“You’re a Marshal.”
“Was.Deputy.”I nodded.“Worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for a time.”
“NCMEC,” Reed said, tilting his head.“So, you know how this works.Listen, I get it, the rest of you are used to being the extraction crew.Get in, get out, but that’s after years of fucking prep work.
“Fair,” Josh agreed.
“But how long have you been doing this?If we can save one girl, maybe do a littlenudge-nudgeinterrogation, we might get some names out of this white-collar guy.”
“Fuck, don’t tell me you are going to torture a US citizen.”Reed palmed his forehead.“I need to go.”
Liam chuckled.
“He never said torture.”I smiled, crossing my arms.
“I wasn’t here.Email me the fucking information.We can’t assist, but I’ll drop a note to my buddies on the force and let them know to remain close to the area on Friday.”
Aidan, who had been quiet most of the meeting, pushed away from the wall.“Feel good about this, Agent.We are going to save a little girl's life.”
Reed glanced around at all of us.“I envy you.If I could be there and bring down just one of the fuckers, I would.But the law protects us all.I respect it.Just...make sure you do, too.”
Not a single one of us said a word.
Not that we didn’t agree.
But these people worked outside the law and had no respect for human life.I was clearly being influenced by the BHS way, and if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t have joined if I weren’t willing to overlook a few things to get the bad guy.
When he left, Josh slid his hands into his pockets and stared at the floor for a long minute.We all stood in contemplation along with him.
“We need some good guys following the rules, Josh,” Aidan reminded him.“Let him do his job.”
His deep, powerful eyes lifted and slowly roamed the room, taking each of us in.
“I was asked to help, and this is how we are doing it.Friday.Let’s get this done.No plates and protect your identity.“Josh said, planting his hands on his hips.“We’re about to disrupt the plans of some powerful and very rich people.”
Yeah, fuck.
“Aidan, you stay out of the field.”
“What?Why?”Aidan laughed.“I need some action.I’m not a desk guy, I’m going crazy.”
“Your kids need their father.This is dangerous.These people are dangerous,” Josh growled.
I couldn’t help it; Liam and I glanced at one another then burst out laughing.Aidan is a decorated US Marine.
Josh walked out without another word.
It was awkward.
As our laughter trailed off, we looked at Aidan.
“I’ll talk to him.”He grinned.“Get the teams together, and I’ll attend your briefing Friday morning.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied.
It meant I’d had a late night setting up for the operation and couldn’t see Caylee.When I woke, I messaged her to say I missed waking up with her.
It was true.
