Page 56 of Shared By the Mountain Men Triplets

“They want me to continue the survey.”

The words are barely out of my mouth before Rhett says, “No,” like it’s final and absolute.

A hot spark goes through me, even though I appreciate his concern.

“You don’t get to answer for me.”

“I do when the question involves you walking into an active trafficking corridor.”

“I’ve been walking into it since I got here.”

Rhett’s eyes stay fixed on me. “That was before we confirmed Turner had military-gradesecurity moving product through it.”

“They move at night,” I say. “I won’t be going out at night.”

“You won’t be going out at all,” Rhett says, only making me want to dig my heels in further.

After a deep breath, I say, “Novak was clear. I’m not doing law enforcement work, and I’m not conducting surveillance. I’m continuing my ecological survey because a wildlife biologist in the field is normal. Turner already knows I’m here.”

“That doesn’t make you safe,” Boone says.

“No, it makes me useful.”

All three of them hate that.

Rhett folds his arms across his chest. “You are not bait.”

“No one said I was. I’m not setting a trap. My survey is now federally-sanctioned cover, and my continued field presence is useful to their investigation. I was already here doing my work, and now the DEA is using it.”

“That’s a nice distinction,” Cade says, “but it won’t matter if Turner decides you’re a problem.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

Boone eases in before Cade can say anything else. “There may be a workable middle ground.”

Rhett doesn’t look at him. “There isn’t.”

“There is,” Boone says in a calm voice. “Wren conducts the survey, but never without security near enough to intervene.”

“I’m not dragging armed escort through every transect,” I say.

Rhett shakes his head. “Then you don’t go.”

With effort, I soften my voice, because yelling at Rhett when he looks like this would be like kicking a locked door with my bare foot.

“My job is to keep doing my job, and by doing my job, I can build the evidence package they need for warrants.”

“Warrants.” Rhett repeats the word like he wants to spit it out.

“Yes.”

“And while they build their package, Turner keeps moving product.”

“And you keep walking into the middle of it,” Cade says.

“During daylight hours only and on authorized routes. Doing work Turner already knows I’m doing.”

Rhett’s nostrils flare, and I step closer. “You were soldiers. I’m sure you all followed orders you didn’t like because there was a larger objective.”