Page 36 of Entwined With You

“Ryan and Mason both knew I ran cons before the FBI,” Brax said. “No worries there.”

“But Ryan didn’t know that you were involved in the original heist,” Ryan said. “It must have slipped your mind yesterday when you got sick.”

Brax closed his eyes and counted to five. “The woman who was killed—she was my girlfriend. I should have told you that. And that I was on the original team. I didn’t. I don’t know why except that I was already off my game. September 2nd is a pretty shitty day for me.”

“I imagine it would be,” Ryan said. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Brax blinked back tears. He’d expected a dressing down, not sympathy. He drew a breath, gathering himself. “You have no reason to believe me now, but the fact is, Cami and I came in today to get you up to speed. Fully up to speed. Backstory and all.”

“All right,” Ryan said. “Let’s hear it.”

So Brax told him. Everything. Meeting Sabrina in the Manhattan shelter. Growing up on the grift. Meeting Darrin and getting invited to be part of the team for the LA job. Moving out here. The heist going every which way of bad it possibly could.

Losing Sabrina.

Then losing himself.

It had been in those rough months when he’d been picked up for petty theft by the LAPD. But instead of being tried, he’d found himself talking with a man from a government office.

“I can’t say what department. Just that it’s covert and I agreed to come work for them. Cami did, too, though it was another month at least before she and I met. That department filtered agents to the FBI. It was a program that was looking to combine street smarts with regular training. Assuming you fit the profile. We did.”

Ryan nodded slowly. “I appreciate you telling me. So you won’t sit there shaking in your chairs, I’ll let you know right off the bat that this changes nothing. If anything, it makes both of you more qualified for this job. But let me be clear. Leave out any kind of mission sensitive information again, and you’ll be riding a desk for a year.”

“Yes, sir.”

He turned to Cami. “Was he telling the truth or covering for you? Were you in on the original heist, too?”

“No, sir. My past is far less interesting than Brax’s.”

Brax knew enough to know that wasn’t entirely true. But he wasn’t going to push her to reveal all. That was her decision. Besides, if the thoughtful look on Ryan’s face was any indication, Ryan didn’t believe her either. He didn’t, however, push her. Not yet, anyway.

Instead, he turned back to Brax. “Tell me about your girlfriend and her twin.”

Brax nodded, then slowly told him the entire story, impressed that he got through it without his throat clogging or needing to race once again to the men’s room. “I walked away. The job had collapsed, and I went into self-preservation mode. So I disappeared. Now Samantha thinks I killed her sister. And so does Darrin. I can only presume Jorge will, too.”

“She died on September 2nd.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry to have put you through that yesterday.”

“Well, I’m sorry not to have been forthright.”

“Can you handle this assignment Agent Reed? Can you work with this woman and still keep your shit together?”

“Honestly? At first I wasn’t sure. I am now.” Not only was he confident he could do it, the truth was that he wanted to. If for no other reason than that by interacting with that team he might—just might—finally find some answers to what happened fifteen years ago.

“Anyway, that’s where we are. First team meeting is tonight at the Pier. And this will be our last visit to the office. Too risky.”

“Agreed.” Ryan turned to face Cami. “Anything not already in your SSA file that you feel the need to share?”

“No, sir,” she said, looking him straight in the eyes.

Ryan nodded, as if he believed her. Then again, why wouldn’t he? Cami was an accomplished liar, after all.

Brax, however, had spent many a long night playing poker with her and Ollie. He knew her well. And he couldn’t help but wonder what secret she was still holding so close.

A good thirty seconds passed in silence, and Brax started to wonder if he’d been wrong. Maybe Ryan really could see through Cami. Maybe he knew more about her than Brax did.