“That’s not the only problem we have,” Thor said softly. “I don’t like surprises. I checked our rooms while they were treating the others. We were bugged, and they weren’t Breed devices.”
So that was why he had slipped away from the rest of the group.
“Why?” she asked. “What made you suspect we were bugged?”
“Because whoever the f**k was out there trying to put a hole in your head knew exactly what time to be waiting on you.” Low and rumbling with fury, his voice rasped above her. “We never leave at the same time, we never take the same exits twice. There’s no f**king way to predict your movements, boss. That’s why we follow you rather than lead, because only you know which way we’re going.”
That had been her uncle’s way as well.
“Were you able to identify the device?” she asked.
“Not yet, but I’m working on it,” he told her.
She nodded slowly as Lawe’s head suddenly jerked around, his blue eyes narrowing on her and Thor.
“You’re not going back to Sanctuary,” Thor stated, the suspicion in his tone assuring her that he didn’t entirely believe the plan she had given him.
“Yes, until more information comes in.”
She hated lying to him. Thor was the one she knew the best. He was the one who had arrived with her uncle when her parents were killed, the one who had helped her uncle slip them out of the States and into Africa when her and Rachel’s safety had been at risk.
She frowned at that.
Her uncle, Colt Broen, had taken her and Rachel to the only place he’d been certain they would be safe while he investigated their parents’ death.
“I’m meeting with my contact at midnight. He called. There’s a report you have a shadow on your tail,” Thor told her. “He heard about the shooting and informed me someone is trying to separate you from your team but we haven’t sussed out the reason why. Something’s not right here, Di, you know that.”
“Let me know before you leave and I want your report the minute that meeting is over,” she ordered. “Keep working on why someone wants to separate me from my men.”
“I’m all that’s left to cover your back, Di,” he stated worriedly. “Don’t do something stupid and run off on your own.”
If she knew Thor, then he knew her just as well. That could become a problem when she made her own move and headed west.
“Don’t worry, Thor,” she murmured, covering her lips with her fingers as her sister looked back to her once again. “I’m trying really hard not to do stupid things this month.”
He grunted in disbelief at the comment.
Lawe moved from Jonas and Rachel before she could say anything more, striding to where she sat and stopping only inches from her as he stared back at Thor with icy intensity.
“I guess he wants me to leave, boss,” Thor drawled, his tone thick with sarcasm.
Diane let her lips curve into a cold smile.
“We’ll finalize the arrangements later, Thor.” She covered their conversation, her voice low as she remained locked with Lawe’s gaze. “Make certain you have the accounts in order and let the accountant know we’ll have to change our appointment to tomorrow evening.”
They didn’t really have an appointment yet, but it was the best she could do on such notice. “Got it, boss.” Thor nodded sharply, gave Lawe a hard glare then turned and walked quickly to the door.
One of the two Breeds guarding the inside of the room opened the doors for him, then closed and locked them as he left.
Looking past Lawe, Diane met her sister’s worried gaze across the room, and understood completely why Rachel hadn’t, and most likely wouldn’t, say much to her for the time being. Not until she knew exactly what Diane was planning. Or more to the point, not until Jonas and Lawe figured it out.
It hurt. She felt as though her baby sister had deserted her. As though the one person she had always depended upon was suddenly more loyal to others instead.
She didn’t bother to hide her feelings as Rachel met her gaze. Diane let the hurt, as well as the disbelief, fill her eyes before deliberately turning her head.
To meet Lawe’s gaze. She almost sighed. That look was brooding and intense as though if he looked hard enough, deep enough, then he could read her plans in her eyes.
There was no way she would allow that.
Breed senses were much too primal. The least hint of a lie or subterfuge and Diane would have so many Breed guards on her ass that it would be impossible to peel them off. The only way to hide it was with anger. She had a damned good reason for being angry too. One of her men was betraying her to the point that she suspected her past accidents had not been accidents at all. Someone was trying to put a highly fatal hole in her head—and her sister was deserting her.
“Ignoring your sister isn’t a move guaranteed to please Jonas,” Lawe told her as she stared back at him silently.
Diane shrugged. “Did she know you had Breeds on my ass?”
No doubt she did. Diane knew her sister, and she knew how Rachel worried. She wouldn’t blame her, but she could definitely use it to her advantage. Just as Rachel would expect her to.
“The team was my decision,” he growled as his gaze flashed with something akin to regret. “You were nearly killed in Syria, Diane.”
“Oh, no doubt,” she said, mockery filling her voice. “I rather doubt either Rachel or Jonas sicced them on me, Lawe. For some reason, both of them seem to believe I’m perfectly capable of leading my team on my own and saving my own ass whenever needed.”