Exposing Ethan (Cassidy Kincaid Mystery Book 4)

this?” Cassidy barked at him. It wasn’t safe! She wouldn’t tolerate him being in danger!
“Good morning to you, too,” he said, sounding groggy.
Cassidy paced the length of the building, her fear ramping up with every step.
“Because I want to get these bastards, okay?” Quinn finally said after a tight breath. “Because I want you to be safe, once and for all.”
Cassidy pinched her forehead. “What if something goes wrong?”
“We have to trust them, Cass.”
The still, warm air seared her lungs. Cassidy squinted through the trees separating the back of the school building from what looked like a strip mall. “I’m not sure who to trust anymore.”
“You can trust Bruce,” he said. “Can’t you?”
Cassidy scuffed the gritty pavement with the toe of her shoe. “I don’t think he wants to do this.”
“Did he say that?”
“No, but you should have seen the look on his face.”
“It’s no secret that he feels protective of you.”
Cassidy shook her head. Thinking about what Bruce may or may not feel was clouding her thoughts, twisting her emotions. Bruce was a good friend who had forgiven her many mistakes. An ally. The idea of him wanting to protect her made her stomach wobble like Jell-O.
“But he can’t possibly guarantee that something won’t go wrong,” she said, wrapping her free hand around her middle. “I mean…witness protection? There’s no way I can start over, alone, without my career, without you.”
“That’s just a worst-case scenario. It won’t come to that.”
Cassidy inhaled a tight gasp but the curtain of darkness closed over her eyes anyway.
“This time, we’ll be in it together,” he added.
She saw herself gripping Quinn’s hand while someone from the shadows leveled a gun at them. “Is that supposed to reassure me?” she managed, her voice high and shaky—not her own.
“C’mon, Cass, let’s do this. Let’s bring Pete the justice he deserves.”
Her nose stung with the sudden onset of tears. Had Special Agent Harris made Quinn the same promise?
“The agent picking me up is here,” he said. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”
After ending the call, she pressed herself into the shade of the building and closed her eyes. Should she have listened to Bruce after all and never gone into that warehouse? Where would Izzy be now if she hadn’t? What about the girl they rescued that night, the one who hid in a closet? She thought about the other girls in that warehouse, currently living a life of hell.
If I do this, they can be free.
The image of her brother Reeve with his arm around Jade in front of that church in Nicaragua floated into her mind. Saving her had cost him his life. Would she do the same for Pete?
“Cassidy?” Bruce’s voice said.
She opened her eyes to see him wearing a pained expression. He reached for her and she gave in, stepping into his embrace. Overcome with gratitude for his strength, she let the last of her tears fall.
“I’m so sorry,” he said some time later.
“It’s not your fault.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
Cassidy inhaled a slow breath. “She’s right, though. If I don’t, I won’t be safe.”
“We have other ways to get these guys. This isn’t the only way.”
“But it’s faster, right?”
She felt Bruce’s chest expand with a breath. “Yeah, it’s faster. Sometimes breaks come suddenly, like this.”
“I’m scared about Quinn,” she said. “He’s all I have. What if something happens to him?”
“We’ll be right there,” he said, stepping back, his expression steadying her. “We’ll be close by, listening to everything. We won’t take any chances.”
“Promise?” she asked as a fresh supply of tears spilled onto her cheeks.
His gaze turned fierce. “I promise.”
She remembered his decision to flee San Juan del Sur to protect her, and his surprise rescue from Mel. Would he be able to pull off the same heroics this time if things went wrong?
Back inside the conference room, Special Agent Harris stood with her back against the far wall, with Special Agent Santiago seated, slowly flipping through the giant binder, one hand scrubbing his forehead.
In the moment before Special Agent Harris noticed Cassidy enter the room, she caught the look of anxiety tightening her features, but then it was gone, replaced by the bulldog look she was so good at.
“Okay,” Cassidy said, glancing quickly at Bruce, who continued to look grim. “I’ll do it.”
Special Agent Harris moved forward, her eyes flashing with victory. “All right, Dr. Kincaid. We’ll walk you through everything you need, and then we’ll make the call.”
“Now?” Cassidy said, her voice cracking.
Special Agent Harris checked her watch. “By the time we give you a briefing, we should have the D.A.’s approval, so, yes.”
I have to stay here all morning? Cassidy thought with frustration.
“We’ll give you a break before we call,” Special Agent Santiago said as he flipped open a laptop and plugged it into the AV cord in the middle of the table.
A knock on the door accompanied by, “The brother’s here,” from a voice outside.
“Enter,” Special Agent Harris said.
The door opened and Quinn stepped through. Cassidy jumped up and he pulled her into a firm hug. She inhaled the scent of his freshly showered skin mixed with his laundry detergent. His presence both calmed and terrified her.
She stepped back and let the task force agents shake Quinn’s hand. When it came time for Bruce’s turn, he gripped Quinn’s hand and locked eyes with her brother. “It’s great to meet you finally,” he said. “Sorry it’s not under more pleasant circumstances.”
Quinn gave a quick smile. “Maybe those days are coming,” he replied.
Bruce’s eyes lightened. “I hope so.”
Special Agent Santiago pulled up a chair for Quinn next to Cassidy, and everyone settled in.
Under the table, Cassidy reached for Quinn’s hand. He gave hers a squeeze.
“Okay, here’s what we know,” Special Agent Santiago said, tapping a key on his laptop. On the far wall, a faded image appeared.
Bruce stood and turned off the light, then moved his chair from where it would have been in the way of the slide show to Cassidy’s side.
The image sharpened and she recognized Bo’s face