Page 82 of Seal of Honor
“Hooyah,” Quinn said.
CHAPTER 29
Once everyone crammed around Gabe’s bed in the small hospital room, he gave them the rundown of what he knew about Jacinto and Rorro. He left out that he’d gotten the information from the now-deceased Luis Mena since it would only cause a stir. He also left out his run-in with the probably deceased Liam Miller-slash-Collington because Quinn had more of a personal beef with the guy than he did. There would be plenty of time for those war stories after they got Bryson Van Amee home safe.
The guys then briefed him on what they knew. He agreed that the bomb-making factory they had stumbled over in their search for Jacinto Rivera had to be decommissioned, but it wasn’t a priority now.
It came as no surprise when they told him Cocodrilo claimed the EPC did not know about Van Amee’s abduction. The more Gabe learned about the situation, the more he thought Jacinto and Rorro were acting on their own. The team also apparently had Cocodrilo held as a drugged and bound “guest” at the safe house, though there was some disagreement over what they should do with him.
“Turning him over to the authorities won’t do shit,” Ian said. “He’ll be free and back terrorizing people before breakfast.”
“What do you suggest we do with him?” Jesse drawled. “Oh, wait, we all know the answer to that.”
Interesting. Gabe studied the pair and made a mental note for future reference to keep them apart since they seemed to be about as compatible as fire and gasoline. He’d eventually have to work out that animosity between them. Just one more problem in a long list he had to deal with if this team was going to function smoothly.
“Easy, gentlemen. Let’s focus on the problem at hand, Bryson Van Amee. We’ll deal with Cocodrilo later. Right now, our main priority is getting Bryson home safe.” He shifted in bed to pin Ian and then Jesse with silencing stares. He hated that he couldn’t do this standing up, but his strength was fading fast, and he needed to conserve every ounce of energy. He regretted ripping out the IV pain medication, which Jesse had blasted him for as soon as the medic stepped into the room. Pain flared through his side every time he moved, and much to his annoyance, he couldn’t sit up straight without the head of the adjustable bed to support him.
With the pair grudgingly subdued, Gabe focused his attention on Marcus. “What can you tell me about the FBI agent in charge of Bryson’s case?”
“You want my professional opinion, boss, or personal?” Marcus asked.
“They’re different?”
“Only in that my personal is much lower.” Marcus snorted. “Frank Perry’s a know-it-all jackass. And, yes, that is my professional opinion. Perry’s a wannabe hotshot who rides on the coattails of everyone around him until all the hard work is done. Then he’s suddenly front and center to get all the credit. Or, if it goes to shit, he fades into the background and lets everyone else take the blame. Believe me, the Van Amees did not win the FBI agent lottery with him. He’s known around the office as Perry the Prick.”
“So he won’t be willing to work with us.”
“Not on your life.”
So much for that idea.
“Fuck,” Gabe muttered, and momentarily closed his eyes. He ran a hand through his cropped hair, then refocused on the team. “Do we have anyone on the inside we can trust to pass us information?”
“The lead negotiator,” Marcus said. “Danny Giancarelli. We grew up together and he’s a good friend of mine. Or, uh, was. He has no more love for Perry than I do, and I’d bet my left nut he’s bound in so much red tape right now it’s driving him crazy. I’ve spoken to him once already, and I believe he’s frustrated enough to help.”
“Get him on the phone,” Gabe said. “We need to know about the ransom demand and the instructions for the drop. Once we have the specifics, we’ll coordinate our rescue operation to go down before any money is exchanged.”
* * *
“Who are you?” Agent Danny Giancarelli had a smart and no-nonsense voice. “What exactly is your stake in this?”
Gabe liked the guy instantly. “Same as yours. I want Bryson Van Amee home with his family, safe and sound. Name’s Bristow. I’m CO of HumInt Consulting, Inc’s hostage rescue team.”
“Who hired you? Not the family,” Giancarelli said without a shred of doubt.
“No, not the family, but I can’t divulge my client’s name.”
And he didn’t particularly want to admit Van Amee’s greedy insurance company hired him because they didn’t want to pay out the kidnap and ransom insurance that Van Amee no doubt paid a ridiculous premium to have. Especially not with Audrey sitting right beside him, listening intently to every word. She’d come into the room midway through the team’s briefing, looking tired, tousled, and worried, and sat beside him like she had every right to be there.
Which she did.
A few eyebrows arched when he laced his fingers with hers and unsubtly raised her hand to his lips, staking his claim, but everyone kept their mouths shut.
Smart men.
At first, her presence had been a comfort, a balm soothing the distress he hadn’t realized he’d been feeling since he woke. Now, as he spoke with Giancarelli on the phone, having her beside him felt more like a heavy weight on his shoulders. It was stupid, but he kind of liked the knight in shining armor fantasy she’d built up around him and hated to tarnish it, but he couldn’t mince words with Giancarelli either. Not if he wanted to get the information he needed to save her brother.
“And my client doesn’t matter,” he added. “Our end goal is the same.”
