Page 75 of Brother's Keeper

“We will accompany Fitch to a scheduled meeting to capture and arrest these felons. I ask you all to do the utmost to bring them in alive so that justice may be served,” Holland added. “This is not a vigilante mission.”

I didn’t miss the pointed look she aimed my way.

Tobin stood and turned sideways so he could see all the occupants of the room. “Why are we involving ourselves in this? Let the gangbangers sort out their turf war bullshit on their own—”

Holland raised her hand. “We have criminals to apprehend, Tobin. Besides Jaxon Rhodes, we will also be in pursuit of Jette Black and York Tompkins. And Fitch’sbrother is a civilian—”

“I thought Donovan Farrow was dead,” Felix said.

“He has been held against his will by the Bloody Hex for the past twelve years.” Holland effortlessly recited the script I’d given her a few hours earlier. “I’m doing what I can to remedy that situation,” she added. “But, for now, we have an address and a rendezvous time, so you’ll all be working late tonight.”

Another mutual groan followed her declaration.

“Fitch, you’ll ride along with me.” Holland fixed her attention on me. “Can you bring Donnie, as well?”

The question struck me like a blow. “Why would I bring Donnie?”

“They asked for both of you,” Holland said, referencing the texts I’d forwarded. “The longer we can maintain the appearance of cooperation, the better.”

Warmth left my body as I processed her words only to stammer, “I didn’t agree to that…”

“It’s simple, Fitch.” She clasped her hands on the desk. “You and Donovan will go in, pretend you’re there to negotiate, and buy the rest of us time to get into position.”

“I’ll go, but I’m not sending my brother in there. Those asshats nearly killed me last time—”

“There was a last time?” Felix asked.

“Yeah,” I snapped, “and it didn’t go great.”

Holland rose from her seat and cleared her throat to command everyone’s attention. When she spoke, though, her question was for me. “Shall we talk about this in the hall?”

My body went rigid. “I guess we fucking shall.”

The other three watched with wide eyes as I mentally threw the door open and stepped across the threshold. Holland passed by with a wave, beckoning me away from the bullpen and toward the hall that led to the parking garage. Since most of the employees had arrived for the day, it was bound to be quiet.

After scanning her keycard, Holland held the door till I was through, then let it swing rapidly shut. We faced each other in the corridor, both sporting the same exhaustion that started last night and bled into today and both determined to fight this final battle.

“You’re asking a hell of a lot from me, so I’m gonna need you to give a little,” Holland said.

“I’ll give you whatever you want,” I replied, “but not my brother. He’s defenseless, and Jax and his goons are out for blood. Literally.”

Holland’s expression didn’t soften. She had me on the ropes—an abrupt turnabout from the leverage I’d wielded against her last night. I could have reminded the investigator about her father languishing in Nash’s care, could have menaced Maximus’s safety or his life. But they would be empty threats, and I had a feeling Holland would see right through them.

“Donovan will be protected,” Holland said. “I’ll have you both mic’d, and Tobin will be on standby to pause time if there’s a hint of trouble.”

Tobin? The person most opposed to this mission and least motivated to save me or my criminal friends?

“Donnie’s a liability,” I said, arguing a point I felt like I had already lost.

Holland frowned. “To the team?”

“To me!” I shouted. “I would have never gotten arrested in the first place if he hadn’t—”

She cocked her head with intrigue that stopped me cold. I couldn’t unpack that. Couldn’t begin.

“I worry about him,” I said. “You need me at my best, and I can’t give you that if I’m busy watching my kid brother’s back.”

I wished I could see her eyes, but all I got was my own reflection in those damned sunglasses, and I looked terrified.

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