“Who’s the target?” Cruz asked.
“I don’t know.”
This time, he caught disbelieving glares from all three of his brothers.
“What do you know?” Rohan asked.
“Not much. They won’t divulge the full details until they get our commitment.”
“Wait,” Phin said, “You haven’t agreed to do the job yet?”
“Not until I have everyone’s buy-in.” He let that sink in a moment. “One thing I know for sure is that this recovery won’t succeed without the entire team.”
“Why is the FBI so keen on recovering this item that they would engage an outside company?” Rohan asked.
He hesitated. Not because he worried his brothers wouldn’t protect the intelligence, but sharing the details that would get their agreement would betray Liv’s trust.
“If you want our buy-in,” Cruz said, “you’re gonna need to share what you have. No matter how little.”
His responsibility was to this team, to his family. Not the FBI. Or agent Westcott.
“The FBI is involved in a high-profile drug case. Their confidential informant has logistical details for a large shipment coming into North Carolina. In exchange for the information, the CI wants the undercover agent to retrieve an antique that was allegedly stolen from him—or her. That’s where we come in.”
“I don’t like it,” Phin said. “Their informant could be putting the screws to a competitor, for all we know. We steal the item and get caught in the middle of a gang war.”
“He’s got a valid point,” Cruz said.
“If the FBI can’t stop the shipment, the drugs will pour into our small towns. And we’re not talking pot. It’s nasty shit.”
“Does Ash know about this?” Rohan asked.
He nodded. “In addition to offering twenty percent over our normal fee, they brought him in as incentive.”
“Incentive how?”
“I was left with the impression that if we turned the job down, Ash would suffer professional consequences.”
“Sonofabitch,”Phin snarled.
“What’s Ash’s take on this?” Rohan asked.
“Ash is Ash. He won’t pressure us one way or another, but the FBI is his life. If they dick with his career, he’ll—”
“What?” Phin said. “Resent us? Blame us?”
He shrugged. “We’re in an impossible situation.”
“The way I see it,” Rohan said, “there’s only one way forward.”
“Which is?” Phin asked.
“We steal the item, take the FBI’s generous payment for our services, and watch our backs.”
“Everything about that is wrong. You know that, right?”
“I disagree. We get paid, Ash keeps his job, and the drugs stay off the streets. Triple win.”
Phin looked at Cruz. “Would you talk some common sense into our brother’s too logical techno-geek mind?”