Free A Love For Always by Victoria Paige

was a look into the man’s eyes. Obviously both of them knew the game well, because Nate himself was wearing shades.
    The meet was set up on a piece of land abutting a deserted warehouse. Trees in full spring bloom, patches of grass, and loose dirt completed the isolated landscape. Returning his attention to Lassiter, Nate wondered if he should have brought backup. However, he trusted Cade, but then again, an agency like the DEA had seen its fair share of corruption.  
    “Nathan Reece,” Lassiter said his name with a trace of a sneer.
    “Lassiter,” Nate acknowledged. Then nodding at Cade, he said, “Bowen.”
    “I’ll cut to the chase, Reece,” Lassiter said. “Why exactly is a security specialist sticking his nose in DEA business and fucking up a sting operation that took us two years to build.”
    “I’m sure Cade filled you in.”
    “I’d like to hear it from you. I reckon, an ex-spook like you, this couldn’t be all about pussy.”
    Anger spiked through his system, but Nate maintained an impassive face.
    “Not sure what you’re talking about, Lassiter.” He didn’t elaborate.
    This time, Lassiter took off his glasses and stepped closer to Nate, invading his personal space. Nate’s lips tilted up in a lopsided grin.  
    “Think you’re so smart,” the other man sneered. “On record, you’ve spent four years with U.S. SpecOps. Left the army at twenty-seven to do what? Be a security consultant for various companies that don’t really exist. But I’m sure your background’s airtight, isn’t it?”
    Nate gave a brief huff of derisive amusement. He took off his own sunglasses and stared Lassiter in the eye. No question, this had devolved into a pissing contest.
    “Get to the point, Lassiter.”
    “Where are the pills?”
    “Don’t have them.”
    Lassiter stepped back and barked with mirthless laughter. Wagging his finger at Nate, he said, “Oh, you’re good. Looked right the fuck at me and baldly lied to a federal officer. You know I can arrest you for obstruction?”  
    This time Nate was the one who stepped into Lassiter’s personal space. “Try.”
    “Guys, let’s hide the ruler, okay?” Bowen said wearily, speaking up for the first time.  
    “Off the record, we know you were CIA and you think you can use your connections to get away with bloody murder,” Lassiter said, glancing briefly at Cade. Of course Cade knew Nate was CIA, but he’d never admit it openly to Drake Lassiter. He just met the guy. “Well, not on my watch, Reece. Daichi Yoshida is going down, and if I need to use his daughter to get his attention, I will.”
    “What is your agenda, Lassiter?” Nate asked. “How exactly will getting his attention take down the ACS? It’s a damned hydra. Multiple heads. You cut off one, another sprouts in its place.” His eyes narrowed, gauging the other man carefully. “I’d hazard a guess, it has nothing to do with shutting down the Asian Crime Syndicate, but more of using Sylvie as leverage. Blackmail. What exactly does Yoshida have that you want?”
    It had something to do with the Glutathione Derivative Enzyme serum. Nate would bet his left nut on it.  
    Lassiter’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, but his face didn’t twitch a muscle. Long seconds passed between them as they continued to size each other up. It almost felt like they were in some Western duel. The only thing missing was a blistering sun beating down on them.
    “I wanted this meet to appeal to your sense of duty to country,” Lassiter finally said, backing away with a look of disgusted regret on his face. “I see that man is gone. Your woman is mired in her father’s dirty business. She’s as guilty as every member of that organization.” Cade’s boss turned and walked toward his the SUV. Cade followed suit, casting a resigned look at Nate.
    “You can’t protect her forever,” Lassiter threw over his shoulder.
    Nate contemplated his next words, clenching his fists, which itched to wrap