Glitter and Gunfire/Bulletproof (Shadow Agents 4)

“Better safe than dead,” Gunner finished bluntly.

Yes. Exactly.

“Especially in light of what Syd’s finding.”

Gunner’s words made a thick knot form in Cale’s stomach. “Just what is Sydney finding?”

“That there is no cash tied to any accounts that link back to Ian Gagnon. The man’s a ghost, one who existed until he was eighteen and then seemingly vanished.” A pause. “You don’t vanish like that. Not without a whole lot of help.”

The kind of help that might go looking for vengeance?

“We need to find out more about Gagnon,” Gunner said. Yeah, they sure as hell did. “I don’t want to mark this case as closed, not until we know the truth. I mean...why else would someone come after Cassidy? As far as I can tell, the only trouble your girl has ever had is with the Executioner. Otherwise, she’s lived a charmed life.”

His girl. Cale’s gaze moved to Cassidy. She’d ended her call. Her skin was pale and perfect in the darkened bedroom.

“A woman like her shouldn’t be on the radar of killers,” Gunner said, voice considering. “She’s not part of our world.”

Gunner was wrong. So wrong. But Cale couldn’t tell him that.

Maybe the attack had been because of Gagnon and not because of Cassidy’s own past.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

“I’m going to stay with Cassidy,” Cale said. Like anyone could pry him away from her. “Get Sydney to continue searching into Gagnon’s past. If the attack on Cassidy is related to him, Sydney will find the link.”

When it came to digging into a person’s past, there was very little that Sydney couldn’t discover with her computer.

His jaw locked. What if Sydney starts digging into Cassidy’s life?

He’d have to warn Mercer. Because knowing Sydney...

She’d already started to dig.

He ended the call and put his phone down on the nightstand.

Cassidy rose from the bed, pulling the sheet with her. “Do you...do you think Genevieve is in any danger?”

“I think Gunner and Sydney need to know exactly who they are dealing with.” Mercer’s daughter. “Because I don’t want them wasting time on a hunt that won’t lead them anyplace.”

Cassidy flinched. “Are you going to Mercer?”

Hell, yes, he was.

“Because you don’t have to do it.” She squared her shoulders. “It’s my life, and I’m the one giving you permission.” Her gaze held his. “Tell your friends who I really am. I’m tired of the lie. I mean, what more can possibly happen to me?”

More than being targeted for death?

Only...death.

And he realized that he wasn’t going to tell Sydney and Gunner the truth. Not yet. He wasn’t going to tell anyone.

Because he wouldn’t let Cassidy be targeted. The instinct to protect her was stronger than anything that he’d ever felt before.

I won’t sacrifice her secrets.

But he would find out who was after her.