Free Halfway Between by Jana Leigh Page A

guard with the others.  It gave Joel and Drake enough time to speak quietly.
    “ Sorry, man.  I mean, I never thought you would get wrapped up in this shit.  You are superman, how the hell did you pull that case?” Drake said.
    “ I’m not sure actually, Frank dropped the file in my inbox, it sat there for a few weeks, by the time I actually read it, I figured it would be easy.  The two suspects had just been reported dead.  But when I was reading the report, I saw something interesting.  The same DoD rep had signed off on every single shipment that was hijacked.  I was trying to pull his service record.  But seriously, I figured the dude had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I mean, he is a General.  You don’t get to that status unless you are firm in your beliefs,” Joel explained.
    Drake was silent for a moment.  “Do you still have the files?”
    “ Shit, Frank took them when we were shot at, said he was gonna get them to our supervisor.  When I called to check in, my boss told me to lay low until he could talk to Frank.  That was the last I heard.  I noticed a few guys following me and went underground.  Just came out two days ago, and here I am,” Joel said and shrugged.
    Both men sat silently and stared at the wall, until finally both of their gazes moved to Harper.  “I like her,” Drake admitted.  “Don’t know what it is, but something about her makes me feel like I have known her for a long time.”
    “ Fuck, me too.  I figured I had a clear shot at her going to the safe house,” Joel admitted.
    They looked at her some more.  “I don’t think I can sit back and watch her with just you,” Drake admitted.
    “ Yeah, me either.  And now is not the best time to ask her for a date.”  Joel laughed.
    “ I know but damn, if I don’t let her know I am interested, she is going to walk away in a few days,” Drake said.
    Joel looked at his friend and nodded.  “Hey, go for it.”
    Drake looked at him in surprise.  “You sure?”
    “ I got some healing to do.  I seriously don’t have the energy.  Just take it slow.  I get the feeling she has no clue that anyone is interested in her.  Hell, even Thane has been looking at her when he doesn’t think she is looking.  But I don’t feel the vibe from him.  I think he is impressed,” Joel said.
    “ Yeah, I will talk to him.  I don’t want to fuck with our relationship.  But damn, haven’t gotten a hard-on just from looking at a woman,” Drake admitted.
    “ I get it, just don’t flaunt it in front of me, and we are good,” Joel admitted.  There was no way he would ever let his friend know the full extent to the pull he had to Harper.  He had felt her in the room when he was hallucinating, he had felt safe with her for some reason.  Even when he was out of his mind, he recognized her presence.  Strange but true, but he had no intention of hurting his brother.  After all this, he was the only thing he had left in this world, and he would be damned if he lost it.
    Drake stood and squared off his shoulders.  No matter what else happened he was also still a part of this team and woody or not, he needed to get things squared with what was going on.

Chapter Eight
     
     
    They arrived at the new house and all of them should have learned by now when Noah and Dallas were involved, it wouldn ’t be a hole in the wall like they were accustom to when on a mission.  House would be an understatement to the gated and walled mansion they pulled into. 
    Hell, thanks to Jolly and Steve, they had to practically give their next born to get in the gate.  The guards who were situated at the entrance asked for IDs then called to speak to someone in the house, they had to stand in front of a camera one by one and were told to stare directly into the lens.  Whoever they were looking at would then confirm or deny their identity.  Freaking cool if you asked Drake, it didn ’t have to be a hole in the wall dive to be