Page 95 of Never the Same

He gave me a wicked grin. “The thought may have crossed my mind.”

“Mm-hmm,” I said as we finally joined the others.

The introductions with Carter and Sebastian went by quick. They not only gave off the same vibes, but they also resembled one another. If it wasn’t for Sebastian’s Irish accent compared to Carter’s American one (Texas, maybe?), I’d swear they were brothers.

Carter gave a hesitant smile and politely gestured for everyone to have a seat at a ten-person table, where a massive spread of food had been set out. Steam curled off a platter of bacon and sausage, the scent of oil thick, but it only churned my stomach.

The two hotel owners took their seats at each end of the rectangular table, and the rest of us filled in the seats between.

“Is it just us? Are any of your other people here on standby to help if need be for a last-minute op?” Ryder asked.

“Two men from Falcon Falls are here in the hotel now. They’re ready if we need them,” Carter confirmed, then Sebastian shared that he had men from The League there. “If we have more time and need additional reinforcements, we can call in POTUS’s SEAL teams as well. Or the rest of Falcon.”

That was something.

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, the lazy stance not diminishing the air of authority he wielded. “Your brother declined a security escort. He should be arriving at the gates any minute, though.”

Of course he did. “Julian with him?”

Sebastian quietly nodded before Gwen jumped right into things, announcing, “I was able to locate where Gideon was when he called you yesterday.” She focused on me. “Any idea why he’d have gone to Peru after he’d been in Rome interrogating the Putcheski kid who threw the rave?”

“South America? Not that I—” Ohhh. I held the underside of my chair and sat taller. I couldn’t remember whether this conversation had happened in front of Delta Shield or not, but yeah, I did know why. Full-body chills slammed into me. “My family’s protectors are there, doing some type of training. My brothers thought I chose to go to Rome when I did because my personal protector wouldn’t know what I was up to, since he’d be off-grid.”

The room fell quiet as everyone processed, as I processed what my brother’s trip there might mean.

Gwen tucked her wavy blonde hair behind her ears. She looked to be in her mid to late twenties. Smart, young, British, and beautiful. “What if your protector learned what you planned to do in Rome, and he didn’t go to South America as planned?” she suggested. “What if he was the one with you in Rome? People assumed you were together intimately at the rave, but instead, he was just having your back. Your protector had to be the one who helped you escape, but then . . .”

“Then I was captured somewhere on the street level after I left that crypt.” I peered at Jason, knowing exactly what this meant. “What if he died so I could live?” Oh God. I let go of the chair, fisting my hands on my lap. “I went there in secret. I was reckless for doing that, and someone may have died because of me.”

Yesterday, I’d known there was a possibility that whoever I was with at the rave could be in danger, or even worse off . . . but I’d been so focused on my feelings for Jason I’d put blinders on.

I stood, and the chair legs screeched against the polished stone, the sound sharp as nausea climbed my throat. The room tilted like the ground had given away beneath me.

“You don’t know that for sure,” Jason said in a firm voice, rising when I did. “And if it was him, he could still be alive. You are. We don’t know anything yet.” The edge of tension in his shoulders moved up his neck and into his face.

“Well, your brothers are pulling in now,” Carter announced. “We can ask Gideon ourselves.”

If my pulse wasn’t skyrocketing before, it was through the roof now.

Over the phone, Sebastian instructed, “Escort them up.” He cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders back as if preparing for a possible fight.

Jeez, I hope not.

“What’s the play?” Carter asked, eyes on Ryder. “How do you want to do this? This is your op.”

Ryder remained seated alongside Alex, resting his hand on his jaw as he stared at his plate. “He needs us, or he wouldn’t be here. The fact he hopped on a flight to Peru after showing that photo . . . he’s not our guy. He’s not behind this. It’d make no sense for him to be.” He surveyed everyone at the table before shooting Jason, then me, a questioning look.

“I’m in agreement,” Jason said steadily.

“And I need Julian’s help if we’re going to pull off the impossible and undo what’s not supposed to be undoable with his source code.” Gwen stood. “I need to see what the bloody hell happened in Rome that night.”

“What do you think?” Jason circled my wrist, not caring who witnessed this side of him.

“I think we have to work together like we probably should have done from the beginning.” I swallowed. “I’m so sorry.”

Jason brought his free hand beneath my chin; his calloused fingers were a steady force against my skin, his thumb grazing just enough to make my pulse trip. “Don’t be. Everything happens for a reason.” Gone was any sign of pessimism from this man, and I needed that. “We’ll get through this.”

At the throat clears by a few someones from the table, signaling we weren’t alone, Jason let go of me, and we turned toward the entranceway.