Page 53 of Secrets We Fight

A text from Rhett came through on the prepaid phone:

What’s that all about?

He figured us out

I looked to where Rhett was sitting to watch his face as the text came through. His eyes widened, and he peeked up from the phone.

I sent another text:

He won’t say anything. I knew he was dating our professor and that could have caused a lot of problems. We can trust him

Hope so or shit will hit the fan

Before I could text either man back, both Rhett and Agent Shea stood. I peered out the small window to see a black town car pull to a stop outside of the plane where Agent Vance was waiting by the steps. Tyler was so engrossed in his phone that he didn’t know anything was happening. I didn’t make a move, and when his brothers, Dylan and Jase, stepped aboard, the bachelor party officially started.

“Surprise!” they both shouted.

“What are you two doing here?” Tyler stood and rushed toward his brothers. He hugged Dylan.

“Heard there’s some guy getting married, and we came to party with him,” Dylan stated.

Tyler hugged Jase. “Yeah, but I didn’t know you two were coming.”

“Fallon called, and we couldn’t pass up a trip to Atlantic City,” Jase stated.

I stood and shook both of their hands. “It’s good to see you two again. Hope the flight from LAX was all right.”

“Not as sick as this one,” Dylan observed as he checked out the private jet with beige leather seats, white sofas, and all the leg room anyone would need.

“I know,” Jase agreed. “Too bad we couldn’t take this plane all the way from LA.”

The two guys plopped onto the couch where I had been sitting, and Rhett cleared his throat. Tyler eyed me curiously, and I lifted a shoulder and then sat on the sofa next to him.

“Gentlemen, I’m Agent Davis, and I’ll be the lead agent on this trip. These are Agents Shea and Vance. Let’s go over how this weekend will play out while we get in the air.”

* * *

Two agency vehicleswere waiting for us when we landed in Atlantic City about an hour and a half later. Tyler and his brothers slid into one with Agent Vance, and Rhett, Agent Shea, and I went in the other. I didn’t know the agent driving, but I had to guess he was from the New Jersey field office.

When we arrived at the oceanfront hotel and casino, Agent Shea stayed in the SUV with me while Rhett checked in. Once he was done, he came back and opened the back passenger door, where I was sitting.

“Your room is ready, sir.”

I slid out and followed him to the elevators. Agent Shea had my bag, and even though Agent Vance was part of my detail, he stayed to help Tyler and his brothers get their things and take them up to their rooms.

People watched us curiously as I slipped into a vacant elevator. When a man tried to join us, he noticed the two men in black, and he slowly backed up. No matter how comfortable I’d become with having a detail, it was still weird to be out in public with them.

We rode up to the forty-third floor, and I followed Rhett as he led us to my room.

“Go ahead and get settled into your room.” He handed Agent Shea a keycard and nudged his head down the hall. “Pick your bed or whatever before Vance does, and I’ll get Windstorm square with his room.”

“Are you going to help me unpack?” I teased.

“You know the rules, sir.” Rhett glared.

“Whatever. Just hurry and sweep the room so I can piss.”

Agent Shea set my bag down. “Are you sure you don’t need my help?”