Page 45 of Guarding Bristol

“Exactly.After he left the military, they created a whole new identity for him.But he did receive an honorable discharge from the Army, and was recruited by the DEA shortly thereafter.He’s been working undercover on the streets for a while now.”

Cassie leaned back in her chair and ran a hand over her face.So TJ was definitely involved with people in the drug trade.Dangerous people.“Okay, then whatever happened this afternoon with him and Bristol is related to his cover.How did she get caught up in it?”It scared her that Bristol had been dragged into whatever this was.Her stepsister was in no way prepared to deal with something like this.

“We were told he was meeting at the hospital with a confidential informant about drugs moving through the building.”

Oh, God.“And Bristol stumbled right into the middle of it,” she guessed.

“Looks that way.She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and took them both by surprise.The CI got nervous, thinking TJ might have set him up.Two suspects chased him and Bristol from the hospital and were involved in a single vehicle collision minutes later.Bristol and TJ escaped without injury.The DEA is running the suspects’ IDs now, looking for a match in their database.”

Shit.“So where’s Bristol?”

“At TJ’s house.”

“He has a house?”Since when?With what money?He’d barely started working.

“Beckett’s company is providing it to him as part of their employment package.”

Wow, Beckett really did go above and beyond for the veterans he hired.“Did Beckett know about him being undercover DEA?”

“No.”

“Am I allowed to know the house’s location?”

“You’ll have to ask Beckett about that.”

“All right, I will.”She shifted in her seat, determined to stay professional and not lose her cool, but Walker was clearly only telling her certain details, and it was frustrating to say the least.“Is there anything else you can tell me?”

“That’s all I know at the moment.”

Cassie doubted it but maintained her composure.Whatever Walker knew, he had told her the most important things.Presumably.“Is she safe there?With him?”

“For the time being, yes.”

He seemed certain about that.Cassie wasn’t as confident.“She has no training.”

“But he does.”

Yeah, but how trustworthy was he?Just because he’d been a Ranger and served with Bristol’s brother didn’t mean he could be trusted with Bristol’s life.“And this all means that she’s currently a potential target.”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“I can protect her myself.”

“The CI was someone who works at the hospital with her.They know each other personally to some extent, and so it stands to reason he’ll know the connection between you.The cartel involved could access your tax and financial information, including your credit card statements, and easily find out where you live.Whereas TJ’s been living on the street under an assumed identity for months, without any digital fingerprints to trace.”

He paused, his gaze steady and calm as she chewed on all of that.“If Ivy couldn’t find much on his background, no one can.Also, the house he’s staying in is registered to Beckett’s company, without any way to link it to him.Not even a utility bill in his name.So Bristol is actually safer where she is.At least for now.”

Cassie absorbed that for a few sobering moments.She might not like any of it, but had to agree his points were all valid and logical.Bristol’s safety was all that mattered right now.“Do you have a way of contacting them?”

Bristol must have shut her phone off, because voicemail had picked up immediately when Cassie had kept calling her back.

“Just the number TJ contacted Beckett with.He used a burner.”

Great.She shoved out a breath, scrubbed a hand over her mouth and chin.What the hell was she supposed to do now?Just nod, sit here, and pretend this was no big deal?Leave Bristol in TJ’s questionable protection and do nothing?

“I understand this must be upsetting for you.”

Upsetting?Yeah.Technically she was only a few years older than Bristol, but she was a lifetime older in terms of life experience, and she had training.“I want to protect her.”

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