Always Been Mine Read Online Free PDF Page A

husband.  
    Rhino’s growl grew louder as the admiral approached.
    “Gonna call off your attack dog, Commander?”
    “Not sure.”
    The admiral sighed. “We have a problem.”
    “Not mine.”
    “Gabriel—”
    “I told you, sir. I’m done with the agency.” Rhino started snarling. Gabe decided to calm down his dog. “Friendlies, Rhino.”
    The dog immediately stopped his aggression.
    “My priority is Beatrice.”
    “I know that,” the admiral said. “That’s why I procured your admission into the Mayflower Charity Ball. I’ve given you information about her whereabouts for the last two weeks and stood back while you stalked her.”
    Gabe snorted but didn’t contradict the admiral, because that was exactly what he did. Thankfully, he didn’t catch her at a time when she was with Eric Stone. Judging from the tabloids, the relationship was a hot mess. He was so proud of how his girl handled herself with so much class against three crazed fans earlier this afternoon.
    The admiral had now fallen into step by his side as the three of them continued to walk without missing a beat.  
    “I don’t want to fuck up again with her. I want to prove to her that I’m in it for the long haul.”
    “Is that what the dog is all about? A show of your commitment?”
    Gabe didn’t answer, so the admiral continued, “Or is he helping you regain your empathy. Teaching you how to feel?”
    “Don’t psychoanalyze me, Ben,” Gabe snapped. “Rhino was a loyal military dog who was about to be classified as equipment and left behind. He may be partially deaf and blind, but he deserves a second chance.”
    “Sounds familiar.”
    Gabe cursed. “Look, say what you gotta say. Be done with it.”
    “Someone might be aware that Dmitry Yerzov is still alive.”
    “Impossible. How?” Gabe was used to the admiral’s penchant for drama and constant scheming. Gabe should know. He had let himself be a part of it.
    “Philip Crowe aka Leonid Belov must have had a partner that we weren’t aware of,” the admiral said. Crowe/Belov had worked with Gabe in an undercover capacity in the Zorin Bratva—a Russian arms dealer they had brought down almost four months ago.  
    The admiral had his full attention now. “Go on.”
    “The off-shore account that Crowe was going to use to siphon the thirty-five million dollars was shut down before we could get our hands on it. All indications point to the Fuego gang.”
    “Shit. The Colombian gang that we sent after Travis and Caitlin?”  
    “The same.”
    The wheels started spinning in Gabe’s head. That would mean Crowe had an “in” with the gang. Nothing would stop Crowe from having insurance just in case something happened to him, which it did. Crowe knew most of the true identities of CIA agents involved in the Zorin Bratva takedown.  
    “What else?”
    “Nothing as of now, but I may have to call in a marker from an old friend.”
    A pained look crossed the admiral’s face.
    “Something tells me this old friend isn’t really a friend.”
    “A buddy from my earlier days in the Navy. We had a falling out. Or rather, his ideals didn’t align with the U.S. government any longer.”
    “Look, I’ll help if I can. I don’t want a crosshair on you or Beatrice,” Gabe said. As much as he despised Porter sometimes, he cared for the crazy bastard.  
    “All I wanted was to give you a heads up,” Porter said. “I’m not sure if there’s anything you can do. I’m sure if Crowe gave Fuego all the information from the Zorin takedown, you’re compromised.”
    “I’m adept with disguises, in case you’ve forgotten.” Shit. Did he just volunteer himself? Backtracking, and in a harsh tone, he repeated, “Beatrice is my priority. I’m not officially involved. I’m out of the agency. Don’t ask me to refer someone to help either, because I’m not having another friend’s death on my conscience.”
    “It wasn’t your fault, Gabriel.”
    “I know, but for a long time, I