Page 27 of Operation: Return

Brendon turned slightly in his chair to look at Cole. “Offered to come? What do they know?”

That part had confused him the most. Dominic hadn’t known where Cole worked, nor did he have Cole’s number. Calling at all was strange. Though maybe he’d hired someone to find Cole. “Nothing as far as I know. You can listen to the message yourself. His offer came in on the main line.”

Edwyn picked up the receiver and set it to the side, hit speaker phone and pressed a few buttons. Soon, Dominic’s gruff voice filled the room. He said just what Erica had reported, offering to help them.

“That’s very interesting, but how did he get the number and how did he know about our trouble?” Brendon frowned. “That seems very strange and suspicious.”

Cole shrugged. “I know I can trust Dominic. He’s good. I’ve risked my life alongside him. I don’t know the rest of his team, but I can’t imagine he would let anyone work for him who wasn’t trustworthy.” Dominic had always followed rules and made sure he followed regulations to the letter.

Edwyn nodded. “Working the way we do, we don’t have much choice. It’s not like we can just call up the regular police force or the FBI and have them understand the scope or the issue. A security force might be just what we need.”

“Understood.” He hadn’t talked to Dominic in years, but he’d heard what Dominic was doing through other friends he tried to keep up with.

“Why don’t you go to Teddy’s office and get the ball rolling there. Junior, why don’t you take Gabby to Brendon’s office. You can all have a few minutes to talk before Brendon’s next client.”

“I don’t have a meeting for another hour. We have time.” Brendon slowly turned his chair around and headed for the door. Cole wondered as he trudged toward Teddy’s office if the others in that room had felt the difference like he had? Had they felt the shift from defensive to offensive action?

Ever since he’d learned about Viceroy and what he’d done to amass this huge group of what were literally slaves, the use of the term victims almost seemed too light for what had happened to them. Victim made it sound like there was one event when in fact many of these survivors had years of pain and suffering to overcome.

He pushed through the office door to find Pete asleep on the couch and Erica behind Teddy’s desk, doing some work with yet another stack of papers. He hated to interrupt Pete’s nap, but Edwyn had given him an order.

“Mind if I come in and make a call?”

She shook her head and turned the phone so he could reach it. He noticed her trying to act like she wasn’t listening, but he would be if he were in her shoes.

He dialed the number and waited as it rang, hoping that Erica wouldn’t be able to hear the other end of the conversation. He wasn’t about to ask her to leave though, even if she could.

“The Guardians Security Agency, Copper speaking. How may I direct your call?”

“I’d like to speak to Dominic Anderson, please.” He reached for a notepad Erica had left at the center of the desk and she handed him a pen.

Copper paused. “Is he expecting your call?”

He chuckled. “Yes, I think he is.” Or he wouldn’t have left the message he had.

Music filled his ear after she put him on hold. He hated that cheery music, it grated on his nerves. He heard a click, then the voice he recognized, “Cole. How’s it going?”

“Been better, but it sounds like you already knew that.” He watched as Erica’s spine stiffened at his comment. How would she take him talking to his friends? He wasn’t about to be fake with them. He might put on Mr. Nice for her, but that was because he wanted her trust and respect. His guys, were just his guys.

“I heard you were working on a ranch over in Wyoming and that you offered some help to some people. I was told you were having a time with some people showing up who didn’t belong. Shooting the place up.”

That much might have gotten out in the news, but he hadn’t been aware that his name had been revealed anywhere. “That was a few months ago now, but seems like they might be preparing to hit us again. How did you hear and what are you offering?”

Dominic waited for a minute. “When do you get to tell me the whole deal. What’s going on?”

Cole couldn’t tell him anything and the question made him pause. Could his friend have been paid by Viceroy unknowingly? “I can’t tell you that until we get the files on your guys for clearance. Too much high-risk information here.” How had Dominic even known the name of the ranch? As far as he was aware, Connor and Edwyn had always kept the information scrubbed. Unless he’d known one of the people who’d been here, how was that possible? Dominic was good, an intelligence guru of sorts, but this went beyond guru.

“Give me an email where to send the files and I’ll do that. And Cole, this one’s on us. I owed you one. That shooter would’ve taken me out if not for you. When we make life safe for you again, you can consider yourself repaid.”

History explained why he’d been keeping tabs on Cole. A life for a life. He’d saved Dominic years ago but he still wasn’t so sure he liked that Dominic knew more than he should.

ChapterEleven

Cole strode back to Edwyn’s office and knocked, waiting for his cue and not sure what to say.

“Come in,” Edwyn called, motioning him inside and to close the door.

Cole sat in the seat across the desk from Edwyn and took a moment to gather his scattered thoughts. Erica and her safety kept distracting him. He wanted Dominic’s help, but having someone here who made him question anything, bothered him. This felt like he was risking her safety.

---