“It wasn’t easy. I couldn’t go to the local police because I didn’t know who was dirty or who could be trusted. I called my boss, and we set the trap fast.”
“You took a big risk,” Maia said. Cole had been away from them for the four hours he’d indicated he would be, and the agents had spent several more hours trying to get the prisoners and the shipment of drugs off the ranch. The storm had moved in slowly, and with Al and Cole working together, they’d finally managed to get everyone out safely. Maia had spent hours wanting to be alone with Cole, needing to touch him, to reassure herself that he was unharmed, but then Jase had broken down completely, and they had spent the remainder of the time consoling him.
“The weather was closing in, and it worried me that Fred was getting anxious. I didn’t want either of you caught in the middle. And remember, I didn’t know whose side Al was on. I’m glad it was ours.”
“Are you going to go away, Cole?” Jase finally voiced the question that was preying on his mind.
For the first time, Cole hesitated. Maia and Jase regarded him with wide, fearful eyes. Cole leaned over the table toward his brother, avoiding looking at Maia. “Jase, I want to tell you I’m always going to be here, but that would be a lie. I have to work sometimes. I won’t be working as much, but every now and then, I need to work.” It was the adrenaline rush. It was the rage that swirled too close to the surface that was never going to go completely away. He hoped he wouldn’t need it as much, but he knew he’d never be utterly free of his demons, and if Maia was going to agree to be in his life, he needed both Jase and her to know he would have times he couldn’t help but leave them.
“You have money. You can have my money,” Jase burst out.
“That’s not what he means,” Maia said gently. “He means when things are really bad for him, working undercover is a way of sorting it out.”
Jase just stared at her, hurt and fear mingling together in his eyes.
“Like you pounding the bag,” she added. “He goes undercover and becomes someone else for a while. Does that make sense?”
Cole wanted to protest, but she was right. It was a world he was familiar with. Lies and deceit and never getting too close. A world of violence, where explosive rage often had a legitimate target. He was going to lose here. He could see the handwriting on the wall, and it was killing him.
Jase subsided, shrinking back into the chair, making himself very small as he turned to Cole. “Are you planning on putting me in a boarding school so you can go back to the drug enforcement work?”
“No! Absolutely not. Why would you think that Jase? I want you to attend a regular school, but not a boarding school.” Cole shoved both hands through his hair. “This is crazy. My work has nothing to do with you going to school. If I have to leave on an assignment, I’ll have someone who you trust stay here with you. Someone I trust that we’re both comfortable with. I’m not going anywhere until that happens.”
Jase took the ice packs off his hands and grabbed a handful of cookies. “Well, I’m not going to worry about it then. It’s not like we have anyone else.”
“I told you, we’re getting a housekeeper. I just haven’t found one yet.” There was a warning note in Cole’s voice.
Jase shrugged. “You scare everyone, Cole. I don’t have to worry about anyone coming here to work in the house unless she’s after your money.”
Maia hastily covered her mouth with her hand and looked away from them. They sounded more and more like brothers every day.
“Don’t encourage him, Maia,” Cole said.
She didn’t even wince at the hard edge to his voice. Her smothered laughter rang out from behind her hand before she could stop it. “I’m sorry, really I am, but you so deserved that one. You need to practice smiling in the mirror, Cole. It will help you win over the ladies.”
“He doesn’t have to smile at women,” Jase reminded with a wicked grin.
“Put the ice packs back on your hands and stop eating so many cookies,” Cole said. He reached under the coffee table and pulled out a small object. “Here’s your Christmas present.” His voice turned gruff and it embarrassed him, but he persisted with a dogged determination. “I don’t know exactly how this is done, and I didn’t wrap it, but I made this for you, Jase.” His fingers remained wrapped around it, concealing the object. “You know I’ll get you something nice from town once we can get out of here, but I wanted you to have something on Christmas morning.”
“Let me see it,” Jase said eagerly, holding out his swollen hand.
Cole placed the wood carving in his brother’s hand. A snarling mountain lion was crouched protectively over a small alligator. The carving was intricate, each curve and line smooth and etched deep so that the figures seemed to be alive. Jase turned it over and saw the date carved into the bottom.