“You’d think,” Declan agreed. He would never shed a tear over someone like his father, Frank, or Flanigan. They’d lived above the law and rubbed it in their victims’ faces their whole lives. And they would have continued to do so until someone like Lavender caught up with them.
Declan was more concerned with why Atlas would want to let someone from that world into his life. It was already complicating his professional life, why would Atlas want Mickey, Frank, and Eddie Flanigan bleeding into his private life?
“I promise, Atlas is really into you.” Blake held his hand up so Declan could slap it, but he wasn’t feeling at all like celebrating.
“I think he might be too,” Declan said and smiled bravely, but he understood how that made everything harder on Atlas. He might have left the shame back east, but Declan couldn’t outrun the consequences. Especially for Atlas. “It’s still risky taking a chance on Mickey Winterstone’s son and Atlas has to be tired of my family by now,” he told Blake, then promptly changed the subject. He’d much rather dwell on it and make himself sick once he was alone.
ChapterFive
Atlas hadn’t made much progress by Saturday afternoon. He was still confused about what he wanted from his relationship with Lavender. Did he want to be Lavender’s handler and keep him in line for the FBI? Or, did Atlas want to be his pupil or his friend? His instincts warned that just having Lavender in his head creating so much chaos and uncertainty was risky and a sign that they were headed down the wrong track. But the problem with that was, Atlas didn’t want to get off that track or right the ship.
There was never going to be a better opportunity within the bureau for Atlas to learn more. And there was no limit to the things he could accomplish if Atlas could gain Lake Cliff’s trust. He saw what Lane and Paul had accomplished off the books and outside of the law’s purview with Lavender and Reginald’s help.
He saw the potential to do great things and help more people, so Atlas’s conscience was assuaged in regard to his relationship with Lavender. But it was Lavender’s comment about Atlas’s integrity. Hecould haveasked Lavender to kill Flanigan for Declan, leveraging their newfound partnership and friendship. Lavender thought that Atlas hadn’t because of his integrity and had lauded him for it. But had been prepared to beg Lavender to intercede before he learned that the matter was already as good as settled, but he hadwanted to. And Lavender had confirmed that he would have been happy to do Atlas that solid as a friend.
And all it had taken for Atlas to sell out was… Declan.
He hadn’t sold out for money or for power, but for a pretty face, a shy smile, and a tight ass. Not that Declan wasn’t worth it. He was the kindest, purest, and gentlest person Atlas had ever met and he deserved to be protected from ruthless killers like Eddie Flanigan. But Altas had wanted Declan protected for selfish reasons.
Atlas had rushed ahead and bypassed Declan’s agency, practically staking his claim. Declan didn’t know about Flanigan or how far Atlas had been willing to go, but Lavender and Reginald knew. And there was a good chance that most of their friends knew as well. It was only a matter of time before Declan found out and Atlas could only imagine what kind of havoc that could wreak on his poor nerves.
It was impossible to miss all the scheming and matchmaking around him and Declan, but Atlas didn’t mind and was rather flattered. They were a very protective and close-knit group so it spoke volumes if they thought Atlas was worthy of joining their little family. He just worried about the pressure the situation was putting on Declan.
There was no indication that Declan had decided if he wanted to stay in the Chicago area. And Atlas worried that all the pushing might scare him off. Or—more likely—that an awkward fling would make it too uncomfortable for Declan to stay.
He was tempted to call his mother, but she would be pure hype and would chide Atlas for doubting himself. She’d tell him to go get his man and that fate would handle the rest because she had already decided that they were meant to be. Atlas suspected that his mother loved the idea of Declan, but was most enamored with the idea of her son falling for someone local and staying in Illinois.
So, Atlas called his father. Byron Beesley had always been the voice of reason in Atlas’s head, but it was simply the sound of his father’s voice he craved. Just hearing the deep, gentle rumble settled Atlas’s nerves in ways that a shot of whiskey or a locker room pep talk could never match.
The phone rang a few times before Atlas’s father answered the video call.
“Hey, Slider! Your mother and I were thinking of getting some burgers and beer tonight. Want to join us?” Byron asked. Like Atlas, he was in the kitchen.
“Maybe…” Atlas stalled. “I have to get up early to go running in Lake Cliff,” he reminded him.
“That’s right! You probably want to eat something light and get to bed early.”
“That would be ideal, but I’ve had some trouble sleeping lately.”
“Anything I can do to help?” Byron asked, earning a heavy sigh from Atlas.
“Possibly. You got a minute?” He asked, propping the phone against the coffee maker and resting his elbows on the counter so he could scrub his face with his hands.
“This looks serious.” Atlas’s father hummed in that “this might get uncomfortable” kind of way. Atlas noticed that they had both hunkered in front of the camera and laughed because they’d probably be mirror images if he could grow his beard out. He got away with breaking regulations because he was so prone to razor bumps and ingrown hairs, but he’d never get away with a full beard like his father.
“It’s this thing with Lake Cliff and Declan.”
“Is he still in trouble?”
“No.” Atlas shook his head, grimacing as the ache in his gut grew at the thought of what Lavender had done. “All of that has passed and I’m having a hard time with what part I might have played in it.”
Thankfully, Atlas’s parents were used to getting half the story and coping with vague details due to the sensitive nature of Atlas’s work. Especially when it came to Lake Cliff. He suspected that they equated the quiet little town with Roswell or Oak Ridge.
“Well… Did someone get hurt?” Byron asked. Atlas gave him a hard, pointed look. “I see… Was it an innocent person, someone you should have been protecting?”
“I’m supposed to protect everyone, Dad.”
“Now, you and I both know that’s not possible and that some people aren’t worth worrying about or going to jail for.”