TREX HQ – Seattle, Washington

Bailey chewed the thumbnail on her left hand. She’d already gnawed off the one on her right. Special Director Dan Weber sat at his desk reading her report, not a single emotion on his stony expression. He didn’t rush the review. He never rushed anything, instead taking his time to analyze every word and drive her insane with uncertainty.

He finally closed the folder and pushed it aside before leaning in his chair to assess her. She didn’t speak. She didn’t breathe as she waited for him to either give her the green light on the program or have her escorted out of the building. He drew in a breath and held it. She did the same. When he let his out, she continued to hold hers.

Those cool blue eyes drilled into her, making her want to explain herself even though she had nothing else to add. The report spared no detail, considering how important the find. Weber worked his jaw for several seconds as his expression grew even harder. The lines deepened on his face. He did not seem all that happy with her report.

She was fired. She was so, so fired.

“Has anyone else seen this report?” he finally asked.

“No, sir. I finished it on the ferry ride here.”

“Not even Snyder?”

“I cleared it with him before writing it up. It was him who told me to be sure no one read the report until I showed you.”

He nodded, like David’s insistence that Bailey not tell anyone else about the find made sense. She couldn’t even tell Jason or Jackson. It wasn’t like her BIL to keep things from the other agents on a find, which meant something about this find had him worried. “Does the recruit fully understand the importance of the find?”

She didn’t even fully understand the importance of the find. “I’m not sure, sir. He followed orders and delivered the intel as instructed.”

“According to this report, Stuart Ryan was after a seat in the senate not to bring more power to the Order, but to bring them down.” He hit her with that piercing blue glare. “Do you believe that?”

“I believe his father has no reason to lie to his son. Cadet Ryan was insistent he be placed on whatever team would be responsible for bringing down the Order.”

“That tells me he understands the importance just fine. He mentioned Spencer Allen by name.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Son of a bitch. This is not what Allen needs right now.” He pinched the skin between his eyes. “He just started his second round of chemo this week and needs to focus on beating his cancer, not getting wrapped up in another mission involving that goddamn society.”

Bailey had read the report on the find that nearly cost SAC Allen his life thanks to the Order. The same society had been behind the find that left her brother partially paralyzed. Just when TREX cuts off one head, two more pop up and wreak havoc. They had to stop them at any cost.

“Keep a close eye on this recruit,” Weber ordered. “We may be able to use him to our advantage.”

She bristled. Ryan was a solid recruit who’d make a solid agent. He deserved the chance to prove that. “He’s already in the program and doing well. His data retrievals have been dead on.”

“I’m not talking data retrievals.”

“Are you thinking of moving him to the frontline?”

“Nope.”

Getting information out of the special director was like pulling teeth at times. “Sir?”

“I’m thinking we’ll use the fact he’s a Ryan to infiltrate the Order.”

Oh, God. No. If the Order so much as suspected a TREX agent within their ranks, they’d silence the member. Ryan would never see it coming. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I’ll take that under advisement.” He nodded at the door. “I have to make a call and get the ball rolling before Stuart Ryan is too weak to be of any good to us.”

Bailey stood and bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from calling the director a heartless bastard. He treated a dying man like a commodity and didn’t seem to care that Harold Ryan would be burying his father before summer. He only seemed to care about how fast he could take advantage of the Ryans.

She went to the door and opened it. Against her better judgment, she whipped around. She refused to remain silent, to let Weber talk about Ryan and his father like they meant nothing. “Stuart Ryan spent years trying to take down the Order and passed that directive on to his son. Harold Ryan will do whatever it takes to carry out that directive. He promised his father.”

“Your point, Agent McKoy?”

“It’s our duty to protect our agents, not put them in harm’s way. He’s a twenty-three-year-old college student we just recruited into an internship program. He doesn’t have any idea what it takes to be a field agent, an undercover field agent at that. What you’re about to ask is something we’d reserve for our most experienced agents. The Order killed Gabriel Lyons, a special agent who used to lead one of the spec ops units. They trapped and nearly killed Spencer Allen, the special agent who took over the leadership from Lyons. They also nearly killed my brother Logan and partially paralyzed my brother Chris.”

“I’m very well aware of the details behind those missions, McKoy. Again, what’s your point?”

Her frustration mounted. “If the Order got the jump on TREX spec ops agents, what makes you think an intern has any chance against them?”

“Like you told me when you pitched this program, we need a new generation of agents who don’t know the system.” Weber’s lips twitched. “Cadet Ryan isn’t a little piss ant, know-it-all in a uniform claiming to be an expert in our operations. You found me a rookie who has no idea of protocol. That’s why this is going to work.”

Bailey cocked her head. “I’m not following.”

“He doesn’t have to pretend to be green. He doesn’t have to go undercover at all. He just has to be himself—the son of an existing member. He’s a legacy.”

She closed her eyes and shook her head. The last time Harold Ryan was forced into joining a group under the legacy clause, he was miserable and that was only a fraternity. This was so much more.

“Congratulations, Agent McKoy.”

His comment drew her attention. “Sir?”

“Because of the success of this find—your first recruit is going to help us bring down the society we’ve been after for years—I’m approving the program. Let’s hope the next recruit is as good a find as Cadet Ryan. Now, if you don’t mind, I really do need to make that call.”

“Thank you, sir.” Bailey shut the door behind her as angst gnawed at her midsection. She had no doubt Ryan would succeed in whatever mission the special director sent him on. It was his protective instincts that had her worried. Ryan would get in with the Order. He’d be invited to events that’d require he bring a date. He’d bring Emma. If he so much as sensed a threat, he’d go to any length to protect her, which could put them both in danger.

She’d have to keep a very close watch on her new recruit. It was her duty as his handler to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid—like get himself killed. Pulling out her phone, she scrolled through the contacts until she reached the name of her next prospect and tapped the screen.

It rang several times before someone picked up. “Bainbridge Island Fire Department. Cadet Jake Swanson speaking. Can I help you?”

“Yes,” she said and pulled in her focus. It was time to recruit TREX’s next intern. “I believe you can.”