Page 36 of Soldier, Tailor, Spy

He’d bet dollars to donuts Ginger had confided in her boss about her relationship with him. A fuck lot, going by what they were saying to each other with their expressions and body language.

“As you wish,” Mr. Yamamoto stated, his tone neutral. “Please take this, cash it, and do what you wish with it. Put it away for the children and their future if you don’t want it for your home. I don’t care what you do with it, I just ask that you take it and do something quickly.”

“Why?” Jake asked, finally stepping into the conversation.

“Because I cannot find my son, and a parent’s worry is strong. Now that I know Ginger and her children are under your care, I can do what needs to be done.”

“What needs to be done?” he probed.

“I need to atone for our misdeeds. I plan to turn myself in.” He held out the envelope again. “This money... It comes from legitimate money. I would never offer spoiled money to you, my girl. Ever. But you must promise to cash this today. Once I turn myself in, the government will freeze all of my accounts, making this check worthless. If I cannot protect my son, I can, at the very least, provide for your family.”

Jake gave her arm a nudge with his elbow. “Take it.”

“What are you doing Jake O’Malley!” she muttered, turning her ire on him now. “Did you not hear—”

“Ears work fine. I heard everything.” He dropped his voice, so it didn’t travel, and only Ginger heard him. “Take the damn check. He’s an old man, attempting to do the right thing by you and the kids. Even if you don’t cash it, take it.”

“It’s wrong, that money—”

“Didn’t come for ill-gotten gains, Ginger. He told you that.”

“And I’m supposed to just trust him?” She snapped. She had a point. A good one. “Jake, you of all people should know how wrong it is for me to take this money.”

She was referring to his job with R.O.O.T.. He’d been away for a while, but he knew if the money was legit, even Asher would tell her not to be foolish and to take the check and run.

“Umm...” He rubbed at the scruff on his chin. “What if I ask Murray or AJ to trace the funds? Prove to you it’s clean and not dirty? Would you take it then?”

She huffed, and he saw Mr. Yamamoto bow his head ever so slightly in appreciation. He wasn’t doing it for the old man; he was doing it for his family.

He continued speaking with Ginger. “Oscar was dirty, Ginger. You know this. Everything was built on a lie between the two of you. The only money coming into that house that you could count on was yours. Your job is gone and so is your house. That money can help you in ways you won’t let me.”

The money she thought they had in savings was the government’s money, used to make Oscar appear what he wasn’t. They’d already taken it back. Along with everything else, they could get their hands on. It was yet another reason Thomas, the FBI agent that occasionally worked with Asher, was pissed off. The government had left a wife and mother destitute and would offer zero compensation.

Not even Oscar’s death benefit.

Not even Thomas could get a straight answer as to why that was.

Knowing she was going to be stubborn; Jake maneuvered around her and took the envelope. “Thank you.”

“Jake.”

“Take it, Gingersnap.” He pushed it into her chest, forcing her to hold on to it. “You need it. Be righteous all you want, just don’t be stupid and not take the money, it’s plain stupid.”

Ginger scowled at him.

“Daddy, Asher is on the phone. He said it’s an urgent—Jiji,you’re here!” Fawn thrust the phone into his hand and took off down the steps two at a time, right into her adopted grandfather’s arms.

He hesitated to put the phone to his ear, watching Ginger to see if she’d march her ass down the stairs and pry Fawn from her boss’s arms. When she didn’t, he brought the phone up. “O’Malley.” He didn’t bother with a hello. Asher didn’t appreciate chit-chat or niceties for phone conversations. Jake felt the same way.

“I’m calling everyone back to Base,” his boss barked out through the phone line. Jake could hear the rage in the six-word sentence. Before he asked, Asher cut him off the pass. “Bring everyone in the house.” He paused and Jake felt his body get ready for battle. “Including the little old dragon standing on your front lawn.” Which confirmed the bastard literally had eyes everywhere?

“Time frame?” he asked, his gaze sweeping the area around for anything that shouldn’t be there.

“Immediately. You’ll have protection. The same ones from the night you returned to base.”

Drones.

Fuck.

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