Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ANITA
I took the one minute of comfort before I stepped back and became the bad bitch that I was.
I looked at Nyx. "Burn the body. Then I want to know what the hell is in that storage unit."
"I already texted Sloane. She's getting Hawk on it. We'll get access to it. Don't worry."
Good. I waited a long time to get this information. I wasn't about to wait any longer.
"We roll out as soon as we have it."
Nyx nodded. "I'm good with that, but you need to take a few minutes to talk to Krista."
I paused. Shit, I almost forgot about the girl. Out of sight, out of mind. "Do you know what she wants?"
"Nope. She just asked to speak to you. I was headed your way when we crossed paths. Then I got distracted."
Distracted harassing me was more accurate. I let it go for the moment. Apparently I had a thirteen-year-old to talk to before I could leave.
"Where is she?"
"Lilith's place. She's been staying with her."
I should've known that. I was the reason Krista was here, and yet I dumped her off on my teammate.
"Okay." I glanced over at Beckett. "I'm going to go talk to Krista. You can wait at my place if you want."
"I'd rather come with you."
Of course he would. Whatever this was between us was going to take some time to get used to.
"Fine, but if Krista doesn't want you there, you need to leave."
"Understood."
I hauled ass out of the room with Beckett hot on my heels. If he wanted to follow me around like a puppy, then so be it.
I didn't even make it all the way to Lilith's door before she was throwing it wide open. "Nyx said you were on your way, and you had someone with you."
"Lilith, Beckett. Beckett, Lilith." I pointed with my palm to them respectfully. "Yes, he's a special agent. No, he's not going to say anything. And yes, apparently we're figuring shit out between us. Any questions?"
Even if she had some, I wasn't sure I would answer them. I was done explaining myself even though technically I just did. Fuck I hated complicated.
"Nope. Krista's waiting for you."
Lilith was officially my favorite teammate. That was the case before this, but she just solidified it with her answer.
"Great." I marched straight to the small living area.
Unlike my rooms, Lilith actually decorated.
I wouldn't go as far as saying her place was overly feminine, but it didn't look like a poor college bachelor lived there either.
"Hey, Krista." I dropped down onto the couch cushion next to her while Beckett hovered by Lilith.
"I was told you wanted to talk to me. I'm sorry I disappeared. Things got a bit hectic."
"That's okay. Lilith told me. Who's the guy?" Krista didn't take her eyes off Beckett as she scooched closer to me.
"His name is Beckett Walsh. He's a federal agent. Is it okay he's here? If not, I can ask him to wait outside."
"Is he going to take me back to Mary?"
I shook my head. "Nope. He's not here about you. Remember the other guy you saw?" I waited until Krista turned her head toward me and nodded. "He's here because he had some questions for him."
Krista leaned into my side and whispered, "Are you going to get in trouble?"
I tipped my lips into a smile. "No, he's not saying anything." I didn't know what it meant that she was worried about me, but I liked it. This young girl made me feel things I never thought possible.
I waited to see if she was going to clue me in to what was on her mind, but after a long minute of biting her lip, I figured she needed some encouragement. "Do you want to talk about what's on your mind?"
"I want to stay with you guys. I know you said this would be a trial, but I want it to be permanent."
Damn, I didn't know what to make of that. "Are you sure? As you can see, our life here isn't conventional. Wouldn't you rather live somewhere that allows you to go to a physical school and make friends?"
I didn't even know where the closest school district was.
And would she be safe there considering our profession?
These were things I never thought of before because I had no need to.
When I mentioned a trial basis, I was talking out my ass.
I figured after she saw in person what we did, she would run for the hills.
Clearly I was wrong.
"I don't care about those things. Friends are what got me kidnapped. I just want to be alone, and I can do that here."
"What do you mean friends got you kidnapped?"
There were too many things happening that I didn't have the time to learn everything I could about Krista.
Krista looked away like she was embarrassed.
"I told you I got in trouble a lot. I started hanging out with friends who also got into trouble, but they didn't care about me. They took me to some high schooler’s party and then left me when the cops showed up.
I tried hitching a ride back to the foster home, but the lady that picked me up gave me to the bad man. "
Those sons of bitches snatched her right off the road. And a woman of all people. No wonder Krista didn't trust anyone. She had yet to find a reason to.
"Krista, are you sure staying here is what you want? I know the last several months have been hard for you, so I don't want you making any rash decisions."
She looked me dead in the eye. "I'm sure. I think my mom would like all of you."
"Okay." I slapped my palms on my legs. "I'll figure out what we need to do to make that happen."
Krista threw her arms around my neck. "Thank you," she whispered.
I awkwardly patted her back. "You're welcome." It was a few seconds before Krista pulled away. "I need to go somewhere with Beckett, but I'll be back shortly. Are you okay staying with Lilith?"
"Yes." She nodded eagerly. "It feels like home."
I wasn't sure what that meant about her former living arrangements but questioning her on it would have to wait.
I walked over to where Lilith stood by the door. "Thank you. I didn't mean to drop her in your lap."
"I don't mind. She's self-sufficient and doesn't get in my way. It's kinda nice having her here."
"Good. We're heading out to see what we can find in the storage unit Alexander told us about. Hopefully it has some of the answers we seek."
"For your sake, I hope so." Lilith slid by me and headed over to Krista. "Don't worry about us. We know how to keep busy."
I had no idea what busy even looked like for a teenager anymore. Let alone one who was stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do. But if that was what Krista wanted, then who was I to deny her.
I found Sloane waiting for us outside the common area. "Hawk got us access to the storage unit. I'm going with you. Nyx will stay here with Lilith and Krista."
"Works for me, but I want to roll out now."
Sloane stepped aside and held her hand out. "Waiting on you."
Beckett had yet to say a word since he demanded to come with me to visit Krista. I wondered what he thought of the dynamic. I would have to wait to ask him until we were alone again. And I had a feeling that wasn't going to be for a little while.
My gut told me the storage unit wasn't going to have the answers I wanted, but maybe, for once, it would be wrong.
It was more likely that, once again, I would be disappointed.