“You ready for this?” Leo asked as they sat in his car outside of Neil’s headquarters the morning after they’d flown in.
Olivia looked at the nondescript office building with tinted windows and security cameras everywhere. Twice she’d sat across the street watching the space. Or more to the point, the people walking in and out. Once right after they’d all infiltrated Richter and the secret about Amelia’s death had been revealed . . . and another time two years before. The first was to assure herself that everyone had gotten out and was well. The second was because she had started to give up on living. She’d reached out to Neil, and eventually he had a job for her she was willing to take. And since she was basically on her own while playing bodyguard to Marie Nickerson, she’d taken the job.
Only now . . . this.
“I have to be,” Olivia answered.
He reached out, laced her fingers with his.
She squeezed, took a deep breath, and brought her attention back to him. He was dressed in a suit and returning to his office. The plan was for him to keep his day job for the meantime. His job with the FBI would be imperative to their overall plan on how they would deal with Friedrich.
Leo kissed her fingers. “I know I’ll be pulling overtime for the next few days. We can rent you a car if we need—”
“Neil said he had an extra.”
Leo sighed. “I’m going to be a nervous new boyfriend . . . text you, follow you home if you’re still here when I get off work.”
Home.
Was it possible to call any place she stayed home?
The night before, they’d dropped into bed the second they showered the flight away.
The morning had been rushed, and the thought of staying in Leo’s home indefinitely hadn’t quite sunk in.
Until now.
“If I’m crowding you—”
His open jaw and direct stare stopped the words she was going to say. “Okay . . . I get it.”
“Good.” He shifted in his seat. “Listen . . . I know this is new for you. I don’t expect it to go seamlessly. Just talk to me. I’m a reasonable guy.”
She laughed. “You are.”
“Then don’t cut me out.”
“If I was going to do that, I would have done it before now.”
He seemed to like her answer.
Leo leaned forward, pressed her lips to his. “I can walk you in,” he said once he pulled away.
“I think I’m capable,” she said, whispering.
He let go of her hand. “Be safe.”
“Watch your back,” she countered.
“I always do.”
Olivia pushed out of the car and walked to the front door.
One look into the security camera and the door buzzed.
A glance over her shoulder showed Leo waiting until she was inside before he backed out of the parking lot.
She blew out a breath and stepped inside.
“Good morning.” Sasha stood as the one-person welcoming committee.
And for reasons Olivia couldn’t name, unshed tears stung the back of her eyes. She swallowed the emotion and ignored it. “Good morning.”
Sasha let a smile spread over her. “It gets easier.”
Olivia blinked to keep the tears back. “I hope so.”
“I’m glad you’re early. You need to know a few things about the team. First is that Claire is a hugger. No getting around that. Isaac has threatened to tie you up at the first opportunity—”
Olivia laughed, loving the lift in her chest. “He can try.”
“I suggested he would be wasting his time. And Lars might actually cry.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”
Sasha shook her head. “We were worried about you. I know you left to protect us. I know walking through that door today might have been the hardest thing you’ve done to this point.”
“It wasn’t easy.”
“I know. I’ve been there.” Sasha lifted her hands to the building. “The family you choose is often more important than the family you were born to. There’s no judgment here. Everyone has a say. If you have a problem, air it. If you have a need, ask for it. It took a long time for me to admit I had a family. This family. We can be that for you.”
Okay, the tears were back.
Olivia opened her eyes wide, trying to make them go away. “What the hell . . .”
Sasha laughed. “You’ll get used to that, too.” She nodded further into the office. “Let me show you around before the place fills up.”
Olivia fanned her face with her fingertips as they started walking while shrugging off her coat.