Who’d given him that word?And when?
“In order for your boss to get taken, youmusthave been told to stand down.Ordered to give him space.Otherwise, hell, it just looks like you’re guilty.Like you left your boss vulnerable so that he could be killed.”
Desmond raised his eyebrows.“You’re accusing me of being involved?”
“Areyou involved?”
Desmond laughed.“You are not very good at mind games.No wonder Lily grew tired of you.”Shaking his head, he turned away.
But the Fed curled a hand around his shoulder.
“Lilyisgood at mind games.Never forget that.And you didn’t answer my question.Notanyof them, actually.”
He glanced back at Gage Emerick.Staring the Fed dead in the eyes, Desmond replied, “I was not involved in the abduction.I was told that Atlas did not need security yesterday evening.He had other plans.”
“Plans…that involved Lily?”
He had no comment for that one.
Gage leaned closer.“Does Atlas typically have security with him, everywhere he goes?”
“You have the wrong impression of him.Atlas goes where he wants, and he does what he wants.”
“Jeez.Sounds like the man is a security nightmare.”
You have no idea.And you don’t want to know about my nightmares.“He pays well.”
“Well enough to cover up something like say…a murder?”
Desmond laughed.In the guy’s face.Again, the Fed was just not good enough at mind games.“Don’t know the meaning of being subtle, do you, Agent Emerick?FYI, I signed a nondisclosure agreement the day I accepted my job with Atlas.He requires an NDA from everyone in his inner circle.”
“Has Lily signed one of those already?”
Not yet, but he had a feeling she would be signing one very soon.
One of the uniformed cops called for Gage.He hesitated.“I will be in charge of this investigation.”
“I’m sure the locals will love to know that.A break-in doesn’t seem to be high enough priority for a Fed, but you do you.”
“I’m not just talking about the break-in.I’m talking about the serial killer hunting in Dallas.I will apprehend him.See you again soon.”With that, he turned on his heel and marched toward the waiting cops.
Desmond watched him go.Oh, yes, that man would be a problem.
It was good that Atlas excelled when it came to eliminating problems.
ChapterTen
The Fed would bea pain in the ass, but Atlas would handle him, no problem.He did know the deputy director of the FBI.Hell, he knew all of the deputy director’s secret sins, so if some leverage was needed in order to get Gage Emerick pulled back, then Atlas could take care of that situation in a blink.
Gage wasn’t a major concern for him.Except… “Why in the hell did you fuck him?”Ah, yes, that was indeed jealousy stirring in him.Not something he usually experienced, but the instant that prick had come close to Lily, the moment he’d touched her…Embraced her…
I wanted to break his hands.
Clearly, he was still suffering aftereffects of adrenaline and fury from the night he’d had.After some deep sleep, he’d be back to normal.Or as normal as he could get.
Normalwasn’t exactly in his wheelhouse.
Lily’s hand remained extended toward him.“Give me the diary.”
