“Can’t do that.” Bear shoved his hands into his front pockets.
Sin looked confused. “I think there’s an unwritten rule that this is against protocol.”
“You agree with Grimes, huh?” Bear said in agitation.
“I didn’t say I did, did I?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s written somewhere that I’m crossing a line.” Bear relaxed some and shuffled his feet. Maybe he shouldn’t have said a word to anyone.
“I guess this is one way to surveil. Think anyone will recognize you there?”
“Nah, I don’t think there’s any chance.”
“Really?” Sin wasn’t buying it. “The beard can only hide so much.”
Because Bear couldn’t be really sure, he simply shrugged. “Maybe this is a good thing.”
“How so?”
“I’ll be at the event instead of sitting outside the event monitoring.”
“Hmm. You were going to be doing that? Let’s see, what did you tell me one time? Oh yeah. That any agent with emotions is a dead agent.”
“Sin, sheesh. I don’t have feelings for her…”
“Bullshit.” He swiped off his hat and smacked it against his thigh. “I’m not busting your balls, dude. I’m only saying it like I see it.”
Scrubbing the back of his neck, Bear looked out into the distance watching the wind pick up a pile of leaves and blow them across the dirt. “Can I ask a favor? I need you to be outside the event, just in case.”
“Just in case shit hits the fan? Damn, have you run this by Sharp?”
“Fuck no.”
“Because you know what he’ll ask.”
“Can I count on you or not?” Bear gritted his teeth.
Sin made a face. “Whatever you say.”
“I know that voice. Just spit it out.” Bear kicked a rock across the driveway.
“Maybe you should sit this one out. Tell Sharp and he will understand why. Hell, the entire team will. You have feelings for Aasia, which shows you’re human. We lost that, buddy, and it’s okay to have it return. I think being here, working our asses off, is helping us find our paths again.”
“I won’t sit this one out. She asked and I made a promise.” Bear leaned his shoulder against the barn.
“Don’t beat yourself up. Go with her and make the best of it.”
Sin was just being Sin. He’d always been a buffer. A devil’s advocate.
“I plan to.”
“I had a feeling you’d say that.” Sin smacked his palms together and shrugged.
“She doesn’t know anything on Fletcher,” Bear said though tight lips. “Just saying.”
“And you’d stake your life on that claim?”
“Yes,” Bear said without any hesitation. He watched his buddy’s face, looking for any signs of resistance.
