Free The Agent's Surrender by Kimberly Van Meter

a hidden location and I need to know if Miko was stashing money in other countries. The only way to find that out is to go through backdoor channels. I’m assuming your guy can do that, right?”
    “James can do things that are so highly illegal I don’t even know how he’s still walking the streets.”
    Holden laughed. “Excellent. That’s just the kind of guy I need.”
    “In all seriousness, do you really think you have some solid evidence that could save Miko’s reputation?”
    Holden heard the hope in Nathan’s voice and he understood that yearning because he felt it, too. “I sure as hell hope so. It’s weak, but it’s all I have to go on. I just have this feeling that if I chase it down, I’ll be able to find what I’m looking for.”
    “Is there anything I can do to help?”
    “Not just yet. I don’t want to drag you into this. You’ve been through enough.”
    “It’s all in the past. Nothing but good things to look forward to now. You know, you might give Jake and his girl a call. They are up in Washington, too, doing that top-secret defense intelligence stuff. They might be able to open some doors for you that otherwise might stay closed. That is, if things with James don’t work out.”
    “I appreciate it, man. How’s Jake feeling?”
    “He’s not one hundred percent, but he’s doing damn good considering what he went through. He still has gaps in his memory. He’s getting better, though. He might even recover fully. Unfortunately, only time will tell.”
    “That drug was scary shit. I wish they would’ve just dropped all the research into the ocean. Or down a deep, dark hole. That kind of stuff shouldn’t be in anyone’s hands. Not even our government’s.”
    “Amen, brother.”
    Holden thanked Nathan and ended the call. A few moments later, his phone chirped with the contact information he needed. He logged the name into his phone and then called Cotton, aka Ghost.
    * * *
    “Yeah?” James answered. “Who’s this?”
    “Hey, James, not sure if you remember me, but my name’s Holden Archangelo—”
    “Yeah, I remember you. Your brother, Miko, used to run with Nathan Isaacs.”
    “You have a good memory.”
    “Comes with being a genius. I’m assuming this isn’t a call to go get drinks or something. What do you need hacked?”
    He appreciated the man’s straightforward attack. Holden wasn’t interested in chitchat either, so he got right to the point. “I need you to trace some money. My brother may have stashed cash in three different countries and I need to know why and how much.”
    “You’re government grade, so why don’t you do it yourself?” he asked, then added, “Unless you can’t because you’re doing this on the down low.”
    “Bingo. Think you can handle this?”
    “Oh, I have no doubt I can handle it. The real question is, should I? The last time I had a play date with you cats, I nearly got my balls shot off and frankly, I’m fairly attached to that part of my anatomy.”
    “Fair enough. I can’t guarantee your safety, and there’s a chance my brother was hiding from seriously bad people. However, something tells me you can’t help but hunger for a challenge.”
    “Nice pitch. So what I’m hearing is danger, high level of threat and virtually zero benefit for me aside from the street cred in my personal circles. I don’t know, maybe I’m getting old, but that’s not enough.”
    “You drive a hard bargain.”
    “Or maybe I just wised up.”
    “What’s it going to take, then?”
    “Well, my car got blown up the last go around and I’m still taking the bus.”
    “You want me to buy you a car?” Holden asked, incredulous at the guy’s nerve.
    “Seems only fair.”
    “The Isaacs brothers ought to be the ones buying you a car. That was their op that got your ride blown to bits.”
    “Yeah, well, Jaci is my best friend and that just seems wrong to demand that from her and her husband, and Jake, well, he’s not quite right in the