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)
That seemed petty. “I don’t know. Now I’m worried I’ve fallen into some kind of trap. If Lydia is lying, what game is she playing?”
The Benz pulled up, driven by the other guard. It reminded him of all the security around his mother. He’d grown up in a wealthy household, and with his mother’s career in politics, there was always security around. During his childhood it had been big burly men. Lately his mom was concerned about diversity and inclusion. She’d hired an all-female team, so now there were always badass women around.
“I don’t know. I rather wish you’d talked to her more instead of deciding she was telling you the truth.” Knight gracefully slid into the driver’s side.
Drake looked down at his phone as Kyle texted back.
I’m trying to keep eyes on Taylor, but she hasn’t shown up yet. I’m covering a different part of the hotel. What’s wrong with Brad?
Damn it. He got in the car and slammed the door, then Knight took off. “I’m sorry I didn’t handle it as well as I should have. All I cared about in that moment was Taylor. She’s still all I care about. The op can go to hell.”
Knight eased the car onto the road. “I can understand that, but you need to calm down and think. Have you reached out to Brad?”
It hadn’t been his first instinct. His first instinct was to quietly creep up on the fucker and kill him before he had a chance to fight back. But Knight was right to consider other options. “If he’s dirty, he could try to take her out.”
“Or he could realize you’re onto him and stop whatever he’s doing,” Knight pointed out. “Would he give up his career to fuck with you?”
“Brad’s whole life is his career.” That fact was what didn’t make sense to him. “He’s always been the most by-the-book guy I’ve ever known.”
“Well, that would be excellent cover for a man who wanted to hide his true ambitions.” Knight turned onto the main road that would take them to the hotel. “What does he get if he hurts Taylor? From the way he’s been talking, this operation is the largest he’s had a hand in. Why would he want that op in danger?”
“It’s already in danger because Taylor’s changed her mind about sacrificing her entire life for an undercover op.” He was texting Kyle as he spoke.
Something is wrong with Brad. He sent me on a wild-goose chase to keep me from being on the team when Taylor was called in. That means he knew when Taylor would be called in.
It didn’t matter who was fucking with the op. He meant to get Taylor out of there. Nothing mattered beyond ensuring she was safe.
“He can’t force her, and killing her wouldn’t make him look better to the Agency. No matter how callous they can be, they don’t tend to reward handlers who get their operatives killed.” Knight was far more capable of being logical than he was. “So I’m still not understanding why he would want to hurt Taylor.”
“It doesn’t make sense because he couldn’t possibly have known they would call her in tonight. Unless he’s working with The Consortium. We’ve known for a while that Julia wasn’t the only one working for them. We’ve been fairly certain they were behind the killing of an asset of mine a year and a half ago. Brad was the one who pointed it out. That could be a smoke screen.”
“What kind of contact did Brad have with your sister?” Knight asked.
“None that I know of. I mean he knew her and he’d worked with us a few times, but they never paid attention to each other. Which, of course, is what they would do if they wanted to keep things quiet.” Something Brad had said before tickled across his brain. “He mentioned he’s been seeing a woman, but he’s been secretive about it. I can’t see him with my sister. She’s got a very specific type.”
“Yes, his name is Kyle Hawthorne, who happens to be here.”
Fuck. If Brad was working with The Consortium, then this could all be one long play by his sister to get what she truly wanted—Kyle.
Lies on lies. That’s what he was dealing with. Everyone was lying or hiding something, and he couldn’t see through the lies to get to the truth.
He quickly texted Kyle.
Watch your back. I think Julia is here. She could find a way to take Taylor hoping I’ll trade her for you. Get out of the hotel now.
If that was true, then Brad had betrayed him on every level. Brad was the only one who knew how much he loved Taylor.
“If Brad is working for The Consortium, then Julia knows about the op and Taylor.”
“And if he’s not?” Knight seemed determined to force him to look at this situation from all angles. The trouble was there were so damn many angles, and all of them were dependent on information he didn’t have.