Page 6 of The B-Team

“Wait a minute,” Callum bellowed. “My wife isn’t a security specialist. She’s the receptionist, and we have children who are too young to be left alone. Surely you don’t mean to round up the admin staff too?”

Isobel nodded furiously. “All I do is answer the phones and point people in the direction of Callum’s office. I don’t get to play with any weapons, and I don’t know how to hack.”

Fitzwater considered her for a moment. “You may stay. I’m solely concerned with the security specialists.”

Evan shot to his feet, panic wafting from him. “You don’t want us either.” He gestured to his brothers. “We cut a deal with MI5 that gives us a get-out-of-jail-free card.”

“Well, we’re not MI5,” Fitzwater snapped. “We’re the Met.” He nodded to his officers. “If they’re security specialists, take them. And don’t forget to search everyone for weapons.”

Elle curved a hand around Ryan’s knee. “You stay,” she hissed.

He nodded once.

“Donottouch me.” Violet Lee’s voice rose above the rumble of noise in the room. “Or my gun.”

In the center of the basement, the diminutive former cop faced off against two officers. Ryan mentally placed a bet on Violet. He’d seen her fight. It was nasty.

“Bloody hell, Violet,” Callum exploded. “Why did you bring a gun to the conference? Never mind. I don’t want to know. Just give the nice officer your weapon and try not to make this any worse.”

Reluctantly, and with a whole lot of menace, Violet handed over her gun. “If it gets so much as a scratch, I will find you.”

“Get off!” Megan snapped, drawing attention away from Violet. “I can get the weapons myself.”

Callum slapped a palm to his forehead. “It’s always those two.” He looked at the boss of the American office. “I’m glad one of them is your problem now. If you want to take on Megan too, let me know.”

Rochelle Davis didn’t appear amused. Apparently, unlike the rest of them, the American team didn’t make jokes under stress.

Megan, meanwhile, perched a foot on the seat of her chair and rolled up her leather pants to reveal a two-knife sheathstrapped to her ankle. One of the cops reached for the sheath before she managed to get it off.

Dimitri shot out a hand to stop him. “Please don’t fondle my wife. She doesn’t like strangers touching her. And she bites.”

With obvious irritation, Megan slapped the knife sheath into the cop’s hand before reaching into the small of her back and pulling out a tiny gun. “I would very much like to shoot someone right now,” she said pleasantly.

“Amen, sister,” Violet said.

Over at the door, the officers started to herd the Benson Security team into the stairwell.

“I know you.” Fitzwater grabbed hold of Abasi Otieno’s arm as he passed. “You used to run with the James Gang. You’re exactly the kind of low-life scum I expected to find working for Benson Security. This company is nothing more than organized crime disguised as a legitimate business.”

Abasi slowly looked down at where the commander held his arm. That was all he did, yet the tension in the room ratcheted up several notches.

“This isn’t good.” Ryan nudged Elle. “He’s going to blow. Do something.”

“Abasi,” Elle called to him, “my brother will haunt you if you let the cops get to you.”

The reminder of his best friend was enough to make Abasi tear his gaze from the commander’s hold. He shrugged out of the man’s grip and looked over his shoulder at Elle, completely dismissing the police commander. “Wouldn’t want that. Don’t worry about me, little sis. I’ve handled worse.”

His boss, Rochelle, elbowed her way through the crowd. Tall, regal, and deadly, she clearly wasn’t intimidated by anyone.

“I’m a former FBI agent and currently in charge of the American office. Abasi is a member of my team. We’ve only been in the UK for a few days; we have nothing to do with yourinvestigation. I would appreciate it if you’d allow us to leave this building and return to the States.”

Fitzwater sneered at her. “This is an investigation intoallof Benson Security.”

Rochelle didn’t move an inch. “Last I checked, America wasn’t under your jurisdiction. Even if you suspect we’ve broken the law, you are obligated to hand us over to the American authorities.”

“Yes.” Fitzwater oozed oil. “But we do have the right to question you before doing so.” He signaled to an officer. “Takeallactive security specialists into custody, regardless of which office they work out of.”

A muscle pulsed in Rochelle’s jaw. “Just so you know, my phone call will be to the American Embassy.”