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“What else is on the drive?” I asked when the silence became uncomfortable.
“Names, dates, narcotics, and weapons deliveries, a hundred small bits of information that are enough to indict several leading members of the cartel, but lieutenants-level. He wants us to wait, he wants a month, he says he can get to the person at the top of it all, but he needs a Sanctuary agent to get his daughter.”
“He’s found her?”
“He’s close.”
Okay. The selfish, exhausted, part of me wanted time with Josh and Ben, but if there was a child out there—I didn’t want to leave Josh and Ben again, but with my cover intact I’d be best placed to do it. “When do I need to leave?” I said.
“Not you.”
“I know—”
“Ethan, we need to talk,” Nik interrupted the tumble of my regrets, and he gestured for to me to sit where Kayden had been, as one by one everyone else left the room and then it was just me and Nik left.
“What’s happened?” I asked, because Nik’s expression was neutral, which could have meant any number of things.
“Fox blew your cover, told the cartel who you were. You’re done. Sanctuary will arrange a safe house for you, Josh, and Ben, until this is over, but for now, you can’t be front-facing.”
What? “Fuck him, why would he do that? I don’t want to be dumped in a fucking safe house when there are kids out there being trafficked!” The last thing Josh would want is to be locked away for longer, he was already worried about Ben missing school and hell, I wanted a chance at a normal relationship with Josh, learning to be a dad to Ben if Josh would let me. The thought of Josh and Ben being in danger because of freaking August Fox terrified me.
I’d kill him if I ever saw him again. Fuck him and his fake name.
Nik held up a hand. “Do you remember Jake. He owns the foundation?”
“Of course, I do.” I snapped, and then felt remorse. “Shit, sorry.” I couldn’t get it out of my head that August Fox haddeliberatelyrevealed my real motives. “why would August expose me like that?”
“I promise it will make sense, but first, can you talk to Jake? He has a proposition for you.” Nik checked his watch, and stood before opening the door and ushering in a bewildered Josh, a grinning Ben, plus Oreo who padded in behind them. He flicked the switch on a screen and then left the room.
“What’s wrong?” Josh asked, more than a little worried.
“I don’t know,” I answered.
Jake appeared front and center, another man with dark hair sitting at his side.
“Ethan, it’s good to see you safe,” Jake began.
“It’s good tobesafe,” I said, as Josh laced his fingers with mine out of sight of the camera.
Jake placed a hand on the dark haired man’s shoulder. “This is my husband Sean.”
We exchanged pleasantries as if we were at a cocktail party, and then Jake cleared his throat, and his expression grew serious.
“So, I have a proposition for you.”
“Okay?” Josh squeezed my hand, and I waited for Jake to offer me a role in Sanctuary. I’d have to turn it down, Ryder and Luca were still my team, and I wanted back with them working out a way of providing security, or… I don’t know what, but something that was nine to five or close enough that I could invest time with my newfamily.
“We think August Fox deliberately blew your cover so that you’d be out of this.”
“Why?”
Jake shook his head. “Maybe he knew you had people waiting for you.”
“He fucked me over, and I can’t go back out there now, I can’t help anyone.” I was frustrated, angry, and horribly relieved all at the same time.
“So, we have a proposition for you, and I’d like it if you could give it full consideration.”
“We’re not staying cooped up in a safe house,” I said, before he could suggest that.
