Page 18 of Tangled With You

Ironically, the only hitch had come from Ollie himself. “Butwe don’t set up at the house until we’re sure that Bree’s okay with it,” he’dsaid, referring to the Starks’ nanny. She’d been kidnapped along with Anne onthat horrible day. “Those days were a nightmare for her, and not just becauseshe’d been taken, too,” he added, looking pointedly at Damien. “I don’t wantour set-up forcing her to relive it all again. She hesitates even slightly, wemove operations back to the SSA.”

Damien had held his eyes, then nodded. “You’re absolutelyright. Why don’t you call her? I’m her employer. I don’t want her to feel likeshe has to agree with me.”

“Thanks.” Ollie had relaxed a bit, then. He’d been expectinga battle. At least some back and forth. But Damien kept surprising him. Stillnot Numero Uno on Ollie’s favorite person list, buthe wasn’t a total shit. And he was definitely good for Nikki, even though ithad taken Ollie far too long to realize that.

Bree had agreed without question, and now the whole team hadgathered at the house, including tech geniuses Mario and Denny, who wereworking with the FBI’s electronics team to set up all the equipment in thefirst-floor open area.

“Basing the operation here was a good call,” Ryan said, standingby the third-floor railing and looking down at the hustle and bustle two floorsbelow. He turned to face Damien. “We’ve got two other matters in active statusback at the office. Better to have a solo space where we can focus.”

“Agreed,” Damien said, then turned to Ollie, his eyes fullof compassion. “How are you holding up?” he asked as Trevor joined the group.

Ollie forced himself not to reach for Trevor’s hand. He’djust returned from the first floor and was now standing close enough that Olliecould smell his cologne. He wanted to lean in. He wanted Trevor to put his armaround his waist and tug him close, sharing his strength and offering support.Instead, there was nothing but air between them.

He swallowed, then shrugged, not able to find the words.“I’m worried. For that matter, I’m terrified. But we’ve got good people workingthis. Don’t worry,” he said, speaking to both Damien and Ryan. “I’m not goingto be a liability. I know how to do my job, too.”

“No one’s worried about that, Ollie,” Damien said, his voiceas gentle as when he spoke to his kids. “And you’re allowed to be scared. Ilearned that one the hard way.”

Yeah, he had. “Sorry,” Ollie said. “Iwasn’t thinking. You’ve had someone you love kidnapped, too. Hell of a fraternity.”

“Isn’t it just?”

Damien put a supportive hand on Ollie’s shoulder, thentilted his head. “I’m going to go see if there’s anything the folks downstairsneed before the briefing. Nikki’s out with Bree and the kids. They’re hurryingback. I’m sure she’ll find you as soon as she gets here.”

“Actually, I’ll walk with you. There’s something I want toask you.” He gave Trevor a quick smile—wishing it could be a quick kiss—thenfell in step with Damien.

“What’s on your mind?” Damien asked, pausing in the third-floorkitchen area. Nikki had told him that Damien had originally intended it to be aworkspace for caterers, with the real kitchen down on the first floor. Instead,it had become the hub for their family.

Ollie pinched the bridge of his nose. “I hate to ask, but Iwant all bases covered, and in the end we may have no choice but to pay theransom. If things go south, we might not get it back again.” He drew in abreath. “It’s a big ask—three million—but it’s Courtney.”

The kidnapper had left a note in the front seat ofCourtney’s Toyota, along with her cell phone. Three million to be delivered byOllie himself or else she died. The drop point, it said, would come later.

Ollie hesitated, catching a glimpse of Trevor walking by.Then he forced his mind back on task, wondering if there would ever come a timewhen he wasn’t distracted by the man. “Anyway,” he continued. “Will you put it up?I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay you, but—”

“Ollie,” Stark said gently. “I know it hasn’t always beensmooth sailing between us, but at the very least, I thought you were smarterthan that.”

Ollie blinked, not sure if he’d just been insulted. “I’monly—”

“It will be here within the hour. Two bags. Unmarked bills.And you’re a fool if you think I’d ever expect you to pay me back.”

“But—”

“What I do with my money is my call. And as I’m rather fondof fucking my wife, I’d like to stay on her good side and not leave one of herbest friends hanging.”

He grinned as Ollie rolled his eyes. “Nice, Stark. Realnice.”

“Nothing that was news to you,” he retorted, and actuallymade Ollie laugh. That, of course, had been his intent.

“You’re okay, Stark. I may deny I said that a year from now,but right now, you’re definitely not the shit I used to think you were.”

“And from you, my friend, that is high praise, indeed.”

* * * *

He found Trevor in the thick of it, moving among his peoplewith a confident demeanor that added the right energy to the room. It certainlyhelped Ollie’s mood. This was a man who got things done.

He’d known that already, of course. Not only had he enjoyeda view from the sidelines once or twice when Trevor worked—or ran—various SSA operations,but after they became friends, Trevor would talk to him about assignments, andOllie would do the same, at least as much as protocol allowed.

They’d bonded over their stories and, oddly, over a talentfor charades. They’d attended a party together, had paired up, then kickedevery other team’s ass.