Exposed

“Well, how did the guerrillas ambush an entire SEAL platoon? You know how well trained the SEALs are. One or two causalities I can believe, but the entire team?”

“They are highly trained. But even highly trained men can make a mistake.”

“Is that what happened?”

“How would I know? I’m here for the sun, sand and beautiful babes.”

“Thirty minutes ago I would’ve believed that.”

“It’s in your best interest to believe it again. When are you supposed to meet King?”

“Well, I kind’ve got officially uninvited to interview him, but Perez is meeting with me tomorrow morning.”

“Be careful, Patton. Someone doesn’t want King to talk to you,” he said, and she couldn’t tell if he was warning her or threatening her.

“You?”

“We wouldn’t be having this conversation if that were the case.”

“You don’t scare me. I’ve got my Athena training, don’t forget,” she said with a wry grin.

“What does scare you?” he asked, his playboy smile fixed firmly in place.

She wasn’t going to admit to fears to this man who’d implied that he might have killed her if that had been his order. She tossed her hair. “Nothing.”

She walked away without looking back. And though she’d never admit it, she was glad Jay was in the Jeep.

The afternoon was balmy and she paused in the shade for a moment to tip her head back and just breathe. She wasn’t as brave as her Athena pals. Her hands were still trembling. It’s just an adrenaline let-down. But it felt like fear, and she didn’t like being reminded that failure here could have higher consequences than just being busted back to the local television station.