Chapter 43
Ace
"Are you trying to sneak out on me?"
The warmth of her hand trails down my back, and I groan in frustration. We've spent a lot of this last week in bed. It started with her needing rest to recover from her injuries, but we can't seem to keep our hands off each other.
"I have a meeting, remember?"
"You're retired," she groans.
"Partially retired," I remind her.
When I sat down with Kincaid after all the shit went down, we had a very long conversation. I'm not willing to lose her. I've spent my entire life alone, and I want the rest of it in her arms. It was agreed that I could still be a handler slash case manager like I was for ICE, but this time it'll be for Cerberus, allowing me to stay full time at the cabin rather than go out in the field. I know there will be times they'll need my help, but I'm not picking up any cases that will carry me very far from her. It's the only way I figured I could have her and still do some help in the world.
If it came down to choosing between the two, I would throw a peace sign to this place and buy a tiny cabin in the woods. I'm glad Kincaid didn't force that decision because I know I can still be helpful to the organization.
"You are so damned tempting," I say, turning around and circling my thumb over one peaked nipple.
I feel as wild with her as I was in my twenties, and she shows no signs of getting tired of me either.
"How long will the meeting last?"
"Making plans for the afternoon, baby?"
She frowns, and it makes me pull my hand back. "It honestly won't take that long."
"We have to head back to Columbia today, remember?"
"Later tonight," I clarify.
"It's over a four-hour drive with traffic."
"It's less than two by helicopter," I say with an easy smile.
"Really? We're taking the helicopter?"
I have to shrug like it's no big deal but honestly, it's insane that we suggested to Kincaid that a helicopter is damn near necessary with how long it takes to get everywhere around here, and the next day we had the address of a flight station only a few miles from the house.
"He said it would be fine." I lean forward and press my lips to hers. "So we have plenty of time this afternoon for you to show me how much I was missed during my meeting."
I stand from the bed, frowning at her when she climbs out right behind me.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm going to get dressed, Eddie. I'm not going to lie in bed naked all day."
"Hasn't stopped you all week."
She chews the inside of her cheek as she grins. "That was different. You were here with me."
"And I'll be back shortly. Get your gorgeous ass back in bed. No clothes."
I grab her before she can climb back into the bed, pulling her body against mine, and we spend a moment just looking at each other. My connection to this woman is so strong, we don't even have to speak for the other to hear how we feel. I swallow, my throat threatening to clog with emotion. I just can't believe my damn fortune, and I consider myself the luckiest man in the world that she's mine.
"I'll be back soon," I tell her with a quick kiss.
The first couple of times I walked out of this room, leaving her alone inside, I wondered if she'd change her mind about me before I got back, but I was always met with a smile upon my return. It makes it no easier this time to walk out and close the door behind me, and I don't know how long I'll have before my world crumbles around me, but as the days pass that thought seems to fade a little. Hopefully, one day it'll be gone completely and I won't feel the need to clench my chest as if I'm suffering a loss of some kind.
The next few days are going to be hard for everyone involved. Sadie's memorial is planned for tomorrow, and although we'll be going back to Columbia, we won't be returning to her family estate. I know the blood has been cleared, but her memories will take longer than a week to fade.
William, although not happy about it, scheduled someone to go inside and have a lot of Cora's things packed and sent to us. I think he only agreed to do that because he wanted to make sure the person entering the home was vetted and was less likely to take pictures and sell them to TMZ. William Preston Jr. has taken the leadership role of the family and has been the one to stand before cameras and answer questions.
Kincaid had voiced his concern about Cora's link to Cerberus, but there hasn't been any chatter about our involvement in any part of the case or her life. I know there was fear that the Gatlinburg chapter would be outed, and that would complicate everything we were trying to do here. Reporters asked, once that I know of, about Cora and William, and they were simply told that she was resting and the family needed time to grieve their losses, including their younger brother and his mental health crisis .
It hasn't been revealed that Christopher Preston is a true psychopath because that doesn't bode well for anyone. The company line is that Sadie died of an overdose, the roommate committed suicide, and Faye was Chris's only victim. Poor Petal has never been found, and when asked about it Chris just stares blankly for a second before the maniacal laughter sets in.
According to his attorneys, they believe they have a good shot at an insanity plea which means the man will probably be wreaking havoc at a mental institution for the rest of his life, and honestly as far as I'm concerned, that's better than he deserves. I also have to take into consideration that he's Cora's brother, and she loves him. I think there are days she wished she didn't because it would make things a hell of a lot easier for her, but her heart is bigger than anyone else I know, and I don't want her experiences to harden it.
"How's life?" Lark asks with a knowing grin as he meets me in the hallway on the way down to the meeting.
"From the looks of that grin, you already know my answer," I mutter.
Maybe living in this cabin with all of these other people isn't the best idea after all.
"Don't look at me like that," he says with a wide grin as he gives me a slap on the back. "Thin walls."
"If you even hint at or mention that to Cora," I snap.
"She'll cut you off?" His grin grows wider. "I'll keep that in mind."
"And I'll schedule you on another case in Atlanta," I threaten, knowing he hated his last trip there.
"That's cold," he says, but I think the bluff will work, not that he's a spiteful guy or anything. I know he's just giving me a hard time. "Hey, Jersey."
The man in question glares at us after he leaves his own bedroom.
"What's that look for?" I ask.
"The new owners turned The Lost Kitten into a brunch place," he mutters. "Do you know how far that makes the next closest bar?"
The Lost Kitten was the bar that Hemlock was assigned to when the organization first formed. It's where he met Zara.
"A few more miles down the mountain," Lark answers.
"Do you know how long a few miles are in fucking Tennessee?" he growls.
"Regretting leaving ICE?" I ask. He along with Jericho both retired from the Agency to join Cerberus.
"Not a chance. Last night I sat in on a dinner and show. What do you know about the Hatfields and McCoys?"
"Nothing," Lark says, clapping the man on the back. "And I want to keep it that way."
I know we have to sound like a herd of elephants taking the stairs down to the conference room, but Zara just smiles at us from one of the massive sofas in the common area.
"I made breakfast," she says. "Lark, don't eat all the bacon."
"Yes, ma'am," he says, but there's a glint in his eyes as he hastens his steps in that direction.
"Will I see Cora today?" she asks me.
I know the two have been getting along pretty well and were even discussing a meal plan. It seems they both love to cook and work together well even though helping others out around here isn't a requirement. We're all men that can take care of ourselves, but they don't seem to mind stepping into that role. When I asked Cora about it, she said she likes to know that she’s able to help.
"We have that trip back to Columbia today," I remind her, watching as her face falls.
"That's going to be tough," she whispers, and I want to hug the woman for the compassion that she shows Cora with what she's going through, but I know better.
Hemlock would probably rip my arms from my body for touching his woman.
"It will be, but she's strong," I assure her. "Thanks for cooking breakfast."
"Always welcome," she says before lifting the magazine in her lap and starting to flip through it again.
I grab a pre-made sausage egg and cheese sandwich from the heating plate on the counter and a cup of coffee before heading to the conference room.
I sit and eat while waiting for everyone else to arrive.
Looking around the table, I notice that every current member of this chapter is here.
Echo and Zeus sit side by side across from me. Nyx is sitting like a statue, watching everyone as if he hasn't decided if we're his enemies or not yet. Of course, Lark and Jersey are here, but from the look of Lark's plate and the bacon piled high, he's probably due for a heart attack before the end of the meeting.
Hemlock stands at the front of the room, our new IT specialist Casper right beside him.
"Where's Jericho," I ask when the doors start to close and I see Zara is the one pulling them shut.
"That's what we need to discuss," Hemlock says.
The man rarely smiles, but he seems angrier than usual as he addresses us.
"Jericho got wind through some channels he formed while undercover with Nathan Adair of Adair's location," Hemlock says. "He was communicating regularly, but now it's been three days, and we haven't heard from him."
I swallow, old guilt and a sense of unease creeping up inside of me.
"We think he's in danger?" I ask because now is not the fucking time to bring up the fact that I knew nothing about whatever it is that Jericho has gotten himself into.
I've been the man's handler for years, and although I did my best not to form any type of personal bond with any of the men and women I managed when you work with someone for a long time, it tends to happen anyway.
"We aren't sure," Hemlock says.
"Why was he the one sent instead of someone who isn't recognizable to Adair's men?" Jersey asks.
I'm glad someone besides me spoke up and asked because Jericho should know better. He spent eight months right beside Adair in his organization. I wouldn't say he knew insider secrets because even standing at his side, Adair didn't reveal much. He was chronically paranoid and used Jericho as muscle but didn't reveal much about his business.
The look Hemlock gives Jersey says it all.
Jericho didn't ask for permission, and all I can do is pray that he has a chance to ask for forgiveness because Adair isn't known to leave any witnesses.