There wasn’t an ounce of humor in Mason’s suggestion. Layla kept her mouth shut, but Zane didn’t.

“We have a right to be angry, but we also need to get to the information, since we are the targets here. So please continue.”

Mason crossed his arms. “The plan against Mejía is totally need-to-know. We have multiple operations running, and no one on those assignments knows about the bigger picture. Leadership made that decision to decrease the chances of leaks and to give ourselves the best chance of disrupting and ultimately destroying the network.”

Layla still felt unclear. “How does this fit together with the current threat assessment?”

“We’ve believed for some time that someone at the DEA is working with Mejía, but because of the larger plan, we have to be extremely careful about how we handle the insider. If we can continue to keep things compartmentalized, then we can feed information to each team and determine who might be the traitor. Also, a new development I want everyone to be aware of is that we haven’t determined for certain but believe one surveillance camera got missed in the chaos at the Mejía safe house, and that’s how you all got identified.”

Layla was quickly processing everything he was saying. “And maybe Zane wasn’t caught on that footage?”

“That’s our current theory,” Mason said. “We also don’t know why Cass’s situation was a break-in instead of a hit job, but we have to assume all of you are in danger.” He looked away and then made direct eye contact with Layla. “And, unfortunately, there’s more bad news.”

“What?” she asked.

“The Agency is being cagey about you, Layla. I couldn’t get a word out of them on this supposed investigation they’re conducting, and I’m going to be totally frank here. I got the sense that they’re trying to disassociate themselves from you.”

She’d had the same feeling. “I know, but I have no idea why. I guess the cartel could be linked to that, too, but then again, if they’re trying to kill me, why go through the trouble of cooking up something with the IG’s office?”

Hunter cleared his throat. “Regardless, Layla is a prime target here. I hope the DEA isn’t going to throw her to the curb like CIA has.”

“No. At least not if I have anything to do with it,” Mason answered. “Layla was a key part of this entire operation and the success we had. I don’t know what kind of games Langley is playing, but we want no part in it. However we can help, we will, and that includes you, Hunter, providing her with personal protection.”

Hunter laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Mason asked.

Hunter looked at her. “Layla’s the one who saved me from getting shot, but yes, I’m here to do whatever I can.”