Edge Of Darkness (Arrow's Edge MC #2) - Freya Barker Page 0,93

you guys know where I was?”

I prop myself up on an elbow.

“You had a tracker on you.”

She looks at me quizzically and then understanding floods her face.

“The heel of my boot. I forgot.”

I lean over her to press a kiss on her lips.

“Good thing you did. That and Jasper Greene’s presence of mind saved you.”

“And your father,” she says on a little smile.

“And Pop,” I agree. “Can you sleep now?”

“Mmm.”

I lie back down with my head on the pillow beside her, her hair tickling my nose, but I’ll be damned if I’m moving.

“James?”

“Haven’t moved, Lissie.”

“Thank you for finding me.”

“Would’ve moved heaven and earth. Love you that much.”

She turns her face my way so we’re practically nose-to-nose.

“I know. Thank you for that too.”

“You make it easy, baby.”

Two minutes later she’s asleep.

I’m still wide-awake when the sun comes up.

Lissie

“I hear you did good, Bucco.”

I look across the table at Joe Benedetti.

He showed up with Blackfoot, and Luna arrived shortly after. She suggested Ouray’s office, smiling when Yuma refused to leave my side. He’s been beside me the past hour while I was giving my statement.

“Not sure about that, sir…I mean, Joe. The lights not working should’ve alerted me.”

“Think you’re being a little too hard on yourself, Lissie.”

I shrug and Yuma squeezes my leg under the table. Eager to change the subject, I ask, “Where are we at now? What’s next?”

“Nowak showed up at the FBI office with his lawyer in tow. Ramirez and Gomez are talking to him now,” Luna decides to share. “Luis Bonifacio, aka Bones, is out of surgery and we’ve got a guy on him. As soon as he can answer questions, we’re heading over there.”

“Bones is gonna go down for sure, Lissie,” Blackfoot takes over. “I bet they’ll be able to match up his prints with those from the truck abandoned a few miles away from the Telluride shooting. We’ve got ballistics running checks to match the shells from that scene with the ones from the gun retrieved from Bones last night.”

“He killed Dani.”

“I know. I’m sorry for your loss,” Keith says warmly. “He’ll pay for her, for Tammy, and for Officer Porter.”

Joe gets up from his seat, announcing, “I think we’ve got all we need. You should get some rest. We’ll keep you up-to-date.”

I watch as the three of them walk out of the office before turning to Yuma.

“What now?”

The question is much more involved than the two words imply. I feel lost, tired to the bone, and more than just a little vulnerable. What am I supposed to be doing for the next couple of months? Where am I supposed to go? I woke up this morning in a strange bed, stripped bare to the skin, and other than my soiled clothing from the night before, not even clean underwear or a toothbrush to my name.

Yuma was able to find me a shirt and some old track pants to wear, but had to help me get dressed. He even ended up brushing my teeth, because I wasn’t able to. Being so completely dependent on another person is far outside my comfort zone. It makes me realize how segregated I’ve kept myself most of my adult life.

My job has always been my purpose. I’m not sure how to look at myself without it to identify with. It’s like the ground under my feet is shifting and I don’t know where to step next.

“Now, I’m tucking you back in bed,” Yuma says, looking at me intently. “Then I’m going to make you something to eat and feed you. After that you sleep.” He takes my face in his hands and brushes his thumbs under my eyes. “Don’t like these dark circles, baby, so your job is to rest. My job is to look after you.”

“James…”

I’m undone by his gentleness. I thought hearing him say he loves me was momentous, but having him show me is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced.

A soft knock on the door precedes Lisa’s head poking into the office.

“Sweet Lord,” she mumbles when her eyes scan my face.

I haven’t looked in the mirror yet—on purpose—but I imagine I’m not looking my best after last night. Judging by the tenderness and the skin pulling tight, there’s some swelling going on.

“Lissie!”

Before Lisa can stop her, Kiara squeezes through the door opening her nana is trying to block. The poor girl stops halfway into the office and looks at me with big eyes that quickly fill with tears.

“It’s okay, honey,” I quickly assure her, as her bottom lip