twisted his heart. He pulled her closer and, resting his cheek on the top of her head and closing his eyes, gave thanks that she hadn't given up.
“Finally, during the first weeks of summer two years after the shooting, Drew came home from his second year in college and got through to me. I don't remember how he even convinced me to take a walk, I just remember sitting on the boat dock with our feet hanging in the water and staying that way for a long time. Drew put his arm around me and said ‘Talk to me, kid,’ and I did. I cried, I talked, I told him everything I remembered. It had been locked inside me for so long that I think, once I started talking, I didn't want to stop. I must have told him the story a dozen times, crying harder and harder each time.” She wrapped her arms around Ty and rested her head against his chest.
“By the time I was talked and cried out, it was almost dark. We stayed though, and watched the moon rise. Drew knew then that he wanted to go into the CIA, so he offered me a deal. Once he could, he would do anything he could to help find the man who killed my parents. In return, I had to get strong, physically and mentally.
“The deal worked and I regained my strength. I started with yoga, then moved on to Tai Chi, and then I worked my way through all the other forms of martial arts. When I was eighteen and could go to the shooting range without permission, Drew started taking me. And then I went on my own. By then, Drew was working for the CIA and he started to bring me pictures of anyone who might fit the description I'd given him. By the time I was twenty-three, I'd finished my bachelor's and master's and entered the CIA myself. Drew was senior enough at that point that he took me onto his team—it was beneficial for both of us. Our families have known each other forever and our family businesses are intertwined enough that it's a great cover for us when we travel together. But regardless, we've kept our deal all these years—he still gives me pictures and information and I work on staying strong.”
Dani smiled at this last statement. “At this point, I don't think it's much of a deal, but we stick to it anyway.”
“And this morning?” Ty prompted, running a hand down her back.
“It was him,” Dani's voice became stronger. “Sitting in a chair behind Sonny at some café in Miami. I was so shocked, after all these years, to see his face that I think I—well, you know how I reacted.”
Ty pulled her closer and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “And how are you now?”
Dani seemed to ponder this for a while before answering. “I'm good,” she said, and Ty could hear the truth in her voice. “I was shocked and it took me back for a while there, but I feel okay now, relatively speaking. We can work on getting an ID on him and go from there. I won't ever be able to forget what happened, but at least I can work on bringing the man to justice.”
He didn't answer, thinking that if it was justice Dani wanted for the man, she was much more forgiving than he.
“Ty?” she said after another long silence.
“Hm?” he answered, still holding her close, her head back on his shoulder.
“I've never told anyone, other than Drew, what I just told you.”
Ty took a moment to digest this and then pulled her closer, resting her whole body against his. She didn't require an answer, so he didn't offer one. She just wanted him to know.
“You realize you blew your DEA cover by telling me that you're with the CIA?” Ty pointed out, after the moon had risen even more.
“We knew you knew,” Dani answered.
Ty laughed. “We knew you knew,” he mimicked, making Dani laugh, too. “Who blabbed?”
“Your brother. Who is a great guy, by the way,” she answered.
“Yeah, so great he ratted me out,” Ty said, but without malice.
“Not exactly, if it makes you feel better. I saw the email address on the information you gave to Drew, I recognized it and called him to check it out. I've worked with Cameron a couple of times over the last few years. I knew his last name was Fuller but