“He has a point, Van,” Garrett said in a resigned tone that told Donovan he didn’t like the situation any more than Donovan did.
“Goddamn it,” Donovan swore. “Okay, but let’s roll. We’re wasting time. Time that Eve doesn’t have. I want her out of this hellhole.”
“Then let’s do it,” Resnick said, motioning to his team leader.
“We’ll let you know when we’re in and it’s clear,” Kyle Phillips said as he walked by Donovan. “But wait for my signal. Don’t fuck this up, Kelly. Think with your head and leave your emotions out of it. It needs to go down on the level.”
Leave his emotions out of it. When his heart and soul was in this goddamn hellhole enduring God only knew what. Yeah, leave his emotions out of it. Like that was going to happen.
Sam put a restraining hand on Donovan’s arm as if he realized how perilously close Donovan was to saying fuck it and charging in ahead of Kyle Phillips and his team. He shook off Sam’s hand.
“I’m cool. I’ll wait.”
So he stood and simmered, waiting, each second passing in agony. He listened, straining toward the building nestled in a grove of trees, isolated from the rest of the world. The entire complex was surrounded by a high stone wall with barbed wire coiled at the top. It was a goddamn prison and it gutted him that his Eve was in there. Treated like an animal. Worse than an animal.
It seemed an hour had passed, and maybe it had. He wasn’t the only one simmering with impatience. His brothers and Nathan and Joe’s entire team were twitchy with agitation.
“Chaps my ass that we have to take orders from that asshole,” Skylar muttered. “He’s not my goddamn boss.”
Sam grinned beside Donovan. “I’m liking her a hell of a lot. I admit, I had doubts when I first hired her on, but I wanted to see what she was capable of. You have to admit, she’s perfect. She has the delicate, harmless cheerleader look about her, but she’d remove your balls without remorse and then shove them down your throat after she broke your kneecaps.”
Joe snorted, having overheard Sam’s comment.
“Who would you put your money on in a bar fight? Her or P.J.?”
Donovan rolled his eyes at the juvenile comment.
Sam pretended thought, or maybe he was actually considering the ridiculous scenario. Garrett chuckled.
“My money is still on P.J. She’s ruthless. And, well, she takes shit personally. Now more than ever. Not saying that’s a bad thing. I’ve got her back and always will,” Garrett added in a more serious tone. “Sky can separate her emotions and get the job done.”
“She can still fight dirty,” Sam added. “Which is why I like her. She’s a good addition to the team. And not that this is the time or the place to discuss this, but I have someone lined up for Rio’s team. He’s down two men now and he can’t continue operating that many short. But he gets the final say. I can recommend, but it’s his team, and like Steele, they run them their way. I may sign their paychecks but I can hardly be considered their boss.”
Garrett cocked an eyebrow. “Who’s the guy?”
Sam smiled. “Not a guy. It’s a woman. P.J. and Skylar have worked out well for us. I have a qualified candidate who came highly recommended. I think she’d be a good fit for Rio and his team. She’s reclusive like they are. Doesn’t say a whole lot, but she can kick ass with the best of them. She’s a crack shot. She could take you down in hand to hand,” he said to Garrett, ignoring his snort of disbelief. “She’s also an expert in explosives. Specifically defusing bombs. She worked bomb squad for NYPD. Before that, she was in the army, a fact Nathan and Joe should appreciate. She’s good and I want Rio to take a hard look at her. If I can drag him out of his fucking cave long enough.”