Page 30 of Blind Justice

Duncan rubbed the back of his neck, not willing to admit shit to himself or the busybody Commander sitting across from him. “Can I just tell you what I need to so I can go home and get my ass to bed at a decent time tonight?”

“I honestly thought we were.”

He snorted. “No, you”—he pointed at Asher—"were telling me to be careful about something.”

“Jesus. You’re oneofthose.”

He looked at Asher in confusion. “One of those? By that, I’m assuming you mean I’m one ofthoseFBI Agents?”

Asher grunted. “We both know that isn’t exactly the truth, now don’t we, laddie?”

He chuckled. “It’s lad. Laddie is Scottish. Which I’m most assuredly not.” He went to stand, not willing to play these stupid games with the other man. “We’re done.”

Unfazed, Asher pointed to the vacant chair. “Sit down, you’re not going anywhere.”

“I’m in no mood, Asher. I never took you as one ofthosepeople,” he said, throwing the other man’s words back into his face.

“Meaning?”

“You’re a hypocrite,” he snapped, feeling the slightest twinge of pain at the base of his neck. Another thing he didn’t need, a migraine.

Asher leaned back in his chair and placed his hands over his belly, watching him. “Actually, I’m not.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“I know exactly who and what you are, Duncan, and I’ve never held it or used it against you.”

Other than locking him out of conference rooms because he didn’t trust him. Duncan wasn’t going to get into it with Asher. He had no desire to go head to head with the other man. It was a battle he couldn’t win.

“Anything I’ve done is because I didn’t have a choice.”

“Knowing your background, I can safely say, if the roles had been reversed, those who worked with you wouldn’t say the same.”

Damn the man. He was correct. Duncan’s father only engaged people that were downtrodden or poor. The vast majority hated the monarch, and unlike him now, they wanted revenge—still did in most cases. Bringing in an outsider was rare and only for specialty missions.

Asher leaned forward. “I’m not your enemy or a combative of yours. Believe it or not, we have the same goals.”

Duncan had to bite his tongue on that one and lied. “We do.”

Technically he was still giving his da information, but the intel couldn’t be traced back to him and wouldn’t harm anyone. Much. If the FBI ever found out, they’d hold his feet to the fire and would most likely throw his ass in a stateside jail instead of shipping him back home.

“I’ll also stay out of your personal life.”

He narrowed his eyes at the other man. “Appreciated.”

Asher tapped on the solid wood top of the conference table. “Let’s move this along. I got plans tonight, and my wife will skin my ass if I’m late.”

“The evidence against Raul, along with his latest killing spree in the States and whatever proof Bex has against her father, has changed the FBI’s stance on Bella and Enzo. They’re willing to offer immunity for their testimony.”

Asher nodded. “That’s good. Do you think they’ll take it?”

Duncan stretched his neck, feeling the crack and pops as the tightness in the back of his skull dissipated. “If you asked me this question a week ago, I’d have said no. Now, I think it’s entirely possible.”

Asher folded his hands while pinning Duncan with his gaze. “Did you figure out which one to work?”

He nodded. “Bella. She’s done with the life.”

“I agree. I’ve had conversations with Iliana. She wants what’s best for her sister. Enzo too. You think she can turn him?”

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