Fuck his life and fuck those goddamn text messages.
He clenched his fists, needing to punch something. He sure as hell couldn’t hit the motherfucking wall because then, he’d have to fix that bitch. Whatever.
His stomach growled and rumbled, reminding him of the breakfast he needed to finish.
The green light of the cameras was back on. Every move he made was monitored and recorded. Frustration stamped out any guilt he might have over last night. A far more comfortable place for Dev to be emotionally.
He’d bested the best field agents of the United States government. A bonus that made him feel proud while removing the stain of a human being, Cummings, from the planet.
Even better than that, the bitch Dallas DA’s days were numbered. She’d eventually quit under the scrutiny. For sure.
He took a bite of the apple while dumping the eggs in a new skillet. He looked back over his shoulder to the still open front door. This might be the first time he’d been alone in days.
Interestingly, he wasn’t sure he liked it one single bit.
=♥=
Cash dropped down in his office chair, placing a bottle of water to the side of his laptop. His attention remained on the small box in the corner of the computer’s screen that recorded Dev as he prepared their food. A pile of scrambled eggs sat to one side of the stove while Dev made an attempt at frying the bacon again. Dev cooked the strips in five-piece intervals this time. His biker ate at least two and a half pieces between each batch. The others were made to split between Dev, Joe, and Shanna. So bad for their arteries.
Stop overthinking.
Cash forced his attention from the video feed to the email he had begun crafting.
As much as he hated to admit it, Dev was one hundred percent correct. Cash acted on emotion. He understood he couldn’t continue to glue himself to Dev’s side while investigating the case properly. It made perfect sense. Cash’s constant presence was going to bring suspicion.
Cash needed immediate help in the field. His three-man show wasn’t cutting it. Joe and Shanna were as exhausted and overwhelmed as he was. Being an undercover agent was a hard line to toe before factoring in that two-thirds of their team were newbie agents.
Clearly, they were all in over their heads. Look what Dev accomplished last night. Even being fully monitored with Cash being inside Dev’s personal apartment, he was still able to sneak away.
Which made the problem of finding a bodyguard for Dev that much more complicated. The right person had to fit well in Dev’s life while watching the biker like a hawk.
The stakes were too high. The evil forces at play had too much to lose. The cracks needed to be sealed up immediately.
All the emotion messing with his judgment also needed to take about fifteen steps backward. Cash was deeply in love with that manipulative, crazy biker. Every day, hell, every single minute of every day, his feelings grew stronger, more solid. Of course he wasn’t leading effectively. The case had come to an utter standstill. They were stuck in neutral with no foreseeable way out.
Cash typed an email to his direct supervisor, Lily Collins, deputy attorney general.
The latest updates from Dallas: Chaos ensues. A prospect of the Disciples of Havoc motorcycle club, recently released from prison, was found dead late last night. Additionally, the local news has reported the Dallas DA’s past connection with one of the club’s brothers. We’re under a winter weather warning which keeps us locked down together today, but I need more eyes on the informant. Time isn’t on our side, especially now. The protection detail needs to have advanced tactical security training. Someone who can keep up with and mesh well in Devin Fox’s world. The biker brothers are pure mayhem. My time would be better spent leading a new direction in the investigation.
That being said, do you have an update on reliable security candidates? I need to begin vetting them.
Cash signed his name and pushedsendas Dev lifted two plates of food to the camera and cocked his head toward the small dinette inside his apartment. An invitation for Cash to join him.
The man who made everything harder than it had to be was signaling his peace offering. Cash pressed his thumbs in his eyes until the act became a full hand scrubbing over his face, trying to wipe away the exhaustion. He prayed to the universe to give him strength.
“I’m crashing for a few hours. The Dallas DA’s holding a press conference at nine o’clock this morning. I’ll be up before then,” Joe said from the hallway at the entry into the living room.
Cash turned in his chair, facing the agent who’d become integral to the mission. “Any word on what she plans to say?”
Joe shook his head. “Not yet. Communication with the DA’s department has gone silent.”
Of course it had. Cash nodded his understanding. “Good night.”
Joe stood there a second more before giving a single nod and turning away. The man clearly had more to say but held his tongue. Joe had had Cash’s back since the beginning, but it appeared that loyalty may be waning. He didn’t blame Joe in the least.
“Thank you, Joe. You’re the glue that keeps the operation together,” Cash called out as he got to his feet.
“Yup.” Joe’s bedroom door clicked shut.
