“We aren’t lovers.” And that was a major part of the problem. The chemistry between them was so palpable. There was always heat between them and he was getting fucking tired of not indulging it.
If Mia wanted to ride a cowboy, why the hell was he acting like a horrified virgin? If she wanted to use him for sex, for a walk on the wild side, why the hell couldn’t he do the same? Maybe after they fucked for a few long days they could act like adults around each other.
“You know what I’m saying.” Michael leaned in. “What’s going on? You made a decision to not tell Sean something. I watched you do it.”
He was such a fuck-up. This was precisely why Ian didn’t trust him. “Mia’s got it in her head to go chasing some story in Colombia. It’s about The Collective.”
Michael whistled. “How ironic is that? You fuck up your relationship with her because Big Tag thinks 4L might be a Collective company and now she’s going to get herself killed investigating.”
Yes, that summed up the situation nicely. “That’s why I’m delaying her.”
“Okay, what’s the plan? Are we stopping the investigation or helping her?”
The ache had set in, but Michael had been right. It was somewhat better now. He couldn’t tell Michael what his real mission was, but he wouldn’t hate backup. Mia was slippery. And things could change when he got boots on the ground. He wouldn’t take over the op the way Ian would. He would have his team lay low and watch out for Mia. They might not even have to know what they were looking for.
“If I don’t help her, she’ll do it anyway,” Case mused.
“Or you call her brother and he stops her.” Michael summed up what would likely be the most practical plan of all. It was also the one he wouldn’t use.
He couldn’t do that to her. Yes, it would be the smart play, but Mia was wild. He liked her wild. He didn’t want to see her brother force her into some glass case where she was nothing but a pretty face at a party. Mia was passionate about her work. He’d found that out the hard way. Besides, he knew damn well what it felt like to be in the shadow of an older, brilliant brother. It was hard to step into the light. He couldn’t shove her back there. “No. We back her up.”
“Cool. Colombia is hot this time of year. I’ll pack swim trunks and work on my tan.” Michael set down his beer. “Am I driving to the airport or do you want to do it?”
“They’re way less likely to tow you.” One of the perks of being an heir to Malone Oil.
Hutch walked back in, carrying his laptop. “Okay, delaying Mia’s plane was a breeze. She wasn’t actually scheduled to take off for two hours, but now she’ll find herself stalled for a rather lengthy maintenance evaluation. She’s now scheduled to leave at ten p.m. But the interesting part, and by interesting I am referring to the part most likely to get us all murdered in our sleep, is about a man named Tony Santos. He’s definitely ex-Agency. I just called Ten. Ten says Tony is batshit crazy but has a thing for blondes. When Ten wanted information out of Tony, he had to send a blonde.”
What kind of exchange was Mia planning to make? “What else did Ten say about him? Can I catch this fucker and make him talk? I’m a blond. You telling me I’m not his type?”
The idea of Mia flirting with some crazy dude made him…well, it made him a fucking crazy dude.
Hutch frowned. “Are you serious? I think Ten was talking about women.”
Sometimes Case understood why his brother smacked his more ridiculous employees upside the head. “Can I find him and take him?”
If Ten thought he could, maybe he could leave Mia out of that part. He would indulge her, let her go with him, but he wanted her out of the truly dangerous shit. If this guy had worked with Tennessee Smith, he was dangerous.
Hutch shook his head. “According to Ten this guy was one of his best and he knew how to make himself scarce. I think if you’re going to take him, you better be damn certain you get him because he’ll disappear and he won’t resurface for a very long time.”
Michael nodded his way. “Your call, brother.”
He had to make a decision. God, he needed Theo. Theo was the voice of reason. Theo was smarter.
Theo could die and this time it would be all Case’s fault.
“Saddle up. We’re going on a little trip.”
Hutch stared at him, his face serious for once. “But there’s cake at Erin’s.”
“And there’s a severe beating for you right here if you don’t go and pack.” Yes, Ian had it right.
“Wait, does this have something to do with Mia Lawless?” Hutch seemed to have missed the important parts of their conversation.
Michael sighed. “If he wasn’t so good with a computer…”
If Hutch thought he might meet his hero, he would be easier to deal with. “We’ll be commandeering that 4L jet. You can sit exactly where Drew Lawless sits.”
“I bet they have awesome cake.” Hutch ran back to start getting ready.