Reid - Maddie Wade Page 0,24

known she was craving; Callie felt her eyes flutter closed with the exhaustion of the last few weeks.

Reid lay still listening to the soft snores of the woman in his arms, her pliant, warm body snug against his. He could feel the delicate brush of her breath against his neck as she slept on him. He’d only planned to stay until she fell asleep, but now, an hour later, he couldn’t seem to drag himself away from her.

The kiss had been a mistake, but not one he regretted. It had felt more right than anything ever had. As if she’d been made for him, crafted solely with him in mind. He was starting to believe that Callie as a whole was perfect for him. From her lush body that made him mad with desire, to her sweet nature, to the sharp, intelligent business mind that lay beneath the beautiful veneer she showed the world, she was everything he’d ever wanted.

The fact someone had killed to get to her made his blood boil. His hands clenched involuntarily. The realisation it could have been her lying dead in her apartment if Clay hadn’t called him in was terrifying.

Guilt hit him as he thought of Clay as he lay with Callie having less than appropriate feelings, but was he guilty enough to walk away from everything she represented? That, he wasn’t sure about. The more significant deterrent was whether he could be what he knew she needed. Callie wasn’t a one and done kind of woman; she was an all-in relationship girl. And while he knew he wouldn’t be able to fuck this woman and walk away, he wasn’t sure if he could give her the happily ever after and white picket fence she deserved, either.

It was part of the reason he’d stopped at kissing her; he wanted her to understand what it was he was offering. He’d be a complete asshole if he took advantage when she was upset and exhausted.

The vibration of his phone pulled him from his thoughts, and he slid it from his pocket with his free hand and read the text from Liam.

Liam: Have a sitrep on the dead woman and the dog.

Fuck, it was time to stop acting like a lovesick sap and do his job, and that job was to keep her safe. Slowly, he extracted his body from beneath hers and slipped a pillow in his place, smiling as she immediately snuggled closer to it.

This woman made him feel things he’d never felt before, the tight band in his chest as he watched her sleep was unexpected and unfamiliar. With one last glance across the room, he left, closing the door on her sleeping form.

Liam was in the kitchen making tea, turning when Reid walked in. “Hey, how is she?”

Liam flirted and joked with everyone, but deep down he was a trustworthy operator and a damn good man. The shit that went down with Gunner had shaken them all, but he didn’t doubt Liam.

“She’s sleeping,” he answered simply, and Liam nodded.

“Coffee?”

Reid didn’t drink tea so nodded at the offer. “What info do you have on the dead woman and Bono?”

Liam handed him a cup, and they took a seat at the small round kitchen table. Liam sipped the strong, dark tea. “The woman was her housekeeper, Tina Pugh. From what we can tell, she was beaten and then her throat was slit on Callie’s bed. No sign of sexual assault, but we need to wait for the autopsy results. Detective Brant has said he’ll keep us in the loop because of his friendship with Mitch.”

Reid nodded. “Fuck, Callie will be devastated. She really liked the woman and will blame herself.”

“Whoever this stalker is, my guess is they knew she was due home today.”

Reid agreed with Liam’s statement. “I agree, which means it’s someone close to her. We need to tighten her circle and have her cancel all but the most important engagements until we can catch them.” Reid sipped his coffee. “Bono?”

“He was found wandering outside, a passer-by handed him into a local vet. Mitch is bringing him over now.”

“Thank fuck. She loves that dog.”

“So, what are you thinking moving forward?”

Liam and Mitch knew London better than he did but still deferred to him on this Op. It was as if by some unspoken understanding they’d decided he’d take the lead because of his relationship to her, or more over, her brother.

“I know you and Mitch know London well, but I’d prefer to get her