Doogan pulled off his dark glasses, amusement filling his dark brown eyes as a grin curled his lips.
“Dawg Mackay’s looking for his sister and he’s fit to be tied,” Doogan stated, mockery filling his gaze. “He’s a little overprotective, wouldn’t you think?”
What would Doogan know about protectiveness?
“You don’t have a sister, do you, Doogan?” Brogan asked.
Doogan shuddered, his gaze flashing in mock horror. “My parents were actually humane enough to stop with me,” he said. “So I can’t say I do. ”
“It shows,” Brogan retorted.
Doogan scowled back at him. “Nevertheless, Dawg didn’t care much for Timothy’s explanation, nor mine. The fact that Dawg knew I was in Somerset still greatly concerns me. I was unaware he knew my full name. ” As opposed to the codename Doogan had insisted be listed instead. The only reason Brogan, Eli, and Booker were aware of it was because they’d trained with him, drank with him, and listened to his drunken ramblings before he’d begun his climb up the federal ladder.
“It should,” Brogan assured him. “My question is, how did you find us?”
Doogan smiled complacently. “This is a political retreat, Brogan. All those nasty politicians with their young mistresses need someplace safe to hide. And someone has to make sure the place doesn’t get overcrowded. That job falls to me. ”
“And if it does? Get overcrowded, that is,” Brogan asked mockingly.
Doogan shrugged. “Federal Protective Service has a houseboat stored along a nearby tributary and another cabin hidden along the lake. But overcrowding doesn’t happen if one is diligent. ”
“Regular little caretaker, aren’t you?” Brogan taunted him.
Doogan tilted his head to the side. “Why do I keep seeing a real dishonorable discharge in your future?”
Brogan shrugged. “Wishful thinking maybe? Because we both know John David Bryce isn’t going to allow that. ”
Doogan’s eyes flashed with rueful laughter rather than the offense Brogan had intended.
“There is that,” Doogan agreed. “It’s kind of hard to fire the director of Homeland Security’s bastard son, I would imagine. ”
“Well, a few have tried. ” Brogan shrugged. “I’m still here. ”
“Unfortunately, unfortunately,” Doogan lamented on a sigh. “But I didn’t come up here to trade insults, as much as I do enjoy the opportunity. And neither did I come up here to warn you about Dawg. Though I would enjoy being present when he finds you. ”
Brogan only snorted at the comment as he waited to see why Doogan had shown up.
Stepping from the boat, Doogan started around the small clearing. “It’s really rather pretty here,” he commented.
“Get to the point, Doogan,” Brogan growled. “I have things to do. ”
Concern flashed in Doogan’s eyes for a second before the brown depths were once again icy and emotionless.
“We need to seriously discuss this operation,” he warned Brogan. “I know you; you intend to tell her your purpose for being here, and the fact that you were ordered to develop a friendship with her. ”
Brogan’s brow lifted as he noticed the amused amazement on Elijah’s and Jed’s faces.
“A friendship?” Brogan questioned him. “Doogan, you’ve been playing pimp from afar for more than two years in your attempt to get me to invite myself into her bed. It was only your dumb luck that I wasn’t able to stay the hell away from her any longer. ”
Doogan slid one hand casually into the pocket of his slacks as he stared back at Brogan coolly.
“I did you a favor, actually,” he drawled. “You’ll thank me for it later. ”
“Get the hell out of here before I have to shoot you. ” Brogan glowered back at him. “I don’t have time to deal with you. ”
“Not until we discuss what you intend to tell Ms. Mackay. ”
“The truth,” Brogan snapped. “I won’t lie to her. ”