Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Oh, but she did. Once she was actually out in the field, she would need support to help her, to watch and listen and give her the best advice they could. “She cannot do this alone. I’m not sending an untested operative into a high-risk situation.”
“Then she’ll do it alone without your backup.” Ian frowned his way. “I don’t think you understand how serious she is. You want to tell me how you know her and why she thinks you’re an asshole? I mean I know why. She’s obviously met you, but circumstances matter.”
He was such a dick, but he could use the man’s advice. Ever since Tag walked in the door, he’d been thinking about how to broach the subject with him. Tag had a dad vibe to him, an “I’m an asshole but also know what I’m talking about and I’m willing to discuss shit” dad vibe. His dad did not have that vibe. His dad had twelve-foot fences around him most of the time. “Can we do this without an audience?”
Tucker sighed and pushed back from the table. “Fine. You’re no fun. Come on, Jax. We can go and make sure my kids aren’t turning the dungeon into a pillow fort.”
Jax chuckled. “But that sounds like fun. Now I wish I’d brought the boys.”
Brad gathered his folders. “How about we go over a few of the protocols we’re going to be using? I understand that you guys do things differently, but the CIA is still in charge of this.”
Jax groaned and followed Tucker out the door.
Brad stood and closed his briefcase. “And you and I should talk, too. Unless you intend to try to get me thrown out. You know I’ve been working with her. She’s our best shot at this. There’s more at stake than what you want, Drake. Also, it feels totally wrong for a group of all men to be deciding how to deal with a woman operative. Like the optics on this are not good.”
He turned and walked out the door.
He was making everyone happy today. He stared pointedly at Kyle.
Kyle merely shook his head. “Nah, I’m going to stay since this somehow involves me, too.”
“I don’t see how.”
Kyle’s gaze sharpened. “Because I gave up everything to be here, Drake. Because if this op doesn’t get me close enough to Julia to take her out, I’ll never be able to go home. So yes, it affects me.”
“I thought you weren’t planning on going home at all,” Ian said, dropping back down to his seat.
Kyle sighed, a heavy sound. “Of course I am. I always intended to see my family again.”
“Tell me you’re not rejoining the Agency,” Ian said.
“I can’t tell you that. You know I can’t. It might be the best place for me because it’s the only way I’ll ever be able to stay away from MaeBe,” Kyle replied. “If I come home to stay, if I come back to McKay-Taggart, it’ll be mere months before I’m trying to work my way into her life again, and that’s not fair to her.”
“I think she would disagree,” Tag countered.
Drake knew she would. It was precisely why Kyle had done what he’d done. She would want to fight beside him, and Julia would try to hurt her, to kill her. He’d helped Kyle because he understood what he’d been trying to do.
Kyle’s head shook. “No. I’m not bringing her into this life. And that’s what Drake’s trying to avoid. Taylor isn’t an operative like MaeBe isn’t. She’s not trained to do this any more than Mae would be.”
“Yeah, you might not recognize MaeBe anymore,” Taggart argued. “She’s gotten excellent at kicking a man’s balls back into his body cavity.”
“Why the hell would she do that?” Kyle’s brow had furrowed.
Tag shrugged. “Because I taught her. She’s been an excellent student, and it was my balls on the line. Someone had to teach her how to defend herself.”
“You’re supposed to protect her,” Kyle insisted.
“No,” Tag countered. “I’m supposed to teach her how to live independently. She’s not some shrinking violet who wants to spend the rest of her life in an ivory tower waiting for her prince to return.”
Kyle’s expression went mulish. “Good, because I’m not.”
“You shouldn’t, buddy, because I can tell you what she’ll do to your balls will make mine look like a training session. Which it was. Also, if you’re worried I spent too much time on balls, Erin taught her how to punch a tit in just the right way,” Taggart reassured his nephew. “Apparently there’s a secret, and she won’t teach me. The women have mysterious ways.”
Kyle huffed. “I didn’t leave her in your care so you could turn her into…what? What are you trying to do to her?”
“I’m trying to make her strong enough and competent enough that if Julia shows up on her doorstep, she can handle herself,” Tag explained. “And don’t tell me she’s supposed to hide for the rest of her life.”