Thane steps forward, his demeanor stiff. He’s usually a pretty chill guy, so now my interest is sky-high.
“Hi, Ronan. Actually…I’m the one who needed to talk to you today.”
US Marshal Ronan refocuses on the screen, and his eyes go complete deer-in-the-headlights behind his fashionable frames. His Adam’s apple bobs as he shuffles papers, possibly in an attempt to appear less nervous.
It’s not working.
Straightening his shoulders, he finally answers. “H-Hi. I mean, hello, Thane. What’s this about?”
I scooch forward in my seat—there’s never any popcorn when you need it.
Thane blows a long breath out through his nose, clearly uncomfortable. “The sex worker killings in East Texas—the guys responsible are your protectees, aren’t they?”
Ronan pales but straightens his spine. “You know I can’t talk about that.”
“Ro, we have the exact same documents and emails you do.” He pulls up the electronic documentation and shares the screen. “Can you verify the specific whereabouts of these men?”
“H-how do you have all of this?”
Jake, who’s been hovering in the background, steps in front of Thane. He’s wearing all black, combining an artfully distressed tunic with skinny jeans and motorcycle boots. He waves shyly at the camera.
Ronan curses to himself as he looks down, adjusting his glasses. “Hi, Jake. Looks like you and DB are doing more than web security these days.”
Jake confirms with a short nod, and Thane rolls his eyes in frustration. “Ronan, are these the guys?”
Ronan’s blue eyes pierce the screen with their intensity. “There never was a job, was there, DB?”
Shifting uncomfortably on his feet, DB shakes his head. “Not one with a W-4.”
“They’re going to know I was involved. I could go to jail. I’m not sacrificing my friends and family for this.”
Jake answers. “The agency might suspect your involvement, but there won’t be any proof of it. I’ve got your back. You won’t lose anyone, I promise.”
Ronan doesn’t appear to be comforted by this declaration.
Thane softens his voice. “These kids are being brutalized, Ro. And nobody’s done a damn thing about it.”
Ronan’s jaw clenches and his nostrils flare. “That’s not true. I did everything I could.”
“We know,” DB answers, encouraging him to continue.
Sitting up a little straighter, Ronan inhales sharply, once again cursing to himself. Another deep breath and his eyes flick to the screen. “I’m going to need you to secure transport and temporary lodging for me when this all goes down. And security for my brother and his family if it comes to that.”
“It won’t come to that, but we’ve got them covered if it does.” DB’s answer is resolute.
Ronan takes another beat, then nods to himself. “It’s them. Those are the guys. That’s the location.”
Thane presses on. “To be clear, your chain of command knows what these two are doing?”
He responds with a cool tone. “Yes, in great detail. Though you know that because you have all of the documentation, apparently.”
“And what did they say?” Thane asks, clearly picking up on Ronan’s anger.
Ronan’s eyes dart from DB to Thane, and he swallows before responding. “They said this is a big bust for the federal government, and we are not going to endanger it by prosecuting minor infractions of the law.”
“And they understood that you were talking about people actually dying at their hands?”
Ronan is having a physical reaction to Thane talking to him, and it isso interesting. He looks like a mixture of misery, sexual tension, and anger. I kinda like this guy.
