“Of course,” Viv responded. “Now that dinner’s over, you have to tell us what’s going on.”

Layla looked at Viv and then Bailey. Both women knew something was up. “I trust the two of you with my life. You know that.”

“I don’t like the sound of this,” Bailey said.

“You both already know that my work at the Agency has expanded. Bailey, Viv told me that she filled you in on my last operation.”

“Joint op, right?” Bailey asked.

“Yes. With the DEA.”

“Go on,” Viv said.

“We all know what happened with the bombing, and I’ve gotten sad news. One of my team members was brutally murdered in his home. His throat was slit.”

“Whoa.” Bailey stood up and started pacing. “That means someone is trying to take your team out. They’re coming after you one by one.”

“That’s our main working theory, yes. That it’s the Mejía cartel as an act of retaliation.” Layla explained Roberto’s death supercharging any cartel motivation for revenge.

“There’s four of you, right?” Bailey asked.

“Yes, and something has happened to three of us.” Layla paused. “So far. And to make matters worse, now that I’ve been put on leave, I have to worry what that’s all about.”

“Won’t the Agency put you in protective custody?” Bailey asked.

“I spoke to my boss late last night. He’d been briefed by the DEA, but because I’m not DEA and was only there in a support function, they’re not ready to think that I’m an actual target. He claims the FBI has a suspect connected to a domestic terror group in custody, who has confessed to the restaurant bombing, and that my being there was purely a coincidence.”

“Do you trust your boss?” Viv asked.

“No,” Layla answered quickly. “Frankly, there are very few people I trust right now, and the two of you are a good chunk of that.”

“What do you need us to do?” Viv asked. “Name it.”

Layla clenched her fists. “I wanted to let you know what’s going on, given I’m not sure I’m going to come out of this alive.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Bailey said. “You helped me when I needed it. I can try to get you into an FBI safe house by calling in some favors.”

Layla shook her head. “No. That won’t be necessary. I have to face this head on, at least until I know what I’m dealing with. Which brings me to another topic. Hunter.”

Viv and Bailey exchanged a look before turning their attention back to her.

“What’s going on?” Bailey asked.

Layla took a moment. “Everything is so complicated.”

“We can handle it,” Bailey said.

“It turns out that Hunter has a preexisting relationship working with the DEA.”

Viv let out a low whistle. “That’s a far cry from investigating cheating spouses.”