Our priority is Bella. The rest of what we’re doing for you is also for her. I am not excited about illegally tapping anyone from the CIA.”
Crew Vega and I had a run in a few years ago. He worked his ass off to get out of the game and retire but wouldn’t do it until he could bring Grady with him. Grady wasn’t ready. I didn’t know Grady Cain coming back would be a bad thing and gave him a job.
It didn’t go well.
Vega has held it against me ever since.
“I’m glad she’s your first priority because she’s mine too. She and Abbott. I appreciate you getting to her and Red tonight. I need to figure out what to do with them until I get home.”
“They’re welcome to stay here. We’ve got the room and Vivi will like having someone around who does more than eat and sleep.”
“We’ve got room too,” Grady adds. “But Asa has no room. We’ll do everything we can to wrangle your dad and make sure they’re safe.”
“Put Red to work,” I say. “He doesn’t sit on his hands well.”
“My wife owns a vineyard and a farmhouse old enough for George Washington to have stopped over for the night. I have plenty of shit that needs to get done,” Crew adds and this time it doesn’t look like he wants to smash my head into a vat of grapes. Progress.
“I’m going to check on Abbott.”
“Through the trees. Follow me.” Crew turns into the dark.
I start to follow but pause next to Jarvis. We both stare at what was once an orgasmic automobile. I slap his shoulder. “I am sorry. It was a great car.”
Jarvis’s eyes shoot to me. He frowns but doesn’t say a word.
It’s too soon. He needs time.
I leave him to mourn and walk off into the dark forest in my tux.
At least everyone likes Bella. I plan to ride her coattails with this group as long as it takes. I have no other choice.
Bella
The bed dips as it always does when he comes to me. Except this time, it creaks too.
He pulls a blanket over both of us that smells of fresh lavender and is as heavy as the silence that has settled over the room. In what has become a habit, he presses his front to my back. I don’t argue because I’m tired and settling my mind after tonight seems impossible.
I waited for him to come to me. After receiving another lecture from Gracie about scar tissue and doing too much too soon after such major surgery, I choked down a couple pills and washed the makeup away.
Cole pulls my weight into him and I hate that I like it. Hate that he’s wearing me down. He doesn’t say a word, which is oddly stirring the tension in my gut and my gut has been through quite enough.
I feel every tense muscle in his body so I break the silence. “Is Abbott okay?”
His fingers wrap around my hip. “Yeah. Woke her and explained I have to go out of town for a few days. But dealing with Red was another story. He didn’t believe the shit that happened tonight was on me and not you. I set him straight.”
Red is an interesting gent, one like I’ve never dealt with before. That’s saying a great deal since I work in a world of penises. His attitude toward me, for the most part, has improved—enough that we’ve coexisted under the same roof while Cole is at work and I’m giving French lessons to his beloved granddaughter. He clearly puts up with me for the sake of his son.
I sigh. “You should listen to your father, Cole.”
He buries his face in my hair and inhales. “I plan on winning our bet. You belong right here next to me. We’ll find a way for you to do what you do best. You’re too good to give up your career—you proved it tonight. Not that I need you shooting up the streets of DC, but you can work in other ways. I promise.”
I lean into him farther. “That’s a tall order, Officer Carson.”
“I can make it happen.” His lips hit my ear. “Tonight gives me even more reason to fix everything. Abbott needs me and I need you. I’m done being shot at and that goes for you too. After the last few weeks, I don’t want you anywhere near a bullet for the rest of your life.”