a nice girl and settle down. When we found out what happened, I told Artie I wanted the job. I maintained and updated my cover, which I cultivated over the years in case I ever needed it again. I'm heading to New Orleans after I leave here today to start working my way under. I told Angie last night after dinner and right now she's really pissed at me, although I can't blame her. I'd sworn to her I was done with undercover work, but this is something I need to do. I can't let the bastards win.
"So this is where you all come in. I need you to keep an eye on her for me without her knowing it. If she finds out she'll be pissed off enough to fight any attempts to protect her and end up getting herself hurt or killed. She's smart but stubborn at times and I'm worried if my cover gets blown, someone could come after her to get to me. Like I said though, it's highly unlikely because Artie Giles is the only one who can make the connection between the two of us. His files are kept in a safe at his home office and the name Athos and my birth surname don't appear anywhere in my file and neither does Angie's name. There's only her cell phone listed along with the pass-phrase he has to say to verify it's him who's calling her. They're also on two separate papers so if someone gets into his safe somehow, the two don't appear related. Neither of them have ever met nor spoken on the phone. If anyone claiming to be from the DEA contacts her without that phrase, she has instructions on how to disappear without a trace until I can catch up with her. No one else in the agency knows she exists in my life."
"As far as you know. Nothing is ever one hundred percent hidden," Ian said wryly.
"True." The agent nodded his head in reluctant agreement. "But I've been as careful as possible over the years. Hell, I've spent a small fortune in burner phones because I destroyed each one after I called her. I still do, even though I'm no longer under. I don't want something or someone from one of my past gigs to come back and bite me on the ass."
Athos was about to say something more but Ian's own phone rang. He glanced at the screen and then at Angie’s friend before hitting the speaker button to connect the call. A deep voice rumbled over the line. "Ian, you rang? Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. What's up?"
He leaned forward so he could be heard easier. "No problem, Carter. It seems I have an acquaintance of yours sitting in my office with Devon and Brody."
The sounds of traffic in the background came through the speaker. "Really? Who?"
Ian arched his eyebrow at the DEA agent indicating he should announce himself.
"Hey, man, its Athos."
There was a two second pause. "Confirm."
"Tinkerbell gives good head."
While the other three men shook their heads at the inane pass-phrase, Carter barked out a laugh. "Long time, no hear, dude. How's it hangin'? Have you shaved the bush yet?"
An amused snort escaped Athos. "A little low lately, and no I haven't."
"Ian, all is good. I trust this scruffy-faced jackass as much as I trust you and you know that's a lot. He's loves his alphabet soup at oh-four-hundred and whatever he says is on the level."
Alphabet soup was a reference to the multiple abbreviated government agencies in the U.S. and 'at oh-four-hundred' signified the fourth letter of the alphabet which was 'D'. It was as close to saying 'DEA' as the spy would get over the phone. As Athos said earlier, Carter's endorsement was all Ian needed. "Do you need anything else? I've only got a minute." In a reflexive reaction, Ian shook his head and said 'no' at the same time. "All right, cool. A-man, you take care of yourself. If you need anything, ring me up. It's been a long time since you and I raised hell together. Devil Dog, tell your pretty fiancée I'll be in Tampa in a few weeks and I'm looking forward to being re-introduced to the little librarian."
While Brody and Ian gave him curious looks, Devon chuckled. There was a story there they
"So this is where you all come in. I need you to keep an eye on her for me without her knowing it. If she finds out she'll be pissed off enough to fight any attempts to protect her and end up getting herself hurt or killed. She's smart but stubborn at times and I'm worried if my cover gets blown, someone could come after her to get to me. Like I said though, it's highly unlikely because Artie Giles is the only one who can make the connection between the two of us. His files are kept in a safe at his home office and the name Athos and my birth surname don't appear anywhere in my file and neither does Angie's name. There's only her cell phone listed along with the pass-phrase he has to say to verify it's him who's calling her. They're also on two separate papers so if someone gets into his safe somehow, the two don't appear related. Neither of them have ever met nor spoken on the phone. If anyone claiming to be from the DEA contacts her without that phrase, she has instructions on how to disappear without a trace until I can catch up with her. No one else in the agency knows she exists in my life."
"As far as you know. Nothing is ever one hundred percent hidden," Ian said wryly.
"True." The agent nodded his head in reluctant agreement. "But I've been as careful as possible over the years. Hell, I've spent a small fortune in burner phones because I destroyed each one after I called her. I still do, even though I'm no longer under. I don't want something or someone from one of my past gigs to come back and bite me on the ass."
Athos was about to say something more but Ian's own phone rang. He glanced at the screen and then at Angie’s friend before hitting the speaker button to connect the call. A deep voice rumbled over the line. "Ian, you rang? Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. What's up?"
He leaned forward so he could be heard easier. "No problem, Carter. It seems I have an acquaintance of yours sitting in my office with Devon and Brody."
The sounds of traffic in the background came through the speaker. "Really? Who?"
Ian arched his eyebrow at the DEA agent indicating he should announce himself.
"Hey, man, its Athos."
There was a two second pause. "Confirm."
"Tinkerbell gives good head."
While the other three men shook their heads at the inane pass-phrase, Carter barked out a laugh. "Long time, no hear, dude. How's it hangin'? Have you shaved the bush yet?"
An amused snort escaped Athos. "A little low lately, and no I haven't."
"Ian, all is good. I trust this scruffy-faced jackass as much as I trust you and you know that's a lot. He's loves his alphabet soup at oh-four-hundred and whatever he says is on the level."
Alphabet soup was a reference to the multiple abbreviated government agencies in the U.S. and 'at oh-four-hundred' signified the fourth letter of the alphabet which was 'D'. It was as close to saying 'DEA' as the spy would get over the phone. As Athos said earlier, Carter's endorsement was all Ian needed. "Do you need anything else? I've only got a minute." In a reflexive reaction, Ian shook his head and said 'no' at the same time. "All right, cool. A-man, you take care of yourself. If you need anything, ring me up. It's been a long time since you and I raised hell together. Devil Dog, tell your pretty fiancée I'll be in Tampa in a few weeks and I'm looking forward to being re-introduced to the little librarian."
While Brody and Ian gave him curious looks, Devon chuckled. There was a story there they
Similar Books
Leap of Faith
Fiona McCallum
Deceptions
Judith Michael
Exile to the Stars (The Alarai Chronicles)
Dale B. Mattheis
A Promised Fate
Cat Mann
Sheikh's Unlikely Desire
Sophia Lynn
The Unquiet Grave
Steven Dunne
Black Tuesday
Susan Colebank
Twin Deception: A BWWM Billionaire Romance
Izabella Brooks
Spellbound
Marcus Atley
Constant Cravings
Tracey H. Kitts