going on, I need you to take me home immediately.â
Troy saluted her. âYes, maâam.â
Troy had no right to make decisions for her. He should have told her about Montanaâs call. Savannah tried to calm down while waiting for Montana to answer her cell phone. She was unsuccessful reaching her. The call went to voice mail. She dialed Asiaâs number. She watched Troy clean up the kitchen as she nervously tapped her foot. âAsia, whatâs going on?â
Before Asia could respond, Montanaâs voice rang out from the other end. âThe police said the house looked a mess. Weâve been trying to reach you. Neither one of us has slept a wink worried about you.â
âI told you I was fine. Look, donât go over to the house. Give me the number of the officer you spoke with and Iâll take it from here.â
âI want you to know I called Uncle Raymond.â
âMontana, I told you I got this.â
âHeâs out of the country right now. But as soon as he calls me back, Iâm telling him everything.â
âDonât. I need you to trust me. Do not say anything to him or anybody else. Please,â Savannah pleaded.
âThis is too much,â Montana responded.
âLet me talk to Asia,â Savannah stated.
âSis, whatâs going on?â Asia asked. âWeâve been worried sick about you.â
âI need you to convince Montana not to talk to Uncle Raymond. Iâm not saying he had anything to do with Dadâs death, but he works for The Agency. He might be the enemy.â
âI canât promise you sheâll listen to me, but Iâll do my best,â Asia promised.
8
Troy watched Savannah frantically pace side to side as she talked to her sisters. He knew he should have told her before breakfast about the message, but neither he nor she had had much sleep, and he wanted her to be relaxed for at least a few minutes. Selfishly he wanted to enjoy some uninterrupted time with her.
I need to get a grip. Thatâs why I donât like mixing business with pleasure. Truth be told, he knew from the moment he laid eyes on Savannah again, he needed her. Troy wanted her like he needed oxygen.
He told Savannah almost everything.
He purposely left out the fact that Major made him promise to watch out for Savannah and her sisters if anything happened to him. He recalled their last conversation as if Major had a premonition of his death.
They met at a local diner and talked over coffee. Troy could hear Majorâs voice as if he said it yesterday. âThereâs a rat in The Agency who has been getting some of the other operatives killed.â
âAre you sure? I know we have a few hotheadsâmyself includedâbut a rat? Major, thatâs serious.â
Major pulled out a small brown envelope. He checked his surroundings before sliding it to Troy under the table. Troy took it and slipped it into his pant pocket without anyone being the wiser.
âTake a look at it, and then let me know what you think.â
âI will, but I donât think you have anything to worry about,â Troy said in between bites.
âIâm counting on you to take care of my daughters, especially Savannah.â
âDo your girls know about me?â Troy asked.
âNo, Iâve tried to keep as much of my job from them as possible.â
âMaybe you should tell at least one of them, so it wonât be a surprise.â
âSon, you handle your business and Iâll handle mine. Understood?â Major asked.
âYes, sir.â
Troy never brought it up again. He assumed that Major would be around and die a natural death. He didnât expect foul play to be the end of his friend and ex-boss.
âTroy, one more thing. When are you going to make things right with my daughter?â Major asked.
Troy was caught totally off guard. Up until this point he assumed Major didnât know about
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