have documentation that lists you as Nash Colter.”
“I do, yes. My boss felt that I needed a cover. He didn’t want Suárez, or his people, knowing who I was.”
He nodded. “That alias seems to have been created with tech that should be beyond the scope of a civilian contractor, Mr. Esca.”
“I wouldn’t know about that, sir.”
“Do you know who Jared Colter is, Mr. Esca?”
“Yes, sir, he’s my boss,” I told him flatly.
He sighed deeply. “Of course he is. Thank you, Mr. Esca.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said and then took my seat again in the corner.
Another hour later, we were told to return to the Stanton mansion with Ella, as she was remaining in Vegas overnight before she returned to Virginia for a more thorough debriefing, and before she returned home to her family in San Francisco.
I stood and moved back to her side, and as soon as I was close enough, she smacked me on the arm. “What did I do?” I asked, laughing.
“Javi?” she nearly shouted at me.
I was snickering when Dallas joined us, along with Lund.
“Who is Javi?” Lund wanted to know, looking back and forth between me and Ella.
“My brother, Javier,” she snapped out the answer, still glaring at me, talking through her teeth. “My oldest brother. He’s a major in the army, and he thinks women should get married and have babies, especially me, the only girl of five kids. He thinks I should have married––”
“That nice boy, Kent Williams,” I chimed in, doing my best impersonation of her mother from the last time I had seen her. “Such a sweetheart, so respectful, and studying to be a doctor.”
She whacked me again and then lunged, apparently changing her mind about what she needed from me, deciding on hugging me tight. “I want to see them all so badly, even my really annoying-as-shit brothers.”
I hugged her tight. “I know you do. Did you call them?”
“I called my mom and dad. I’m sure they’re talking to everyone else right now.”
Still holding her, I looked at Higa, who had just joined us. “Is there any way that we could go somewhere else tonight, and not back to that house?”
He squinted, curious. “Where did you have in mind? We already have the Stanton place wired and secured, but I won’t lie and say that it isn’t going to be a challenge to cover all the access points in a place that massive.” He thought a moment and then went on. “You just need to have at least two FBI agents inside with you, and four on duty outside, along with the VPD presence on the street. We need to ensure Agent Guzman’s safety until we put her on a plane tomorrow morning. Her safety is our primary concern.”
My eyes flicked to Dallas.
“Sir, I’d like permission to take her to my house, which will be better for everyone. It’s small, my security system is monitored, I have motion detectors inside and cameras outside, and every door and window is wired.”
Higa nodded.
“I’ll be there, Mr. Esca is staying with me, and Ryder will be there as well.”
“Absolutely,” Lund agreed, glancing at Ella and then back to his boss.
“Good,” Higa said with a nod. “I want a status update every two hours.”
“Yessir,” both Dallas and Lund agreed.
Outside in the hall, Dallas told Ella that he would arrange to have her things collected and brought to his house.
“Thank you,” she said, her arm wrapped around mine, remaining glued to my side. “And thank you for letting me stay with you and Croy at your house. I can really use some normal.”
He smiled at her, nodded, glanced at me, and then turned to go.
“Hey.”
He turned, walking backwards, facing me.
“Get our stuff from the Stanton house too, would you, please?”
“I had one of the agents put our duffels in the back of the Suburban before we left. I just need to grab them and put them in my car.”
“You’re on top of everything.”
He arched an eyebrow for me. “Not everything, but that’s how I like it.”
“Really,” I said pointedly.
No one missed the cackling as he turned and headed down the hall. Lund gave us a head tip and then ran to catch up to Dallas.
People walked back and forth in front of us, in a constant stream, so I walked her backward into a short hallway, until we were both leaning with our backs to the wall.
“He’s handsome,” she said softly.
“Yes,” I agreed, knowing we were talking about Dallas.
“Am I crashing something new?”
“It’s new, but you’re