulling up every video feed in that hotel’s area—anything that she can get her hands on. She’ll find an image, a car, something that we can use.”

Cassidy realized that her hands had clenched into fists. Fear twisted inside her, growing bigger and stronger with every second that passed. She’d thought that she’d saved Genevieve. That she’d done something right for a change.

But now...

“The city isn’t secure enough for you,” Mercer told her in his hard, growling, I-know-best voice. “There’s a plane waiting for you at the airport.”

Wasn’t there always?

“Gunner will escort you to the terminal. Lancaster will be waiting to board the flight with you. In a few hours, you’ll be—”

Her fists tightened. Her nails dug into her palms. “I’m not running away from this.”

Mercer stalked toward her.

Beside Cassidy, Cale stiffened.

“You aren’t being given a choice,” Mercer said, his voice like arctic ice. “I let you stay here last night while I assessed the situation, but the danger is too great. You’re an asset that won’t be compromised.”

I’m not an asset. I’m your daughter.

But had he ever looked at her that way?

Cassidy shook her head, answering her own question.

Mercer’s eyes narrowed. “I’m the director of the EOD. I’m—”

“I’m a civilian,” Cassidy shot back at him. “So you have no authority over me.”

Surprise flashed briefly in his eyes; then it was shielded by grim determination. “You don’t want to push on this.”

“Yes, I do.” Push for Genevieve’s life? Any day, anytime. “I’m not getting on any plane. I’m staying here, and I’m going to do everything that I can in order to help my friend.”

“And what are you going to do?” Mercer demanded. “What do you really think you can do? Like you said, you’re just a civilian.”

What are you going to do? The familiar question echoed through her mind.

“That’s the same question you asked me when I told you I was going after the Executioner,” Cassidy reminded him.

The silence in the room was heavy and thick.

Voice growing stronger, she said, “I managed to do something with him, didn’t I?”

From the corner of her eye, she saw that Cale was watching her. He looked...proud?

But then Cale was moving, in front of her, shielding her.

She didn’t need to be shielded from Mercer. It was past time for her to stand on her own with him. She immediately stepped to Cale’s side.

“I’ll stay with Cassidy,” Cale said to her father, his voice hard and flat. “I’ll make sure she’s protected.”

“And if you screw up?” Mercer wanted to know. “Becau