Enticing Their Mate(49)

“Give us a minute will you?” he asked.

She smiled. “Take your time.”

“To answer your question,” he said, “I don’t know. Jay’s a lot happier. He knows he can trust the General.”

“I always assumed I could trust Bill Hampton, but sometimes I wonder if the Bureau cares who gets hurt in the process of bringing down the criminals.”

“That’s one of the reasons I want to leave.”

The waitress delivered their drinks, and they each ordered a hamburger and fries. Sarah had the sense there was more to Riley’s discontentment. Oh, shit. Did he think that if he quit the Bureau she would consider doing the same and stay with them?

Riley was everything she wanted in a man—as was Jay. Both were caring, smart, protective, and on the right side of the law, but she’d only known them a short period of time. Still, there was a strong connection binding all three of them. Maybe she was just afraid to be in touch with her own desires. Her whole life had been about emotional distance, and it was possible she wasn’t sure she’d like who she was if she opened herself up. To be truthful, the whole idea of her being a mate scared her. Tell him. “I’d quit the Bureau, but I’m afraid.”

“Of?”

“Commitment, maybe.”

His brows pinched. “To the Bureau?”

This probably wasn’t the time or place to bring it up, but she needed to get this off her chest. Sarah leaned closer. “That’s a part of it.” She sipped her drink then glanced around to make sure no one else had come in without her knowledge. “I know I’m your mate, as well as Jay’s, but I’m not ready to make that kind of…well, commitment, just yet.”

His eyes darkened and the muscles on his neck bulged. His pained reaction made her want to snatch back those words, but she believed in honesty.

“I get it.”

She doubted it. “After this is all over, maybe we can see where things are heading.”

Riley glanced to the side. “We live in Florida. No telling where our next assignment will be.”

Did that mean he didn’t want to try? She thought it wise not to have this conversation with all that was going on. Perhaps when this showdown was over, they’d feel differently.

* * *

By eight p.m. the next day, Sarah could barely keep her eyes open. She’d gone into work at six like usual and had worked extra hard to make sure the women were ready for the move later that evening. She told them about the improved conditions at the clinic, hoping they’d respond with renewed energy. Some were happy while others acted fearful; nothing she could say would make their anxieties disappear.

Last night, Riley and Jay had told her that Connolly had managed to secure two large vans to transport the women to the clinic since one or two of the women would need to be carried in on their mattresses. After the job wrapped up, she’d have to thank Connolly for being so considerate.

Needing to find Riley or Connolly to ask them about their departure time, Sarah stepped into the hallway from one of the women’s room after finishing her final check. Amy exited the other room where the women were being held and barely glanced at Sarah as she headed toward the front of the building. Russ rushed out of the corridor that lead to Statler’s office and Sarah’s stomach churned. From the glances they shared, they seemed to be up to something.

Connelly came in through the front door, along with Riley and Skip, and motioned her near. Amy and Russ joined them. Sarah kept her gaze on Connolly, not wanting to see Amy’s glare.

“I just spoke with Mr. Statler,” Connolly said. “The new hires are on their way to the clinic to make certain nothing goes wrong. I’ll ride with Amy and Russ in one van, and I want Skip, Riley, and Sarah to take the other one.” He handed her and Amy a list of which women would be transported in each van.

Sarah studied the list and was disappointed that Nancy would be in Amy’s van. The doors to one of the women’s room clicked open and Austin, one of the guards who worked the late shift along with Clay, led two of the women out. Across the hall, Dirk and a guard she didn’t recognize, escorted three women. With their gazes cast downward, Sarah’s heart broke. They probably believed this was the end.

Connolly held open the front door, and as they passed, the women glanced at her with pleading eyes. Sarah wanted to punch something, but she drew on her training and kept her face unreadable.

After two more trips, all but Nancy had been escorted to the vans.

Connolly handed Riley the keys. “It’ll take a moment to bring out the sick woman. You go on ahead. We don’t need a cluster at the clinic.”