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“I respect your honesty, and here’s mine. If my brother dies, nothing and no one will be able to stop me from exacting my type of justice on those responsible. Even if that includes any of you,” Jennifer stated calmly, and Harris couldn’t have been prouder. She’d never be a victim again.

“Understood,” Brick agreed with a nod and a faint look of amusement.

Harris sighed wearily. A war was about to break out between the Noah Group and those opposed to their ideology. There’d be casualties on both sides. Wars didn’t care which side you were on when death came calling. Harris was betting on his personal sacrifice, shifting the odds in their favor. Whether he won or lost, that bet was yet to be seen.

CHAPTER THREE

Harris

Later that day

Harris wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but indifference from his lover wasn’t on his bingo card.

“Good luck,” Woodley said with a shrug and no more emotion than if Harris had said he’d bought a lottery ticket.

“Thanks,” he replied, unable to come up with anything more profound.

What the fuck?

“When do you leave?” Woodley asked as he tied his boots.

“We’re flying out on Thursday.”

“That’swhy Brick wants to speak with me.”

“Probably setting up the final team to go,” Harris explained.

“Fine. I’ll give him a call.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

Harris had never felt so uncomfortable in Woodley’s presence before, not even when they’d first met. They stood staring at each other for a few seconds, and neither said a word.

“Hey, guys, whatcha doing?” Bryan asked as he walked in the back door, tossing his Stetson on the kitchen table.

“I was just leaving,” Woodley said before grabbing his keys from the hook beside the door and walking out.

“Was it something I said?” Bryan asked, appearing as confused as Harris.

“Nope, that was all me,” Harris replied. “Hey, while I’ve got you here, I want to thank you again for taking us in and givingmy family a safe place to stay. I’ll be leaving on a mission Thursday, and I’d appreciate it if you kept an eye on everyone for me.”

Bryan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’ve thanked me several times already; of course, I’ll watch over them. When will you be back?”

“I’m not sure.”Ifseemed more likely thanwhen.

“Not sure? Does this have anything to do with you getting yourself caught by those bastards again?” Bryan asked, but Harris suspected the man already knew the answer.

Harris shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, Bryan was one of Shaw’s boyfriends, and the other, Kyle, was Fletcher’s younger brother. Of course, considering the team was coming along, they’d all know the plans.

“Yes.”

“You thought this through?” Bryan asked shrewdly. The man was the most down-to-earth person Harris knew.

“From every angle possible.” And a few that were impossible. That’s what happened when your high-IQ brain behaved like a supercomputer.

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