Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“You’re getting defensive.”
“Should I?” The smell of pine and rain clung in the air.
“Hell, Bear, we’ve been friends how long? We can be raw with one another. I’m only telling you what you need to hear.”
“With all due respect, I can separate my personal and professional life. I may have fucked up before, but this…well, it’s different.”
“How is it different?” Sharp steepled his fingers.
“I’m doing my job.”
“No one said you’re not. I’m only saying it’s not ethical. You can’t tell Aasia the truth so you’re lying, and if push comes to shove can you decide that’s one hundred percent logical?”
“Are you suggesting that Aasia is involved in Fletcher’s side hustle?
Because if you are, maybe you should ask your wife if she can separate emotions from logic when it comes to her best friend.
After all, Aasia is her best friend.” When Bear saw Sharp’s jaw flinch, he knew he’d hit a nerve. However, he wouldn’t apologize.
“CaDee has nothing to do with this.”
“And neither does Aasia.” Bear didn’t bother hiding his irritation.
“Fletcher is the largest stockholder of the lab. She worked there. We stumbled across some questionable business dealings. Whether you want to face the facts or not, she was there while all this was going down.”
“That’s not what we’re investigating.” Bear slammed his hands to his hips. “We’re here to bust the assholes who gunned Texas Heat down. Not to focus on every damn law being broken in Texas.”
Some of the frustration left Sharp’s features.
“You have a point, we’re not interested in Fletcher’s unethical business dealings, but as we usually say, “where there’s rain there’s a storm brewing”.
What is our guy Fletcher hiding? Why did he suddenly pull out of the race?
I got wind that the FBI and state police have been sniffing around.
I can’t infiltrate myself into their business.
Greyson can only get so much intel. He said the case is sealed tighter than a duck’s ass.
Fletcher certainly has friends in high places. ”
“Fletcher can’t be trusted, but Aasia isn’t involved.”
Sharp’s patience was slipping again. “Bear, I like Aasia. And right, she and CaDee are best friends, but I’m not asking my wife her opinion on this matter, or to play a role in questioning her friend’s ethics.
We are compiling a case to find out who is all involved in trying to murder our team.
If it can prove that he’s using the lab as a cesspool for his illegal dealings the place will be shut down and investigated.
That includes Aasia. You’re an undercover Ranger on a top-secret mission.
This could get ugly fast if you are involved with her.
This team, it’s a handshake deal. Although we have free rein to do what we need to do, we still walk a thin line.
We must protect our covers with everything we have. ”
“Then what was that back there?” Bear jutted his chin. “In the meeting you said you were good. Was that a lie?”
“Again, if it were up to me, I wouldn’t waste my time. But I need to look at the bigger picture.” Sharp’s disappointment was clear in the dark circles under his eyes.
“So let’s cut to the chase. What are you asking?”
“I’m not asking anything. I’m going to let you make the call on this one. I trust that you’ll put the team first.”
Bear’s mind swirled with an inflection of thoughts.
He’d given years of his life for freedom for his country.
Then his dedication to bringing down criminals on American soil.
Yet, where was his freedom? Freedom to love someone, because yes, he was falling for Aasia.
As hard a pill as it was to swallow, he’d say he’d loved her since the second she smiled in his direction.
He trusted her. There was no doubt in his mind that she was an amazing woman with a clear conscious.
There was no way in hell he’d allow his career to dictate who he could be with.
He took a step toward the desk. “I’m making the best choice for the team. Under the circumstances I think it’s best I quit.”
Shock resonated in Sharp’s face. “Bear, hold up. We need you on the team. No one is pressuring you—”
“If people on this team believe I don’t have their backs, or that I’m not one hundred percent committed, then that makes the team weaker. We must rely on each other. If we don’t have that foundation we’re failing. And we’re in danger.”
“Is there anything I can say?”
“Nope. You said I should make the choice so I am. This is my decision.” He turned on the heel of his boot and started for the door.
“Is she worth it?”
Bear paused, looking over his shoulder. “She’s more than worth it but she’s not the reason I’m making this choice.
There’s no doubt in my mind I can be logical and make the best choices for the team.
I’m deciding this because I’ve had every man’s back on this team.
I would have taken a bullet for any one of them, Grimes included.
If y’all, especially you, aren’t sure then I’m no longer one of the team, and maybe I never actually was.
” He touched the brim of his hat and strolled out of the office.
For the first time in a very long time, he felt freedom.