Fields of Clover - THE SPECTER SERIES [book two]

Chapter TWENTY FIVE

Patrick O'connor

. . . o n e  w e e k  l a t e r . . .

Two fucking weeks in Langley and so far Paxton has given us nothing to work with.. He won't share the CIA investigation files with Specter until I share what I know about Yevie and the Senator..
Which I have refused. So, here we are in a stalemate..

"How do you want me to handle this, brother?" West runs a hand back through his dark hair, his eyes tired. I can tell he's getting tense from being away from Honey and the baby for so long..
He had purposefully taken himself out of all active missions to spend time with his new family and here, I had dragged him away to help sort out a mess I was never approved to get into to begin with.. Yet, he doesn't take it out on me.. He's a better man than that..

"I don't fuckin' know, man.." I groan, knowing we are about to walk into Paxton's office to negotiate for the fifth time already and the prick has been less than compromising..

Then again, I suppose, so have I.

This is exactly why I stay out of the management and inter-organisational bullshit.. Bureaucracy and red tape, this world has a whole lot of rules that I'm not sure I was made to follow. I know damn sure West isn't, cus he rarely does.

"Look, I get it, you don't want to give up your girl's secrets.. But we need Paxton's Intel to keep her safe, O'connor.. You're gunna have to make a decision here.."

For too long I've been doing what I want when it comes to Yevie and asking forgiveness after the fact.. Maybe this time I should try asking permission.. "You go ahead.. I'm gunna' make a phone call.. Then I'll deal with Paxton.."

He nods stiffly and marches off ahead of me as I pull out my phone.. I step out into a corner of the sleek, corporate looking reception area and dial her number, she picks up on the fourth ring.. "Paddy.. Kins.. So.. Good.. To.. Hear.. From.. You.." She pants between words as if she just ran a marathon..

"Princess? What the hell is goin' on, are you hurt?" Panic at the thought grips my chest, I know I'm too far away to help her if something is wrong..

"No.. No.." She pauses, huffing.. "I'm just kicking Jackson's ass.." She laughs and I hear Jackson yell out in the background..

"No she isn't!"

She shushes him and giggles.. "We're at the gym.. What's up, babe?"

I glance around to make sure nobody is nearby.. "I jus' needa talk to you, Yeeves.. Paxton won't release anything without knowing your story.."

There is a few seconds of silence before she speaks again.. "So tell him, Patrick.. I trust your judgement if you think it's the right call, then it is.. I believe that.."

I hum.. Her faith in me is both comforting and terrifying.. "Thanks princess.. I better get back to the meetin'.."

Before I can hang up, she says my name in that soft, sugary sweet voice of hers.. "Patrick?.."

I close my eyes a moment , picturing her beautiful face, her honey coloured eyes and caramel skin.. "Yeah?"

"I miss you.. I really hope you can come home soon.."

Archer pokes his head around the corner and taps his watch.. "Me too, princess.. I Gotta go.." I end the call and stride over to him..

"Decided?" He arches an eyebrow and I grin at him..

"Nope. But let's head back in anyway.." I cross the floor and push through Paxton's office door..

Hunter Paxton looks up from his desk, throwing down his pen.. "Ah, O'connor.. You're back again.. Are you actually here to negotiate today or should I get my dick out so we can measure now?"

Fuck this guy..
I know he's just trying to piss me off.. Probably in hopes West will send me home and handle negotiations one on one.

"Shut the fuck up, Axe. Just because you sit up here now in your shiny corner office, that don't make you bulletproof.." West barks.. He's not wrong, there are exactly six vantage points a sniper could take advantage of with a direct sight line to Hunters desk by the window..
I know because I counted them already during our trips in and out of CIA headquarters..

Paxton laughs, clearly enjoying the game we're all playing here.. "None of us are bulletproof, West.." He turns back to me.. "So.. What's it going to be Patrick, we measurin' dicks or makin' a deal?"

I fold my arms across my chest.. "First of all, you're going to agree to hand over everything you have on Senator Ryan and his son.."

He grins and stretches out his hand to shake on it.. "No problem, consider it yours.."

I look down at his hand but don't take it.. He let's it fall to the desk dramatically while heaving a sigh of frustration.. "As well as anything you have on Congressman Anderson Daley, now and in the future.."

His eyes go to Westbin curiosity, who just stands there stony faced.. "You're not negotiating with me, mate.."

Hunter frowns at Archer, clearly irritated by the side he has chosen in this fight.. He turns back to me and hums.. "Anderson Daley?" Humor gone and replaced by intrigue, leaning forward in his seat his grey eyes fix on mine in a steely stare.. "Now, why would the CIA be looking into him?"

I grin at having regained some of our control, now knowing I have Intel the CIA is desperate for.. "Do we have a deal, or not?"

He extends his hand again.. "We definitely do, my good man.."

I feign to take it before pulling back.. "Oh and one more thing.. Alpha Team will be running point on this op, and your CIA lads will take the support role.. Agreed?"

He continues to hold his hand out, the shark like grin on his face tells me I've missed something here, but I've done all I can.. "Agreed.."

We clasp eachothers wrists and Paxton smacks my shoulder with his other hand.. "Semper Fi, brother.." I get the hint he's dropping, he's telling me he will be loyal for the duration of our cooperation..

I want to believe him, because its not that I dislike Hunter Paxton.. I just still don't trust him.. "Oorah.."