Page 3 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)

Sharp didn ’ t like it, but he could see the valid point. Yet, he had some questions. “ It appears our identity has been exposed. Sounds like the bureau is wanting to cover up a serious fuck up on their part.”

Sin groaned. At six-five, and built like a tank, he didn ’ t have to do much to get anyone ’ s attention. “ Exactly. I think we have a traitor in the ranks.”

“ The same people who are telling us to not seek revenge,” Bear said sarcastically.

He received several agreements from the others.

Hawkeye cleared his throat. “ That makes me want to hunt the mole down even more. While those pussy whipped motherfuckers sit behind a desk in their designer suits we ’ re out here in the field being shot at. The way I see it, we ’ re all targets still.”

“ Whose side are you on, Delta?” Arrow said, pinning the captain with his shrewd gaze.

“ Are you questioning my loyalty to Texas Heat?” Suddenly a pin dropping could have been heard.

“ If the shoe fits,” Arrow scoffed.

“ Let ’ s remember we ’ re not enemies. We have enough of those already,” Sharp said, hoping to ease the tension. “ We ’ re all angry but one thing we need to remember is that we ’ re on the same side.” He ’ d learned years ago that a team was only a team when they all watched each other ’ s backs.

Delta looked uncomfortable, which was unusual. There wasn ’ t a doubt that coming there today to break the news wouldn ’ t be his finest memory. “ I hear your concerns. There could be a mole in the ranks, or one of you left a smoking gun,” he said with an ounce of trepidation.

That brought a few choice words out of mouths.

“ Did I say I believe it?” Delta snapped. His patience was thinning. “ I ’ m only telling you that we ’ re doing our part to sift through the details.”

“ By dismantling TH?” Sharp said.

Delta rubbed the back of his neck. “ If the bureau even suspects that any of you are not following orders they ’ ll dismantle the team permanently.

Don ’ t risk it. I know you ’ re pissed off.

Fuck, so am I. I know you want to rip apart the bastards who gunned down our own and I understand, but I also see that this could get ugly and you know how the suits feel about things getting messy in the court of public opinion.

They don ’ t want hell to rain down on their heads. ”

“ Are we just going to dance around the idea that there ’ s a mole in the ranks? We know there isn ’ t one on the team.” Sharp had a blasting headache, and the pain pills were wearing off. He hated how that made him feel but the alternative meant laying in the hospital bed not moving.

"We can go around and around on this," Delta responded sharply, then paused, exhaling as if apologizing for his agitation. "I am conducting an investigation. Trust my judgment in this matter. Do not jeopardize the future of the team or put anyone at further risk. I understand your perspective, Sharp, as well as all your concerns, however, I’m going to ask you all to be patient.” He looked down the line. "Every one of you joined the team with full awareness of the risks involved. Don ’ t assume that I lack empathy for you. I ’ m still one of you no matter what.

" The pressure in his expression returned briefly before he added, “ Now follow my orders and don ’ t make me do something that we ’ ll all regret.

Stand down. Take a vacation. Hell, visit family.

Just get the hell out of this area for a while.

” He stood. “ Sharp, I want to speak to you outside, the rest of you are dismissed.” Delta strolled out of the room, finalizing any further conversation.

Sharp slowly pushed himself up from the chair and made his way into the afternoon sunshine and to Delta ’ s truck.

“ That went well,” he muttered.

“ You didn ’ t expect any differently, right?” Sharp felt comfortable in saying what he needed to. They were friends.

No. Had I been on the other side I would be spitting nails.” Delta kicked up a rock with the toe of his boot. “ I wanted to speak to you alone because you carry a lot of weight with the team. They ’ ll listen to you.”

Sharp leaned against the front of the truck. “ What are you asking?”

“ Keep them sedentary.” Delta looked Sharp directly in the eye.

“ Pfft . You know how they are.”

“ I do and that ’ s why I ’ m coming to you. There ’ s a lot more to this situation and I don ’ t need any fuck ups.”

“ What are you sitting on and not telling me?”

Delta cast a glance over his shoulder. “ Trust me, when I have something to tell you ’ ll be the man I come to. For now, keep the men occupied and out of trouble.”

“ How high in the ranks is the poison?”

“ High.” Delta heaved a sigh. “ No one is clean or innocent. There are moments I ’ d give anything to be back in Texas Heat.” He shook his head in frustration. “ I need another favor.”

“ Asking me to keep the unit calm isn ’ t a big enough one?”

“ Speak to Echo and Zane. I think they need to hear the news from you. I don ’ t know them as well as you do.”

Sharp shoved his hands in his front pockets and agreed. “ Will do.”

“ Watch your back, buddy. I don ’ t think any of us are safe right now.” They shook each other ’ s hands and Sharp went back into the building.

“ Well, tell us what we ’ ve been dying to hear, Bear droned.

Sharp pinned each of the other men with a firm frown.

“ Let ’ s follow orders, for now.” As expected, he got a few irritated sighs in response.

“ I can promise you, if I don ’ t see things rolling fast enough, I ’ ll be the first one that starts a crusade.

I want every one of you to lay low per orders.

Consider it a much-needed vacation. Do what Delta suggested and visit family, you know those people that we love and love us. ”

“ He talked you into this?” Hawkeye said.

“ He didn ’ t talk me into anything. I agreed. If there ’ s anyone at the bureau that we can trust, we know it ’ s Delta. Let ’ s give him a chance to tie up some loose ends on his side. In the meantime, we ’ ll stay in touch.”

Reluctantly, they each agreed. They filed out of the room, already chatting about grabbing a beer at the local bar and unwinding.

“ You coming, Sharp?” Bear asked.

“ I don ’ t think I ’ ll make it this time. I have some things I need to take care of.”

Grimes lingered.

“ What ’ s on your mind?” Sharp asked.

“ Are you serious? You think we should follow orders?”

Sharp shrugged. “ The suits are watching us like hawks. We know how they are. When things are good, they want the recognition, but when things go sour, they wash their hands of the problem.”

“ I hear ya and I see your point. You know these men look up to you. They respect Delta, but they ’ ll follow your orders.”

Sharp felt like he was jammed between a rock and a hard place. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn ’ t. Right now, though, he wanted to protect his team. “ Stay low but keep your head on a swivel. Give it a week or two and we ’ ll touch base.”

“ What ’ s your gut telling you?” Grimes asked.

Sharp thought over his words. “ I have a few theories, but instinct is telling me to stay back and watch for a minute. Sometimes taking a breath gives you the best perspective.”

“ Then that ’ s what we ’ ll do.”