Page 110 of Coff

I take a deep breath and ask the question I wish I didn’t have to. “Are you working with the cartel?”

He furrows his brow. “I’m not sure what Reed told you, but I was trying to take down their San Diego operation. It’s gotten me into some trouble. That’s why you’re all here.”

I’m trained to know when someone is lying, but there is no sign of deception from my brother. But then he’s been trained to lie. “If you’re having a problem, why isn’t the FBI helping you out?”

Brian shakes his head. “McKenzie, my boss, isn’t willing to risk exposing the identity of any additional agents on this. That’s why we brought you guys in.”

He steps away to return to the guys.

“Why are you receiving money from the cartel?”

He turns back to me. “You investigated me?”

I don’t break eye contact as anger flares in his eyes. “I had to.”

“You had to? Why?” He’s turning the tables with his questions. He’s using his training on me.

Well, two can play that game. “Answer my question. Are you?”

He sighs, and his head falls back. “Yes, but it’s not what you think.” This is where he’s going to tell me he’s been working undercover. “I’ve been working undercover for over a year. The cartel thinks, wellthought, I was on their side. I was supposed to get in, get information, and get out. But something went wrong.”

The uneasy feeling is still there. “What are you not telling me?”

“What? I’m telling you everything.”

I hold his gaze. “No, there’s something more.”

He closes his eyes. “Fuck, how do you do that? There is something more, and it’s why I need your help.”

“You kept some of the money, didn’t you?” It’s what’s been bothering me since yesterday.

His hands go to his hips. “What? No, how could you think that? Jesus.” He takes a few steps away. “While I was undercover, I met a woman. I love her, Logan. And she’s pregnant with my child.”

Now, this I didn’t expect. “What does this have to do with the cartel?”

“The man who has a hit on me is her father.”

Please tell me I heard him wrong. “What did you say?”

“Mr. Ruiz’s daughter is the woman I love. And my boss found out.” Brian licks his lips. “It’s another reason he doesn’t want to use FBI agents. He thinks I may have switched sides.”

I’ll admit, I’m in a bit of shock. I don’t know much about my brother’s dating life, but I do know if he says he’s in love, it’s a huge step. But why did he cross the line for a member of the cartel? He had to know that would be a death sentence.

Brian steps closer. “I know how it looks, but I didn’t switch sides. We bonded because she feels trapped and wants out. But my boss says I’ve shown where my allegiance is at. If I survive this, I’m pretty sure he’s going to fire me.”

I rub my eyes. “Ruiz has a hit on you because you got his daughter pregnant?”

Brian shakes his head. “He doesn’t know I’ve been seeing his daughter. And she doesn’t know about the hit.”

Well, I should be happy. It appears my brother is not a dirty agent. But of all the women he could have fallen for, it’s the daughter of a cartel member. Of course, I fell for the daughter of a crime family myself, so I know how it happens. But dammit, she’s pregnant?

“Is she keeping the baby?” I ask.

Brian crosses his arms. “Of course she is.”

I hold up my hands. “Hey, I just learned about this. Don’t get mad at me for asking questions.”

“She is, and I proposed. I want to marry her before the baby is born.”

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