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The man had learned a lot about him in a brief time. “He’s ashamed of me, but he doesn’t have another choice.”
Taggart clapped his hands together like he was eager to get to work. “So he blackmails you. Let’s blackmail him. Unless you choose the other route. My wife is good at what she does. Hardly even any blood in her head shots.”
He had to think this was some of the sarcasm the man had mentioned before. “Why would I trust you?”
Taggart stood, and Dare was reminded how intimidating the man could be. “Because I trusted you with my name, and I’m going to put something else on the line. Girls, I think the coast is clear.”
He stopped and stared as Kara walked out from behind the last row of lockers.
Followed by another Kara.
The first Kara gave him an encouraging smile. “I’m Kenzie. Tasha is my older sister and I love her and I’m so happy she’s found someone she can love and adore and I don’t want to murder all the time. You have no idea how hard it was when she was with Douchebag.”
“I’m Kala,” the other Kara said.
Twins playing one person. It could give Tasha’s team a mighty advantage. “Ben is extremely interested in the woman he calls Ms. Magenta. He would be shocked to find out she’s two people.”
“And that’s why we told you,” Kenzie replied. “Tasha didn’t ask us to. She would probably freak out, but she trusts you so that means we have to as well.”
“And you now have something to hold over my head if I don’t help you the way I said I would.” Ian Taggart joined his daughters, getting in between them and putting a muscular arm around each. “My children and wife are my whole world. I do not give away my weaknesses lightly, Mr. Nash.”
He could be lying. He could not give a damn if anyone found out his main operative was actually his twin daughters.
Or he could be telling the truth and offering him everything he needed to get what he’d dreamed of since he entered his father’s house—freedom.
“So if I work this op and you get the intelligence you need, you’ll help me take my father down? Even if I don’t magically fall in love with your daughter, because that’s not going to happen.”
Kala snorted. “Sure, dude.”
“Yes,” Taggart said, ignoring his daughter. “That’s the deal. You work the op then your father becomes the op. I think you’ll find even if you break her heart, Tasha will still help you.”
“If you break my sister’s heart I’ll help you, too. Into an early grave. I have one picked out and everything,” Kala promised.
“You didn’t kill Chet,” Kenzie pointed out.
“She wasn’t in love with Chet. Him sleeping with that MSS operative was a blessing from heaven,” Taggart said. “And life is long, daughter. I think that asshole will find his proper ending somewhere along the way. And you won’t kill Dare because your sister does love him, and one day you’ll understand that when you love someone you want them happy and whole even if they break your heart.”
He didn’t want to think about Taggart’s words. It was a simple exchange. All he had to do was spend some time with Tasha. He didn’t have to talk to her when they were alone. He could ignore her.
How would he ever be able to ignore her?
He couldn’t be her fool again. He couldn’t. But he might be able to be civil enough to get through the op and get what they needed. She would get the lowdown on whatever Oakley was doing. Ben could figure out if Huisman was a megalomaniac out to destroy the world.
And he could be free.
In the end there was no way to walk away from the deal. “I’ll do it, and you should understand that no matter how I feel about Tasha, I wouldn’t tell Ben or anyone else about the twins. I wouldn’t put them in danger no matter how angry I am.”
“And that, son, is why I suspect this is all going to work out.” He stepped away from the twins. “Kenzie, you know what to do.”
Kenzie frowned. “Yes. Hide. And all because I think a guy is cute. And I like Ben as a name way better than Brian. I should have known. He didn’t look like a Brian. It’s not fair when you think about it. I could help US-Canadian relations. Kala is probably going to start a war.” She wrinkled her nose her sister’s way, but a bright smile came over her face when she turned to Dare.
One minute he was morosely considering his decision and the next this dude was calling him son, and that felt weirdly nice, and then he had Tasha’s sister throwing her arms around him.
“It’s going to be okay, Dare. You’ll see. Tasha is the best, and we’ll take care of you. Promise.” If she was bothered by the fact that he was standing stock still, she didn’t show it. “I have to hide now. I’m afraid Kara is going to be pretty bitchy from here on out, but hey, if you need anything, Lou and I will be listening.”
