“How could I be angry at someone for something I’m guilty of myself?”
Michael silently held Ty’s gaze for a long moment, as if he was trying to figure something out and coming up snake eyes. By the looks of it, it wasn’t a situation he’d had much experience with. “So, why did you stay behind? What did you want to ask me about?”
Ty glanced down at the safe-cracking device in his hand. His thumb traced over the plain plate steel case. It wasn’t much to look at, but it might have been the most impressive improvised piece of gadgetry Ty had ever seen. He lifted it up in front of him.
“This,” he said.
“What about it?” Michael’s eyes narrowed. He might be relieved that he wasn’t about to get his ass handed to him by an ex-SEAL, but it was obvious the man wasn’t about to put Ty on his most trusted list.
“You made it from scratch?”
Michael nodded. “With help from my team.”
“And you did it in just eight hours?”
“You don’t believe me?” Michael asked, cocking his head slightly to the side.
“I believe you.” Ty flipped the device over in his hand before slipping it into his jacket pocket. “And I’m impressed. I know some people back at Quantico who would be impressed too.”
“That’s flattering, but I didn’t make it as a job application. I made it to save Morgan.”
Save, not help.
The smile froze on Ty’s face. “You don’t think I can keep her safe?”
“I don’t know you.”
It was one hell of a diplomatic answer. Maybe the suits back in Virginia would love him, but Ty wasn’t about to give him a pass.
Ty crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Really? Cause you seemed pretty confident you could read me a few hours ago.”
Michael looked at him long and hard before replying. Eventually, he shrugged his shoulders in defeat and pushed his hands deep into his pockets. “You seem incredibly competent at what you do, but it doesn’t matter what I think. The question is, are you one hundred percent certain that you can protect her once she walks into that club tomorrow?”
Doubt crept into Ty’s mind.
He knew the answer better than anyone. “Nothing is one hundred percent.”
“Then what percentage of risk is acceptable when it comes to Morgan’s life. Ninety? Eighty? Fifty/fifty?”
Ty bit into his lower lip. He wanted to blame Michael Silva for planting the seeds of uncertainty in his mind, but the truth was he’d been struggling with the same thoughts all day.
Morgan’s plan was a decent one, sure, and he might be totally willing to go along with it if it was anyone else in the world.
But it wasn’t anyone else.
It was Morgan.
“If that’s what you believe, why bother making the safe cracker?” Ty asked. “Why not try to talk her out of going in there instead?”
Now it was Michael’s turn to laugh. “You obviously haven’t gone to the mat with Morgan yet. Once her mind is made up, there’s no turning back. Especially when she’s convinced she’s doing the right thing. She’d try breaking into that safe tomorrow morning with or without my help. This way, I’ve given her the edge.”
Ty nodded in understanding. After all, he was here at this warehouse for similar reasons. If he really believed that Morgan would back down, he’d be in his office filling out the paperwork to send her into witness protection.
But she wouldn’t. He knew it down to the marrow of his bones. And in a way, it was one of the reasons that he felt so strongly about her. He understood her reasons—family, loyalty, integrity. He couldn’t fault her for any of them.
Especially not her courage.
Ty knew she was scared. He saw it clearly in her eyes. She knew the risks but she offered to do it anyway. He couldn’t help but respect her for that decision.
If he was being honest with himself, he was beginning to suspect that his feelings went far beyond respect.
“The FBI thanks you for your help as well,” Ty said.
“My pleasure.” Michael gave a strained smile, probably one of the most awkward ones Ty had ever seen. Then he patted Ty hard on the shoulder. “I’ve got your back.”
Ty narrowed his eyes at the strangely familiar gesture. A moment ago, the guy thought he was going to get laid out and now they were best buddies?
Michael caught Ty’s stare and slowly pulled his hand away.
“Sorry,” he said in a low voice. “I’m told my people skills aren’t great. All I meant was good luck.”
“Of course.” Ty turned to leave. He paused as he reached the workspace opening. “I promise you, I’m going to do everything I can to keep Morgan safe.”
“I know,” Michael said with a nod. “We both will.”
Ty tried not to read too much into Michael’s words as he stepped into the hallway. The guy admitted that his people skills weren’t the best. What was important was that they were both on the same side.
Morgan’s side.