Page 34 of The Doctor

Drake nodded and offered me a weak smile. “You’re preaching to the choir, Bex. I’m still married because I believed I was protecting my kid.”

“What?”

“Jason was so alone and struggling to make friends. I mean, besides Skylar of course.” He let out a long sigh, sadness coating his handsome face. “Maria and I didn’t want him to have to deal with divorced parents on top of all that. I don’t think it helped that I was hardly home.”

I smiled, because I understood what he meant. “But he’s thriving now.”

“And getting into more trouble than I can control.”

“Yeah, they really managed to do a number on the course.”

“I have to admit though, Bex,” Drake's features softened. “It felt good to be grounding my kid for having fun. He’d been so withdrawn he never got into any trouble.”

“Well, they’ll be cleaning up the PaintBall Course they messed up. If nothing else, they will bond over manual labor.”

“What about yours? Did you ground him?”

“When you speak to him, don’t refer to him as my son.” Bex hated to have that conversation but she needed to make things completely clear. “His mother just died and he misses her. He is resentful as hell towards me. More so than Logan. And I don’t want him to think we’re dismissing his mother.”

“Noted.”

“As for grounding.” The corners of my mouth lifted. “Dominic has been in the apartment since he arrived. I sent himto PaintBall to make friends. But we made him start at Marina De Ferrier High School this week. He’s not happy. Besides, all his new friends are grounded anyway.”

“True.”

“Now what can you tell me about the case?”

Drake didn’t have too much information about the investigation, since that was not his jurisdiction. And I filled him in where I could. He spoke about the fact there was a leak. He wanted to know about the security protocols of the apartment building and how many people knew Dom was there.

I explained as much as I could.

I handed him the file I had on Dom. “This is all we have so far. Jared is working to get what he can from both the CBI and FBI since they’re arguing over who the case belongs to.”

“And the police believe they’re guarding that apartment because of another case I’ve been assigned to?”

I nodded, it made sense since he was in the area anyway. “You’re the Marshal assigned to Julie Dawson, as well.”

“Well, technically, Julie Dawson shouldn’t need protection, remember.”

That was how Nick had set it up. The police knew where she was and it wasn’t hidden that she was under the protection of the Salingers. Ms. Dawson had killed her husband and his family were after her but she also had information that could put most of that family away for a long time.

I narrowed my eyes at Drake. “But you’re going to insert yourself into that case, aren’t you?”

“The information she has is dangerous, Bex. I think her ex-father-in-law was grateful she put a bullet through his idiot son's head. But she could bury that man. If he can help it, she will never see the inside of a courtroom.”

“And what?” She knew she was testing him but she really wanted to know his answer to the next question. “You don’t think we can protect her?”

“I have no doubt you and your brothers will keep her safe. In fact, I think you will put her safety above all else even if it hinders the case.”

Yeah, he had us there. Julie was family. She was Brie’s sister and our friend. She worked for my mother and was part of the babysitting pool.

“Well, that’s how we differ. Now, about Dom and what he saw. When is the attorney and the FBI getting here? I need to make sure both me and our attorney can be there. Where will she meet us?”

“We were thinking of using an interrogation room at the MDF police station.”

“I assume you’ll accompany us there.”

“That is the plan.”

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