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“Eli?”
The young agent turned back to him slowly. “Yeah?”
“Stay angry all you want, but the insubordination is going to begin causing problems soon,” Doogan warned him. “It’s time to let it go.”
“Let it go.” Eli stared at him bitterly. “You think it’s that easy?”
“I didn’t kill her, Eli. I didn’t frighten our daughter to the point that she ran out in front of that car nor did I put that bullet in Catalina’s head. And I didn’t ask her to lie to her family. She was your sister, and I’ve tried to be patient because you were a fine brother-in-law. But it’s going too far. Protecting Zoey is all I care about at this point, and I need to know I can trust you to do that. I’d hope your anger toward me won’t affect that.”
Catalina’s lies and deceit during his marriage to her had nearly destroyed him. He hadn’t given a damn. Katie had been all that mattered to him by then, and she’d known it. Because of it she’d tricked the brother that resented him and tried to steal the child Doogan had loved.
“Zoey’s my friend,” Eli stated simply, and Doogan heard the loyalty he felt toward her.
“Let’s find out what the hell’s going on here, fix it for her, and then we’ll deal with the past,” he suggested. “Until then, let’s see if we can get along and do this right.”
Sliding his thumbs into his front pockets, Eli stared back at him for long, silent moments before he gave a short, decisive nod.
“Understood.” Eli nodded. “I’ll text that information as soon as I get downstairs. I’ll suit up and wait for you.”
Within minutes Doogan had all the information he needed and had dressed in the protective black mission clothes such as the ones Eli would be wearing.
Thigh holster, weapon, and extra clips were secured in place as well as various other backup weapons. Grabbing the rifle, he laid it on the bed and pulled his phone from the secured pouch attached to the thigh of the pants opposite the holster.
Pulling up the earlier contact, he texted.
Have a meeting. Cover Zoey, he ordered the shadow that had stood watch earlier. He knew it was Harley. Hell, he was 100 percent positive it was Harley, and he’d kick the boy’s ass once he showed himself.
Don’t you ever sleep? He could only imagine the quarrelsome tone.
Now!
Bullshit.
Doogan sighed, shaking his head.
Not debatable. Leaving in 20. Will inform Natches of your refusal should she be harmed, he informed the other man.
Fuck you! Will inform Natches of your sleeping arrangements!
Zoey won’t like that! 18 and counting, Doogan texted.
Not your fucking backup. The reply came quickly.
17, Doogan counted.
Fucker! The insult only had Doogan shaking his head.
AWOL, he reminded the other man. 16.
Been in place, asshole. Know you!
That had been Doogan’s assumption all along.
Never did like your ass!
Doogan snorted at the last message, shoved his phone back into the pocket, collected his rifle, and left the guest room where he’d stood it. Retrieving the earbud he’d connected to the listening devices and tied into his sat phone, Doogan secured it in his ear and strode to the staircase leading to the garage at the back of the warehouse where Zoey kept her motorcycle hidden.
He had a meeting with Billy Ray. From what he’d heard during Zoey and Natches’s confrontation, the bastard had crossed a line Doogan would make damned sure wasn’t crossed again.
