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So why drag me into it? Priest asked. He spotted Sully walking into the bar.
Although he was in disguise, Sully was never able to hide his true beauty under a
beard, ball cap and baggy clothes. Priest stood and motioned Sully over, the action
obviously surprising the assassin. No doubt Sully was ordered to arrive early and
blend in with the crowd.
Not only are you the best, but you do what you re ordered without question.
An admirable trait for a soldier, but also an easy trait to exploit.
Sully approached Priest. At the same time, they opened their coats to let the
other know they were armed, a professional courtesy. Priest put his finger to his lips
and indicated the phone.
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So, if I bring you these files you believe I have, you ll let Luke go without
harm? Priest asked. The subtle lift of Sully s eyebrows told Priest he d worked out
what was going on.
I think you mean further harm, don t you? Jeffries asked. But I m not stupid
enough to take you on in your home territory. As we speak, I m on the move. Tell
me, in which direction should I drive?
Priest bit the inside of his cheek. Head east towards Nebraska. I ll call once
I ve made travel arrangements.
Don t take too long. It s awfully chilly this time of year. I d hate for your lover
to catch his death. And, I think it goes without saying, I know all your tricks. Try to
double-cross me and I won t hesitate to take it out on Luke.
You obviously don t know me as well as you think you do, otherwise you
would know I wouldn t put my life and career in jeopardy over a piece of ass.
Oh, so you wouldn t mind if I stopped and killed him now?
Did he call Jeffries bluff or do whatever it took to ensure Luke s safety? No.
You harm another hair on his head, and I ll make sure your death is slow and
painful.
Big talk for someone who doesn t hold the trump card.
Trump card? Did Jeffries have something else up his sleeve? What re you
talking about?
You don t think you re the only one with files, do you? Of course mine have
all been doctored to implicate you as the mastermind behind our little side
business.
Seated across from him, Sully spoke softly into a microphone hidden
somewhere on his body.
Head towards Nebraska, Priest barked before hanging up. He met Sully s
gaze. I guess you ve already worked out who that was?
Sully nodded. Midnight s on his way in.
Just Midnight? I thought I was supposed to meet the Director.
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81
Sully shook his head. Pipe dream, brother. The Director is a phantom. No one
but Midnight even knows who he is. He stood and wrapped on the tabletop with
his knuckles. I ll leave the two of you to your meeting, but I won t be far.
Of course not. Priest took a drink of his cooling tea.
Midnight walked into the pub like a man without a care in the world. As usual,
he was impeccably dressed in an expensive black wool business suit. Although
Midnight strode through the late lunch crowd with a smile on his face, Priest knew
Midnight was seething. His pale blue eyes narrowed as he neared Priest. Sully tells
me you ve been talking to Jeffries, Midnight accused as he sat down.
Jeffries has Luke.
No he doesn t. Midnight waved away the waiter before he could open his
mouth.
How do you know that? Priest asked. Did he dare hope Luke remained safe
at home, unharmed?
Because Luke s with the Director.
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Chapter Seven
Luke groaned as he came to. Why the fuck did I insist on jogging, he asked himself
for the hundredth time. His bruised and bleeding body protested each bump in the
road as he travelled hogtied in the trunk of Jeffries rental car.
He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the spare tyre. When Jeffries
had surprised him in the alley behind O Brien s, Luke had done his best to fight the
man off, but quickly discovered he was no match for a gun pointed at his head.
Biting his lower lip, Luke fought to stay conscious. He didn t remember being
put into the trunk of the car. His thoughts swung from his own fate to Priest. If Priest
managed to survive whatever Jeffries had planned, would he ever forgive Luke for
betraying him? Not that it would really matter since Luke had no doubt he was
being driven to his grave.
The car slowed to a stop, and Luke held his breath. Was it time? Several
seconds ticked by, and he began to wonder if Jeffries had decided to abandon the car
in the middle of nowhere with him still in the trunk.
A loud noise echoed in his head a split second before the trunk was opened.
Luke looked up at the man looming over him. What re you doing here?
No time for that. Let s get you the hell out of here.
* * * *
What do you mean the Director has him? Priest asked. He imagined Luke
sitting in one of the holding areas at the agency. Had they kidnapped Luke before he
made it home?
You ve spent an inordinate amount of time with your new boyfriend. With
everything else going on, it s imperative we find out how much you ve told him.
Both for his safety and yours, of course.
Of course. Priest leaned over the table to get in Midnight s face. You harm
him and Jeffries won t be the only thing on my to-do list.
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Actually, the Director saved Luke. Jeffries has been camped out in Cattle
Valley for days. It was only a matter of time before he caught up with Luke,
Midnight explained, not the least bit intimidated by Priest s size.
Where s Luke?
In Sheridan. He really couldn t ask for a better protector than the Director.
Priest couldn t understand why the Director would take such a hands-on
approach with Luke. Why s the Director involved at all? The agency has plenty of
people they could ve sent to do the job.
Midnight sighed. Must you know every detail? Tell me about the phone call
with Jeffries.
He said he had Luke. Priest had learned long ago not to show his hand until
the end of the game.
What else?
He wants me to meet him in Nebraska. It wasn t a lie. Priest had never flat-
out lied to a superior before.
Why? Midnight continued to question.
Because he knows I can incriminate him. He admitted that he s been accepting
jobs the agency has turned down. Now was his chance to know about the woman
he d killed in Virginia. Who was Alhena Qasim?
A woman who was blackmailing the Secretary of State. The married Secretary
of State. Benjamin Grover wanted her and her family to go away and offered us a
very large amount of money to make it happen. As you know, the agency is not in
the business of handling personal vendettas so we turned him away. Evidently
Grover heard through an unknown source that Jeffries was the man to take his
problem and money to.
And that s where I came in. Priest s chest tightened. He knew finding out the
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