Page 51 of Allegiance

Dakota actually laughed.

Oh, he bet.

There was no love lost between him, Ethan, Callen, or Chris.

None.

At.

All.

“Well, take a number. There are about eleven people in front of you, and ironically, we’re supposed to be family.”

Oh, he was aware of that too.

To get this over with, Ethan handed him the envelope.

“Here,” he said.

Dakota opened it. Inside, there was a whole new identity. In fact, there was a whole new life already created by the US Marshals for him.

“We heard you want out. You can’t leave with that name. So my wife has one ready for you when you finish with Chevy…”

He closed the envelope.

“Thank you. Tell Lyzbeth I appreciate it.”

Ethan rolled his eyes.

This man was so damn thick. He was oblivious to everything. His wife wasn’t really giving him a new identity out of love. She wanted to keep an eye on him in case he ran so they could send out The Hunters to bring him back.

Unfortunately for Dakota, he’d committed a plethora of homicides for the government. You couldn’t let people who did that just run willy-nilly back into society.

The people they rehabbed could leave, but the original Hunters…

Not happening.

Dakota, Rogue, and Zayn owed their souls to the US government and his wife. Retirement was years off.

Because he knew what his wife wanted, he played the psychology game and set the man up.

“I have to ask, Dakota. Is there anything that would make you stay? You’re part of The Hunters, and damn good at what you do.”

He thought about one thing.

EVE.

Then, he shook his head.

“Nope. Nothing. I’m out tonight.”

Ethan knew that was a lie.

You didn’t become a profiler and not know how to read the room. Blackhawk was literally weeks away from getting his doctorate.

All that stood between him and the letters after his name was a dissertation in front of his peers, and that was already scheduled for an upcoming month.

“Okay. Well, then, I’ll just enjoy the scenery before I head back to the house. Guys, make a note. We need to get beignets for the wife for the trip back to DC. She has late meetings.”