Page 65 of Her Ruthless Protector

“However,” Max continued. “We are not getting the backing that we would normally want from the brass. They’re giving us some leeway, but they’re not giving us any additional personnel. Additionally, we are still not getting any cooperation from the Oman government.”

Cullen raised his hand.

“Lyons?” Max nodded at him.

“When you say we don’t have the backing of the brass, does that mean someone’s ass is hanging out in the breeze?”

“I can’t say. I know that all of you in this room are acting under orders, so your collective asses are just fine. Just continue to do what you do best.”

Cullen raised his hand again. “Yes, Cullen?” Max nodded tiredly.

“Begging your pardon, but that’s bullshit. If someone is taking the fall for doing the right thing, then we all should.”

“That’s not your decision, Chief Petty Officer Lyons. Now, Kane and Leo, I think you two have the most pertinent information to report, then we’re going to have to figure out what we’ll do with it.” Max waved them to the front of the room.

Damn, just when he was feeling comfortable in his chair. Kane got up and walked slowly forward, then turned to look at his team and the men of Black Dawn. As a group they all gave him and Leo a collective chin tilt.

“Barkat al Fadi’s wife got information from one of his lieutenants who is now dead. She understood enough that she knew they’d once had four potential targets that now were down to one. It didn’t make sense to her, but when I asked her questions she started talking about worldwide attention and hundreds of journalists. That has to be the Eurovision Song Contest, or as Max likes to call it, Oman’s Grabtastic Singalong.”

There were a bunch of chuckles from the room.

“I like that. I’m going to use it,” Max smiled wryly.

“Our problem is, we have no clue as to the when and how. I highly doubt it has anything to do with the sabotage that’s been going on, but we still need to check it out.”

“It doesn’t,” Cullen hollered out. “We’ve got some info on that. A.J.’s knocking some heads together. It has to do with that bitch, Amber. We’ll fill you in later.”

“Amber was behind that bullshit?” Kane stared at Cullen, trying to wrap his head around what he’d just said. “I don’t understand why she would do that.”

“I know why,” Asher called out. “She was trying—”

“Shut up, Ash, like we really give a shit why some dumb bitch was setting off stink bombs,” Cullen said disgustedly. “Keep going, Kane.”

“Anyway, before fan number one gives us chapter and verse, let me tell you what we do know, and what we don’t know. Unfortunately, we don’t know fuck-all about how, when or where at the show that they are going to attack, which was the whole reason we went to Yemen in the first place. That stadium is a sieve. We’re going to have forty-one thousand screaming fans in six days for the finale when they announce the winner.”

“But not all the acts will be there then, because some will have been eliminated during the semi-finals which start the day after tomorrow,” Asher interrupted again.

“Look, if you know so damned much, why don’t you come up and help with the presentation, Princess.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” Asher bounded to the front of the room.

“Your mother doesn’t just DVR the show for herself, you watch it too, don’t you?” Kane accused.

“The show’s been going on since I was a little kid, so me and my brothers were force-fed it. If you think I know the details, you should listen to Lawrence, he can give you chapter and verse.”

“Isn’t he Delta Force?” Max asked.

“Yep, that’s him,” Asher nodded. “Okay boys and girls, listen up. Tomorrow night is the Mayor’s reception.”

“Mayor, you mean the Mayor of Muscat?” Max asked.

“Nope, that’s just what it’s always been called, Muscat doesn’t have a mayor. The Sultan is going to be there and all of the different country delegations for the competition are going to be there.”

“Kane, is this it?” Max asked. “Is this the target?”

“Nope. If they’re targeting the contest, they’re going to want it blasted around the world.” Kane said with authority. “The Sultan has been publicity-shy for events like this, normally there’s a red carpet, but since his divorce in two thousand and five, he is against things like that. So, Asher, Cullen, and I have ruled it out.”

“Good to know.”