Page 157 of Allegiance

And he was calm.

What?

The?

Hell?

They all just stared at him as if he’d lost his damn mind because he wasn’t the least bit angry.

That wasn’t how Dakota rolled.

Stella shook her head.

“Who are you?”

He shrugged.

“You three douchebags told me not to think and do the opposite of what I’d normally do. Old Dakota would be mad. Worried but back with Eve, Dakota, is not mad. I did it my way and it made a mess. Now, I’m doing it your way and trying to go with it.”

Still…

This was weird.

“I don’t know which Dakota I like less. Douchy Dakota, or eerily compliant Dakota,” Zayn said. “This one reminds me of a zombie. Maybe we should give him some beads for that.”

Dakota punched him in the body armor.

HARD.

“Shut up, dumbass.”

Zayn laughed.

“Is that a possibility to get one made to protect Eve and my child?” Dakota inquired again, being serious.

“Uh, sure,” he said. “I can do that. When are you punching me in the face?” he asked.

“I’m not. I’ll punch Zayn instead. He should know not to rat people out LIKE A SNITCH!”

Zayn shook his head.

“A guy can’t win.”

Before Dakota could say anything, they had company. The three Marines were back.

“What did we miss?” Maura asked when they came into the room. They heard the laughter when they were leaving the secret door under the stairs.

From where he stood, Dakota threw them all under the bus. It was time they learned not to meddle. Oh, he wasn’t angry, but in their world, they rode ass hard.

It was payback time.

“The guys had Boone slip me a fertility bracelet, that he swears was an accident, so I’d knock Eve up and we’d be in this position for my OWN GOOD. They just confessed.”

Maura actually gasped.

“You Voodoo’d him?” she asked. “Against his will? That’s got to be a foul ball,” she said.

Eve moved closer and stared at him.