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“And you speak Mandarin better than I do.”
“Guess it evens out.”
“Usually does.” Ronan chuckled. “Heard from Mom or Dad?”
“Not much. Last I heard, they were in London. Frank and Amanda were with them. Since Dad officially stepped away, they’ve been all over the world. They said they wanted to do things before they couldn’t.”
“About time he gets to enjoy retirement.” Ronan laughed. “How many times did he un-retire?”
“Ten or twenty at least,” Deacon guessed. “Are you seriously considering a desk?”
Ronan nodded. “I am. It all depends on how things work out in the future, but I think Fleur and I have a good shot at one hell of a relationship.”
“She seemed nice. Intelligent. She’s hot, too.”
Deacon ducked the punch that time. “Mine, asshole. Stay away.”
“Dude, she only had eyes for you. That much was completely clear.” Deacon chuckled. “I’m happy for you.”
“You’ll find your woman.”
Deacon laughed and shook his head. “I’m not looking. Not yet. I need to run wild for a few more years.”
“That’s what I thought, and then bam, Fleur wasthere. I had no option. I walked straight into one of the best things that has ever happened to me.”
“She it, huh?”
“Think so. It has happened so damn fast, but we’re committed to giving it all we have. She’ll come back to Colorado with me. Gabby’s working on her clearance and a job. She’s a project manager.”
“Lord knows we have enough projects going on.” Deacon chuckled and then tapped his arm. “Incoming.”
Ronan turned to look in the direction Deacon indicated. Miller. “Alexander, what the hell is going on? More Guardians?”
Ronan crossed his arms over his chest, and Deacon mimicked his position. Miller’s eyes grew wide as he bounced his gaze from one to the other. “Miller, my brother Deacon. Deacon, this is Miller Dupre, the camp lead.”
Miller nodded at Deacon, and neither offered a hand. “Why wasn’t I notified that there would be more Guardians in camp?”
“My brother happened to be in the area and offered help. I wasn’t aware I needed to inform you of my decisions or actions. Children’s Hope International hired me, not your organization. I toldFleur, who notified her superiors.” Or he assumed she did. She was a rule follower.
“I need to know when we bring more guns into the camp,” Miller blustered.
“Okay. There are more guns in camp,” Deacon said and cocked his head.
Miller narrowed his eyes. “Thanks,” he said snidely. Ronan tried to hide the smile at Deacon’s comment. He wasn’t too sure he managed when Miller narrowed his eyes further. “Does this mean you’re going to run convoys?”
“It does. Tuesday.” Which wasn’t a lie.
“Where are you going?”
“To whatever camp will take them.” Ronan nodded toward the huts and tents. Again, not a lie but not all the information either. “The more we draw down, the less you’ll need to stress, Miller. We’ll stop the bastard cutting the fence by moving all the people.”
Miller rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s true.”
“Can I ask you a question?” Ronan offered the man a piece of candy. Miller shook his head, so Ronan opened it and asked, “Why is this camp closing?”
“Huh?” Miller blinked up at him.
“Well, see, my sister is on a multi-national boardthat works with NGOs, and from everything she knows, this country needs more camps, not less. She’s talking to the UN to try to determine who gave the orders to shutter the camp.”