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)
Brad must have seen the rage in his eyes because he took a step back. “I know you’re not going to believe me, but I didn’t know it was her until recently. I’m telling you they’ve kept this op as classified as possible. No one knew about it until they were ready to go. She’s been working directly with the deputy director, and she hasn’t been talking. I thought she was gone, too. I just got the records on what’s been happening.”
“And why didn’t I get them?”
Brad’s eyes narrowed. “Because I’m supposed to make the call as to whether you even work on this, Drake. I’m supposed to bring the two of you out here and assess whether or not you’re capable of working this. I know you think you’re in charge, but you’re not. I am until such time as I sign off and let you take over. She’s nonnegotiable. She is the op. You’re being allowed in because of your prior knowledge to the target and because…”
“Because I’m my father’s son.”
“Something like that, yes,” Brad allowed, and his defensive posture seemed to melt. “Drake, we’ve been friends for years. Come on. Let’s sit down and have a drink and I’ll tell you what I know and we’ll figure this thing out. Hawthorne, you have to know where the good stuff is.”
Kyle sighed as though he wanted to argue but had decided against it. “Yeah. Come on. There’s a bar in the dungeon.”
“Dungeon?” Brad asked.
At least one thing had gone right. He got to watch his uptight coworker deal with the fact that he was in a sex club. “Yeah, it’s a BDSM club. You should get used to it if you’re going to kick me out and work the op yourself.”
How had Taylor taken the news? Had she been shocked?
If the world hadn’t intervened, she would be used to clubs by now because they would be regulars. She would be wearing his collar, and he would be used to taking care of her.
The world? It hadn’t been the world. It had been the CIA.
Where was her room? He needed to explain some things to her.
Kyle had started up the stairs and put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t follow her. You’ll only make things worse. I can assure you Solo won’t let her leave until she understands what’s going on. My uncle is coming in tomorrow. She’ll want to talk to him. You need a plan in place if you want to stay on this op and have any chance of talking to her again. You go after her tonight and Solo changes her mind. I can promise you that.”
“She’s already texted me.” Brad held his phone up. “Solo says she’s talking to Taylor now, and if you leave her be they’ll hang around for the meeting with Taggart.”
“She can’t expect me not to talk to her.” It was obvious they’d both been played. Surely she could see that.
“You need a plan, and not one where you expect anything from her,” Kyle said with a shake of his head. “Like I said. That woman would rather carve your balls off with a rusty spoon than talk to you, and I do the dishes around here. She can find one. You need a strategic retreat and to replan this whole op or you’re going to be the one on the other side of the fence, and I need you, man. I cannot have whatever went down between you and Constan…Taylor…whatever her name is endanger this mission. Julia is out there, and while I might have bought us some time with the whole blowing myself up thing, she’s going to come after me eventually. So you can come with me and strategize or I can walk up there and tell Taylor I’m all in with her and call my uncle and cut you out.”
Bitterness washed over him. “Of course you would.”
Kyle sighed. “I know you’re not going to like this, but it’s tough love. I don’t have the time or patience right now to do what I should do and handle you with kid gloves. Something went down between the two of you and it’s rattled you. So let’s find out what Brad knows and then figure out where to go from there. And let’s do it over some excellent whiskey that Sandra owes me because she pays shit.”
“The kid is right,” Brad said. “We need to talk this out. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“The kid is over thirty and has more blood on his hands than you’ll ever know,” Kyle said with an arrogant smirk as he strode by Brad. “So fuck off and know I’m watching you.”
Brad frowned Drake’s way. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Drake began to follow. Kyle was probably right. The instinct to go after Taylor would likely get him in trouble, and he did need to figure out what Brad knew. His whole night was fucked, and he could use a drink.