Page 108 of Jagger

Hunter was grinning, the memory obviously a fond one.

“Even my handler wasn’t interested in going up against the Brockford family.”

I glanced at Shephard. I had a feeling he was the single brother who’d remained loyal to a mission that had started the moment he’d entered bootcamp. Until now, I’d had no idea Hunter had fallen into the same darkness I had. The two of us would never be considered saints.

Even more reason we didn’t usually share stories amongst the three of us. “With that kind of muscle, Joel is going to track her down. I still can’t figure out why he gives a shit. A foster kid with a child spawned by someone else.”

Shephard and Hunter looked at each other.

Tension swept into my system. “What is it? Talk. One or both of you.”

“You’re not going to like it,” Hunter said and shook his head to reiterate what he was saying.

I pounded my fist on the desk. “Tell me. Secrets will destroy her.”

“Because she’s more important to Joel than you think. With her on his arm, his power will ultimately increase.”

Hunter relayed the information as if reading off a dossier given to him regarding his target. Much like I’d been given. It would seem there truly was very little difference in those hoping to tread the gray line and those preferring the evil endeavors done by monsters.

I wasn’t certain where I fit in.

But with another secret revealed, another reason Joel would stop at nothing to get Bella back, I knew what had to be done.

Maybe karma was on my side, but if I had to sell my soul to the devil again, I was finally doing it for a good reason.

“What are you going to do, brother?” Shephard asked. “I’ll help you any way I can.”

“I’m going to do what’s required to keep her safe.”

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Hunter suggested.

I laughed. “My entire life has been a lie. I thought I was doing the right thing. But in the end, I was a fool, wasting years that I can’t get back. I found the one thing that makes me happy and no one is going to take her from me. No one.” I gave them both a hard look.

Shephard nodded. “I understand. Know we’ll have your back.”

Where I was going, they couldn’t help. Maybe it was for the best.

They left my office and I closed my eyes, rubbing my temple. A headache was forming and it had Joel’s name all over it. I took my phone and dialed the number.

“Silencer.” It was the name given to me more in jest than anything, my use of a silencer the only thing ever noted by police or other law enforcement agencies throughout the world. I’d been forced to use that method since so many of my targets remained in high profile areas. Creating a stampede could have possibly kept me from exiting the location safely.

“I have considered your request,” he told me.

“And?”

“I will handle the operation, but you will owe me. You do understand that, do you not?” His English was fluent although it had been a long time since he’d set foot in the United States. I’d never met the man, few people had, but he was considered one of the most lethal men in the world.

He’d also been my mentor.

“I understand.”

“What level do you prefer?”

We’d used codenames for everything including missions. At this moment, I wanted to put a bullet in Joel’s brain myself, but that meant choosing today to return to my old life or staying in my new one.

I chose what was most important to me.

Bella.

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