“It’s getting late,” I note the time. Addy put Vivi down over an hour ago. “It’s about time for bed.”
She shakes her head. “I want to wait ‘til Daddy gets home.”
Cole went next door to what is now referred to as the control room. He needed to speak to Penn and didn’t want to do it here. “I’ll text him and see how much longer he’ll be.”
I get an immediate response.
Cole – On my way back. Got word of a miracle—Marie Kasey woke up.
My reaction is not cool or collected because Abbott asks, “What? Is he not coming back?”
I brush her hair away from her face. “No, darling, he’s on his way. Run up and brush your teeth, okay? He’ll be up to tuck you in.”
I’m about to text Cole something with a million exclamation marks behind it, but I’m stopped by little arms circling my neck.
A hug.
My first hug from Abbott Carson.
If I thought I was stunned by the news of Marie Kasey waking from a close call with the dark side, this show of affection gives me emotional whiplash I may never recover from.
“I’m sorry I wanted you to leave when you got here,” she whispers into my neck.
I wrap her up tight. “Darling. It’s okay.”
“I like you and I like your funny voice.”
She lets go of my neck and I find it difficult to blink quickly enough to keep my eyes dry. “I like you, as well, Abbott.”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“I might have to leave for work from time to time, but I will always return. Virginia is growing on me.” I tap her nose with the tip of my finger. “As are you.”
She hops down and scurries off to the three-story grand staircase that is the central hub of this home. She has a lighter pep to her step than she’s had in days.
I’m about to text Cole about Marie, the hug of the century that almost drove me to tears, and that I’ll be spending the next few hours in the control room to catch up on the transcripts from the wiretaps. I don’t get to do any of this because the front door opens and he comes striding through.
I jump up from my chair and meet him in the foyer. I don’t stop, raise up on my toes to press my lips to his, and speak first. “Abbott hugged me.”
He slides a hand down to my ass—typical—and smiles. “She did?”
I nod. “And it was genuine and sweet and she said she doesn’t want me to leave.”
He squeezes. “That’s good since you’re not going anywhere.”
I roll my eyes. “I explained how I might have to leave for work now and again, but I planned to stay.”
His smile grows bigger. “I told you.”
“Yes, yes, you’re omniscient and know all about everything. Now tell me about Marie. I’m not going to be selfish and ask when we can get someone in there to interrogate her. So first, tell me how she is—her health, you know, all that stuff.”
He frowns. “Sweetness, I assume she’s as grumpy and pissed as you were when you woke up in the hospital. Asa’s contact did not report on anything besides the fact she’s awake, alert, and communicating.”
I tip my head. “Communicating? With whom?”
He leans down to kiss me before letting my bum go and strides through the house to the kitchen. “You’re the only person who could turn me on by using the word whom in casual conversation. Our babies are going to be fucking-bloody-brilliant, as you Brits say.”
I have to pick up the pace to follow him. “First of all, don’t mock me by using bloody or brilliant like that. And second, tell me whom Marie is speaking with. And do we know what she’s saying?”
He gets to the kitchen and grabs a banana out of the overflowing fruit bowl before disappearing into the pantry. When he returns, he’s holding a monster jar of Nutella. “She’s talking to DC police. She’s a GSW victim, shot in a crowded area where there are not usually many bullets flying. Asa said they were anxious to know what she remembers.”
My insides turn and I feel as if I might be sick. “If she gives up Randolph, this entire operation will come to a grinding halt, Cole.”
He nods and talks around the hunk of banana and chocolate spread he stuffed in his mouth. “So far, she hasn’t. And Randolph must have his own contacts and know what we know.