“I want to be the one to bring down Boyle. He ordered the hit on my father,” Justin said.
“You’re no longer a law enforcement officer and you can’t prove it,” AJ insisted.
Justin had one man who’d admitted to overhearing Boyle order their father’s death, but the man had soon disappeared.
“Do you really think Boyle would’ve hired you and let it slip he killed your father?” Devon asked.
Justin deflated. “He hired me because he thought I could be bought. It took a long time to convince him I really could, and that’s when I was able to get the evidence on him for drug running. But no, I guess I never really expected him to drop his admission of having my father murdered in my lap. I’d just hoped.”
After a bit more rehashing of what Justin knew, Justin and Danny were left alone.
“Why didn’t you tell me Mom is getting married?” Justin asked.
“If you were around more, you’d have known. I like Mitch. He’s a nice guy and treats her like a queen.”
“Until I find work, I’ll be around more. This is as good a place as any to lick my wounds.”
“You did an excellent job,” Danny told him. “Don’t forget that.”
“And I get none of the credit,” Justin bemoaned.
“Oh, the agency will know it all came from you,” Danny assured him, knowing his brother meant having his reputation restored.
Justin slapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks, brother.”
Danny swallowed. This next part was about to test the brother connection. If he really loved Moira, things were going to get tight. Danny didn’t plan on losing this battle.
“I need to ask you something,” he said.
“Go ahead.”
“It’s about Moira.”
“What about her?”
What about her? She’s beautiful, kind, and a lovable person. And I love her. “Are the two of you serious?”
Justin gave him a blank look. “Serious?”
“Yeah, you know, do you love her?”
It took another moment before Justin reacted, and when he did, it wasn’t what Danny expected. He laughed. Laughed. “Oh boy.”
This was not a funny conversation. There was nothing funny about it. Danny felt insulted for him and for Moira. “What’s so damn funny? Are you serious with her or not?”
“You have feelings for her, don’t you?” Justin asked.
At this point he saw no reason to hide that fact. “I do.”
“Danny, there’s nothing between Moira and me. I’d love it if there were, but she doesn’t see me that way.”
Elation filled Danny. The one obstacle he’d held in his mind was gone. Vanished in an instant. She was free to be with him. All this time, she’d been free. He wouldn’t have traded their getting to know each other before moving to the next step. But now, Moira would be his. He wanted to do a fist pump but restrained himself.
“She’s all yours, brother.”
At that moment, he was called over to the computer area of the war room, so he only nodded to his brother.
Seated around the computers, Danny waited for AJ to get to the point. He’d never known the Hamilton brother to be so long-winded. So much so that Danny’s leg began to bounce. He put a hand on it and that seemed to work. Anxiety riddled him, mixing up his feelings and his warrior mode. He needed to protect Moira, so he waited for AJ to finish.
“I’ve been weeding through résumés—which I never understand why we have so many because we’ve never posted a job availability—for a third team.”
Why the hell were they talking about this now when his woman needed them? Jane and Doc were watching her, but he wanted to be there. “You’re going to put a bunch of newbies all together and send them out without adult supervision?”
“While that might be fun to watch, we don’t need a bunch of bodies returning. No, my brothers and I will conduct training here and run them through all we can until we get the land cleared to expand the field.”
“Enough of that,” Devon interjected. “Tell him.”
“All right, all right,” AJ said to Devon. He gave Danny a serious expression that knotted his stomach. “Did you get your helicopter license?”
Confused, since Danny had no doubt AJ already knew the answer as it’d been discussed at HQ and the brothers always seemed to know what happened to him, he shrugged. He had, but going up again was another matter. “Yes.” With AJ, he had no idea what would come out of his mouth next. “Remember? I almost got my examiner killed.” He drew out on a long breath.
Why this question now? He swung his gaze between the brothers and then to Stone, who kept his nose on the keyboard. Shit. What was this about? While unrealistic to jump to such a conclusion, he did. His fear of not being good enough rose up and wanted to choke him. If they wanted to get rid of him for not having special ops or military background like most, that meant the majority of the six brothers and one sister agreed. As he opened his mouth to say something, although he hadn’t figured out what to say, Devon interrupted.
“Get to the damn point, AJ,” Devon said.
AJ narrowed his eyes at his brother. “You owe Reagan’s swear jar some money.” Devon snorted his response, and AJ swung his gaze back to him. “Here’s the deal.”
Those were words that could ruin a man’s life. Danny didn’t run away from things, but something made him want to get the hell away before AJ finished.
What surprised him was when Devon told AJ to “Beat it” before he turned back to Danny.
AJ didn’t leave but crossed his arms over his chest; anyone who didn’t know him would assume him to be calm. Members of HIS knew better. They could see what was hidden from outside eyes.
Ignoring AJ, Devon took over. “Have you thought of what you would do now that you’re a helicopter pilot?”
Oh. They’re worried he’d leave. That released a
