“We went over this. It’s not as if we’re going to call the FBI and ask them why they sent agents to Homeland. They want to pretend it didn’t happen and we’re good with that. We’ll just be more careful, intensify our screening procedure and do more extensive background checks from multiple sources. We’re always upgrading. All we can do is hope to prevent them from doing it again.”
“I didn’t tell you everything in Justice’s office.”
Fury sucked in a breath. “Okay.”
“This is where it gets dicey.”
“Shit.” Fury leaned forward. “I’m listening.”
“I want to protect her. I want that made clear. I got the impression she’d be in a lot of trouble and her career could end.”
“Understood.”
“Can I trust you? This might cause tension with the NSO. I’m asking you to keep this information between us. I don’t know what to do.”
Fury’s eyes narrowed. “In other words, you’re asking me to sit on information that should be shared.”
“Yes.”
The male leaned back and blew out a breath. “I love the NSO and I’d do anything for Species but there’s one exception. That’s my family. They always come first and foremost. You fall under that category. I won’t betray your trust.”
He stood and crossed the room, retrieving the paper he’d left facedown on the counter. He walked to Fury and held it out. The male took it and read the words. He paled. Darkness took a seat again on the coffee table.
“Kat implied she was given orders to search for a male at Homeland and help him leave. Those agents she identified at the gates may have been under the same orders.”
“Why would the FBI want Boris?”
“She didn’t know. I believe that. She seemed confused as to why the person who sent her here wanted that male but she thought it was personal.”
“You think Boris screwed over someone in the FBI or that he might know something potentially damaging to them?”
Darkness shrugged. “It’s a dilemma, isn’t it?”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Fury leaned forward and laid the note down. “She trusted you not to share this information. I see why you called me. You’re torn between us and not betraying that trust.”
“I want access to Boris again.”
“Why?”
“He has the answers. He’d know why the FBI has an interest in him. Give me an hour with that male and we don’t have to involve anyone who could harm Kat in any way. Official channels would put her in harm’s way. They can’t get to him and discover she gave up his name to me.”
“Does she know he’s in Medical? She took a few tours. Did she see him?”
“She wouldn’t have been allowed access to the basement area where he’s being held and I kept close tabs on everyone she spoke to. I interviewed them to see what she talked about, trying to figure out why she was really here. She never asked about humans besides the mate hunters. Sunshine had that discussion with her. She never toured Medical either. I double-checked.”
“We need to tell Justice.”
“He might talk to the Senator and ask him to make inquiries. No. You said I could trust you.”
“This is bigger than the female losing her job. Boris seems to be more of a problem than we thought. What if he had help from inside the FBI with his extortion scheme against the NSO? We paid him a lot of money to recover other Species. We need to find out everything we can to make certain that isn’t a possibility.”
“I don’t know enough about Kat to understand all the risks she faces but I won’t chance it. I refuse to allow her to pay for leaving that note. She wanted to help me.”
Fury shoved his hair back, the frustration clear in his features. “Fine. You want access to Boris?”
“Yes.”
Fury stood, paced. “I got an update today on his condition. He’s not stable enough to leave Homeland and be transferred to Fuller.” He paused, studying Darkness. “He could die if you aren’t careful. He’s not in the best health, especially after the last time you had a talk with him.”
“Understood.”
“I wouldn’t mind if he died but I’d hate to try to explain why you were covered in his blood or why I put you there. We’d both be in front of Justice. Do you understand?”
“You’d tell him everything.”
“No.” Fury shook his head. “I’d break his heart by remaining silent. I gave you my word.”
“He’s your best friend.”
“You’re my brother.” Fury hesitated. “Even if you won’t admit the link, I’d stand by you and that means protecting your female too.”
“She isn’t mine.”
Fury shrugged. “She’s the first thing you’ve really given a damn about and put your ass on the line for. I owe her for that alone.”
“She isn’t mine,” Darkness repeated. “You’re making too much out of it.”
“We’ll see. Just keep in mind that we do know a Senator and could obtain her real name if she didn’t give it to you. That means we could locate her and have her brought back.”
“Why would we do that?”
“In case you decide letting her go was a mistake.”
“It was for the best.”
“I didn’t tell you everything in Justice’s office.”
Fury sucked in a breath. “Okay.”
“This is where it gets dicey.”
“Shit.” Fury leaned forward. “I’m listening.”
“I want to protect her. I want that made clear. I got the impression she’d be in a lot of trouble and her career could end.”
“Understood.”
“Can I trust you? This might cause tension with the NSO. I’m asking you to keep this information between us. I don’t know what to do.”
Fury’s eyes narrowed. “In other words, you’re asking me to sit on information that should be shared.”
“Yes.”
The male leaned back and blew out a breath. “I love the NSO and I’d do anything for Species but there’s one exception. That’s my family. They always come first and foremost. You fall under that category. I won’t betray your trust.”
He stood and crossed the room, retrieving the paper he’d left facedown on the counter. He walked to Fury and held it out. The male took it and read the words. He paled. Darkness took a seat again on the coffee table.
“Kat implied she was given orders to search for a male at Homeland and help him leave. Those agents she identified at the gates may have been under the same orders.”
“Why would the FBI want Boris?”
“She didn’t know. I believe that. She seemed confused as to why the person who sent her here wanted that male but she thought it was personal.”
“You think Boris screwed over someone in the FBI or that he might know something potentially damaging to them?”
Darkness shrugged. “It’s a dilemma, isn’t it?”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Fury leaned forward and laid the note down. “She trusted you not to share this information. I see why you called me. You’re torn between us and not betraying that trust.”
“I want access to Boris again.”
“Why?”
“He has the answers. He’d know why the FBI has an interest in him. Give me an hour with that male and we don’t have to involve anyone who could harm Kat in any way. Official channels would put her in harm’s way. They can’t get to him and discover she gave up his name to me.”
“Does she know he’s in Medical? She took a few tours. Did she see him?”
“She wouldn’t have been allowed access to the basement area where he’s being held and I kept close tabs on everyone she spoke to. I interviewed them to see what she talked about, trying to figure out why she was really here. She never asked about humans besides the mate hunters. Sunshine had that discussion with her. She never toured Medical either. I double-checked.”
“We need to tell Justice.”
“He might talk to the Senator and ask him to make inquiries. No. You said I could trust you.”
“This is bigger than the female losing her job. Boris seems to be more of a problem than we thought. What if he had help from inside the FBI with his extortion scheme against the NSO? We paid him a lot of money to recover other Species. We need to find out everything we can to make certain that isn’t a possibility.”
“I don’t know enough about Kat to understand all the risks she faces but I won’t chance it. I refuse to allow her to pay for leaving that note. She wanted to help me.”
Fury shoved his hair back, the frustration clear in his features. “Fine. You want access to Boris?”
“Yes.”
Fury stood, paced. “I got an update today on his condition. He’s not stable enough to leave Homeland and be transferred to Fuller.” He paused, studying Darkness. “He could die if you aren’t careful. He’s not in the best health, especially after the last time you had a talk with him.”
“Understood.”
“I wouldn’t mind if he died but I’d hate to try to explain why you were covered in his blood or why I put you there. We’d both be in front of Justice. Do you understand?”
“You’d tell him everything.”
“No.” Fury shook his head. “I’d break his heart by remaining silent. I gave you my word.”
“He’s your best friend.”
“You’re my brother.” Fury hesitated. “Even if you won’t admit the link, I’d stand by you and that means protecting your female too.”
“She isn’t mine.”
Fury shrugged. “She’s the first thing you’ve really given a damn about and put your ass on the line for. I owe her for that alone.”
“She isn’t mine,” Darkness repeated. “You’re making too much out of it.”
“We’ll see. Just keep in mind that we do know a Senator and could obtain her real name if she didn’t give it to you. That means we could locate her and have her brought back.”
“Why would we do that?”
“In case you decide letting her go was a mistake.”
“It was for the best.”
