Page 27 of Avenging Angel

“Shysters!”

“Sometimes,” Angel agrees. “They aren’t afraid to crack a few eggs to make an omelet, which is why the CIA has a bad rap. That’s only because their failures become public spectacles while their successes never make the front page. They’ve done plenty of good, too.”

“Like what?” I ask.

“That’s classified.”

I snort. “That’s a copout and you know it, but I’ll let it go for now because it doesn’t matter what Ludlow says or if he’s willing to cooperate. The FBI has the right to investigate the kidnappings, and this time, they’re going to be the ones cracking some eggs. Ludlow can get on board or get out of the way.”

Angel huffs. “There will be collateral damage, Daisy. Take Vinny, for instance. As of right now, he hasn’t been given any orders not to pursue this, but only because no one knows he’s here. Guaranteed, it will happen since it was his credentials that were used to log in and run the search on Kenneth Johnson. When his involvement is discovered, Vinny will have two choices: obey an order to cease and desist, making it through the next few months until retirement, or ignore the order and be brought up on charges of obstruction. He could lose everything he’s worked his whole life for.”

“You didn’t get thrown in jail for disobeying an order,” I tell him.

“Close enough,” Angel retorts. “Then again, I was never a station chief with secrets that could further ruin the reputation of the CIA. Did you know that Vinny was one of the select few who was in line to become the next Directorate of Operations? He gave up any chance of that by helping the Southern Knights rescue my sister. He sacrificed that chance for family. All I ask is that you don’t take his sacrifice lightly. His retirement isn’t by choice, regardless of what he said. There are always exceptions.”

“I had no idea,” I tell him. “Why would he risk everything to help me? Why did you give up your career for me?”

Angel sets down his coffee before walking over to me. He lifts my chin so that our eyes lock. “Because I care about you.”

“Which question are you answering?”

He smiles at me. “Both.”

I roll up on my tiptoes and kiss the corner of his mouth because his cheek would be “friend” territory, while his lips would be an invitation. My feelings are somewhere in the middle, torn between what I want and what is for the best right now. “Thank you,” I whisper. “I may not be able to promise that I won’t go off the rails and run toward danger, but I can promise that I won’t take either of your sacrifices lightly.”

Angel wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a more-than-friendly embrace that I don’t shy away from. Resting his forehead against mine, he says, “You’re worth it.”

Our moment is interrupted when my phone dings with an intruder alert. I grab it from the nightstand next to the bed to check the camera feeds. Last night, Vinny connected the security system to the laptop at his cabin since Angel’s has been rendered useless until Owen fixes it. Angel and Vinny also destroyed their phones to prevent the CIA from accessing them remotely and turning them into listening devices.

“It’s Vinny.”

Angel opens the door and waits for his friend, who doesn’t greet us when he enters the cabin. “Get dressed. Kenneth Johnson arrived at the diner five minutes ago.”

I don’t have to be told twice.

Ten minutes later, my hair thrown up into a messy bun and wearing wrinkled clothes from my luggage, I barge through the door of the diner. All eyes turn in my direction, including Kenneth’s.

Angel is close on my heels and touches my right shoulder to ground me. “Stay calm and let Vinny ask the questions, Daisy. He’s a skilled interrogator.”

Trying my best not to smile, I look at his hand, then up at him. “I never thought there would be a literal Angel on my shoulder talking sense to me.”

He smiles at that.

As difficult as it is for me to do so, I step aside and let Vinny take the lead. Angel and I follow him to the booth against the far wall.

Kenneth already knows what’s coming when he grabs his plate and makes room for me to sit next to him. Angel and Vinny take the more intimidating route by teaming up and sitting on the opposite side.

“I figured you’d come,” Kenneth says. “I thought I’d at least have time to eat my hash browns before your arrival.”

Vinny gestures toward the meal. “Don’t let us stop you. This is just going to be a friendly conversation.”

Holding up a piece of bacon and using it to point at Vinny, Kenneth grunts. “Sure it is. Why don’t we start with why you’re following me?”

I scoff. “You have it backwards.”

Angel and Vinny both narrow their eyes, a silent warning that I should keep my mouth shut.

Vinny doesn’t take Kenneth’s bait. “Do you realize that it’s a federal offense to shoot down a drone?”