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“No doubt. My warning stands.” Cal glanced at Jon who nodded.
Rachelle breathed easier. Thank goodness. Jon or Zane would get to the truth about the pictures.
“Who sent the photos?” Cal asked.
Stokes snorted. “I’m not revealing my source, and you won’t learn the identity from those emails, either. They came from an account that was closed as soon as the emails were sent.”
“But you know who it is.”
“It’s someone I trust.”
Cal’s eyebrow rose. “I hope your trust isn’t misplaced because another person who asked questions about Rachelle landed in the hospital with life-threatening injuries.”
Thankfully, Blake’s doctor worked fast enough to save his life. Barring complications, he should fully recover.
A glare from Stokes. “Are you threatening me?”
“Stating a fact.”
“Who was injured?”
“Blake Sims. Someone broke into his home, beat and shot him. Whoever is running this operation isn’t joking around.”
Another snort. “Sims is a flunky, hardly a threat to anyone.”
Why would Stokes, a man higher in the ranks, know a flunky like Blake? He was one of thousands employed by the State Department. Stokes knew more than he was saying.
“Asking questions about Rachelle was enough to draw the wrong attention. Blake might work for the State Department now, but he was a Navy SEAL and capable of protecting himself.”
Not as capable as Cal and Wolf Pack, but better prepared than a typical government employee. For the first time, Stokes appeared uncertain. Good. He needed to show discretion when he asked questions. The man’s smug attitude wouldn’t stop bullets. Rachelle ought to know. She’d been dodging plenty of metal projectiles in the past few days without the attitude.
Stokes rose. “We’re finished for now. I trust Ms. Carter will be available for follow-up questions.” He turned to Rachelle. “I assure you, we’ll have plenty. Your actions cost one of our men his life. You won’t be the cause of more deaths on my watch.”
“That’s enough,” Cal said. “Sit down, Stokes. I have questions for you.”
The man scowled. “You’re joking.”
“Sit.”
“I don’t think so.” He pivoted and saw Rafe and Eli blocking the suite door. “This is outrageous. You can’t stop us from leaving. Our security is in the hallway. If I raise my voice, they’ll break in here. I’ll be thrilled to have you arrested for unlawful detainment.”
Cal’s eyebrow rose. “You tossed questions around like candy at Mardi Gras. Are you afraid to answer a few questions yourself?”
Meyer sighed. “Sit down, Russ. He’s doing his job, like we are. What do you want to know, Taylor?”
“Who decided a two-man security detail was sufficient for the ambassador’s daughter?”
Ken Caldwell rolled his eyes. “Come on, Taylor. Ms. Morales was on a goodwill tour. She didn’t need a full security detail.”
“In light of the attack on Amy, Rachelle, and the security team, it’s obvious she did. Your decision endangered Rachelle, something Fortress doesn’t take lightly.”
Stokes made a rolling motion with his hand. “What else? We have real jobs to return to.”
Rachelle’s eyes narrowed. And Wolf Pack didn’t? What an arrogant jerk.
“What do you know about the Falcon?” Cal asked.
For the first time since he’d stepped into the suite, Stokes remained silent while his friends exchanged puzzled glances with each other. “Why are you asking about birds of prey?” Meyer asked.
