Page 22 of Toxic Devotion

Okay. Not what he expected, that was for sure.

He cleared his throat, then asked, “What happened?”

“I was chasing after a terrorist. Richard Hughes. He knew how to keep himself just clean enough that we couldn’t pin anything on him. He had operatives all over the world. He was planning something big, but we had nothing. I had my team tracking down his suppliers and taking them out of the game. He found out about my team and the only way he could’ve known was if he had someone on the inside and… one of my men, Derek Stanton, I believe he overheard or saw something he shouldn’t have and that’s why he and one of the other Marines were taken.”

Neil took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut. Marco reached for Neil’s hand, holding on tight as he waited for him to continue.

“Derek was killed.”

He could feel the guilt covering Neil like a thick blanket, and he wished he could take on some of it so he wouldn’t have to suffer through it alone.

“My black ops team was told to stand down. To leave their brothers behind. They refused,” Neil said, sounding almost proud. “I had to smooth a whole lot of shit out because they went off books and stole a damn plane. They rescued the other Marine but Derek’s death? It did irreparable damage. Their team leader, Derek’s brother, went awol. Most of the team stuck together. Became FBI agents together, and once the director realized what he had on his hands, he made them a specialized unit at the Bureau. They’re still functioning the way I created them to, just on US soil now.”

“What happened to the rest of them?”

Neil’s lips twitched though he doubted it was a smile trying to peek through.

“There was one?the pilot?who went off on his own. Became a cop. A homicide detective now. He wasn’t doing well after they returned from their rescue. Neither was their plane. When the team was dissolved, the boys discharged, the Corps wanted the plane scrapped. Before they could do that, my guy put on his uniform and walked right into that hangar, and flew that plane out of there. I knew at that time that that plane was all he had left, so I ended up owing a lot of people to let him take it home.”

“You take care of them,” Marco said, smiling softly at Neil.

Neil nodded. “When I can.”

Neil fell silent after that, but Marco had a feeling there was something more the man needed to say. He didn’t pressure him, though. He just rested his head against Neil’s shoulder and soaked in the man’s warmth.

“They’re still looking for him,” Neil said in a near-whisper.

“The team leader?”

“No.”

Marco lifted his head and sat back to meet Neil’s gaze.

“The terrorist,” Neil said, a bite to his voice.

“He got away?”

Neil shook his head. “I got him. My agent got him. He’s been in a black site for five years. They keep trying to get information out of him. To use him. But the man is certifiable. He believes in his cause so deeply that he would rather suffer or die than let anything slip.”

“But your Marines are still looking for him? You didn’t tell them you caught him?”

“I can’t,” Neil said, giving Marco a distraught look.

“The Agency won’t let you.”

“They don’t know the truth about Derek’s death and as much as I hate keeping it from them, it’s what’s best for everyone. They got the people who took and killed Derek. I can’t give them the guy behind it, and I know the second they learn his name, they’ll go rogue again. I can’t have them throw away their careers, their lives, the families they’ve built. I can’t?” Neil’s voice broke and he dropped his head into his hands.

“You’re just keeping them safe. He can’t hurt them. He can’t hurt anyone.”

Neil nodded and stood, back turned to Marco who got up and put a hand on his shoulder. A ragged breath had Neil’s body trembling, and he slowly turned around to face Marco.

“They’re getting close to something I need them to steer clear of,” Neil said, a pained expression on his face. “I have to go make sure they back off.”

Marco nodded.

“Thank you.” Neil’s brows creased and he looked confused, so Marco added, “For telling me.”

Despite Neil keeping the information vague, he knew how much it meant that he’d shared it. How much he appreciated the man opening up to him.

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