Trusting the SEAL (Saving the SEALs Series Book 3) by Leslie North Page A

where the hell were you?”
    Spencer considered lying, then decided to go with the truth. Considering the apocalypse that had erupted while he was gone, he was in enough trouble already. “I was with Toni. She wanted to get away from the city for a while so we went to this oasis in the desert for a few hours.”
    “I see.” Kyle’s tense disapproval rippled through the phone line. “So while you were lounging around beneath the palm trees, Arrieta could’ve easily taken out your little heiress too.”
    “No, dammit. It wasn’t like that,” he said, rubbing his eyes while guilt chewed a hole through his chest. Okay, it sort of was like that, unfortunately, but he would never tell Kyle that. “Look, I’m sorry. I had the situation under control at all time, all right?”
    “You’re sorry. Well, maybe you can tell that to Toni Williams when she takes a bullet to the head. Tell her you’re sorry you dropped the ball.”
    “I didn’t drop the goddamned ball.” He glanced over at Toni and found her avoiding his gaze. “I had my target close and protected at all times.”
    “Did you fuck her too?”
    Hearing Kyle reduce what he and Toni had just shared together to something so base and crude had Spencer ready to punch his fist straight through the car door. He lowered his voice to a menacing whisper, “That’s none of your business.”
    “Actually, it’s very much my business. Especially when it puts the rest of your team at risk, not to mention the people under your guard. I excused your behavior once already back in Kandahar. The day I ordered you to take out Arrieta and you took pity on him instead. I won’t make that mistake again. I’ll take him out myself this time. Now, if you could start thinking with your brain again instead of your cock, I need you to focus on this mission.”
    “Fine.”
    “What the hell do you mean fine?”
    “I mean my integrity is fine. I’m not compromised. My involvement with Ms. Williams is strictly business.” He looked over at Toni and met her dark gaze, saw both the question and the hurt in her eyes before he turned away. “I’ve got a plan to draw out Coran. And we’ll get Arrieta. Don’t worry.”
    There was silence through the line for so long that Spencer checked to make sure they were still connected. “Hello?”
    Kyle exhaled slow. “Oh, I’ll get him all right. If it’s the last thing I do. Bet on it. But if your involvement with Toni Williams compromises this mission in any way, I will pull you out. Understood?”
    “Yes, sir.” A muscle ticked near Spencer’s jaw as they passed through a police checkpoint at the city limits. One of the officer’s knocked on the back window of the limo and Toni gave him an anxious look before opening it.
    “Hang on, Kyle,” Spencer said, then leaned forward and forced a smile. “How can we help you today, officer?”
    “We’re searching all vehicles going in and out of the capital, sir. Can you step out of the vehicle, please?”
    Both he and Toni exited while the police searched the car and the driver then each of them. Toni looked scared, for once, as an officer patted her down. The same officer frisked Spencer too then asked to see his credentials for his weapon before they were allowed back into the car to continue on their way.
    “What’s happening?” Kyle asked once Spencer got back on the line.
    “Police search. Do we have any more intel on the SHEEPSKIN network’s motivation this time? Killing kids isn’t their usual MO.”
    “No. But from the way the explosives were laid out, it sure looks like a deliberate attempt to kill Arrieta. They found evidence of a terrorist lair in the school basement.” Kyle gave a derisive snort. “Using little kids as cover for his sick operations, all to topple the U.S. from its superpower status. God, I can’t believe he was one of us.” Kyle exhaled sharply. Arrieta had worked right under their noses as a CIA operative for years before deserting. “ Jesus.