Chapter 16
Jackson
Even though I wanted Pete to stay here with me, it wasn’t possible with him returning to work.
His words, not mine. What was even stranger was the fact that Ida got along so well with Linda.
Pete had told me Ida needed a mom figure in her life now that she and her mom were arguing.
Something I could understand, but the fact that Ida had moved in with Linda was a little weird.
“I have Mike’s old room, Jackson. And your apartment is for you and Mike, and Pete now too.
Ida needs a space she can feel at home. Don’t be disappointed in her for choosing this for herself.
” That was what Linda had said when I voiced my confusion.
Why wouldn’t Ida choose her big brother over a stranger?
But I could see it now. The gleam in Ida’s eyes was back, her skin healthy looking again, not the pale, tired girl she’d been when she came to us a month ago.
Whatever Linda was feeding her had helped. I couldn’t ignore that.
“You sure about this?” Ida asked, looking up at me with admiration and fondness, but also a bit of worry etched into her eyes.
I sighed, then smiled. “I am. You deserve it.” I’d taken the papers I needed her to sign over to Linda’s house and after telling Ida she needed to read everything, I’d begun making coffee for me and Linda.
Pete was working on a secret case that had Linda worrying, which, in turn, had me scared shitless.
If she was worried, then it couldn’t be good.
“Okay,” Ida smiled, signing her name where needed and handing me back the papers. “Thank you.” She stood from her chair and hugged me. “I really appreciate it.”
“Of course. That money is rightfully yours. And after selling the companies, I have more than I could ever need. Or use.”
“I still appreciate it.”
Linda joined us in the kitchen. “I smell coffee.”
I laughed. “Just brewed some, figured you needed it.”
“I do; I really do. Thank you, Jackson.”
“Long night?” I asked, sipping my coffee as Linda poured herself a cup.
“Yes, and sadly not over yet. I need to get back on it later today.” I found, to my surprise, that Linda worked with Pete.
Something Pete had let slip one night. I knew they weren’t able to tell me anything, but it calmed me a little knowing Linda knew exactly what Pete was up to, even if her worry was troubling.
“Can I come?” Ida asked, and I all but spit my coffee out.
“Of course,” Linda replied, shocking me even further.
“No way!” I argued. “She’s sixteen!”
Linda just shrugged. “Pete was sixteen when he started out.”
“But… But, what would the FBI need my sixteen-year-old sister for?” It made no sense!
“Some people are gifted, and they need more people like us, and that includes Ida.”
I was saved by Pete coming in through the front door. “Hey!” he called out in greeting.
“Hey!” We called back, letting him know where we were.
Pete was smiling brightly as he came into the room. “That smile can only mean one thing,” Linda said, smiling too.
“Case is done!” Pete cheered. “Finally!”
I felt relieved all the way to my freaking toes.
Pete had worked so much these past four weeks that I’d hardly seen him.
And with Mike home again it made privacy that much harder to get.
Did I have blue balls? Definitely. Did Pete know?
100%. I selfishly hoped he was as desperate as I was to get him naked.
It had been a month since I sucked him off and nothing else had happened between us.
Ida staying over and being too afraid to sleep alone had meant zero sexy times.
Then she asked to stay at Linda’s just when Pete got buried in this particular case.
Oh, and to make matters worse, just as Ida went to live at Linda’s, guess who waited for us at the apartment?
Mike. Cockblocking Fucker. So, Pete returned home and slept there while working his case, stating it was easier anyway because he might need to work nights too.
I was a needy bastard and was just on the point of breaking down.
What Bren had said about Pete being my anchor was 100% true.
I’d slept horribly without Pete there, and Mike had been no help whatsoever.
He was still getting over Vera and blasted those sappy love songs on repeat from his room, reminding me over and over again how badly I missed Pete.
“You should celebrate,” Linda bumped into my side playfully. “Go out on a date or something. God knows you both need it.”
From cockblocking best friend to… What was the opposite of cockblocking? Well, whatever it was, Linda was right. However weird that sounded.
“I love that idea,” Pete beamed. “I missed your handsome face.” I had no idea how to respond to that, so I just pecked him quickly on the lips, knowing full PDA wasn’t something either of us wanted in front of his mom and my sister.
“Me too,” I said, smiling down at Pete. “Lunch date? I just need to finish this,” I said, gesturing to my coffee.
“Sounds perfect. I’ll just shower and change.” Then Pete was rushing up the stairs. I turned to face Linda, who wore a smug smile as she sipped her coffee.
“You’re trying to butter me up so you can steal Ida and take her to work, aren’t you?” I narrowed my eyes at her.
Her smile widened. “Who, me? Never. But now that you mention it. Ida, please shower and change into some jeans. The house we’re going to is old and dusty. Uh, and wear sturdy shoes.” Ida hurried up the stairs, leaving just me and Linda in the kitchen.
“You promise she’ll be safe?” I knew Linda wouldn’t take her if it was dangerous, but the big brother in me couldn’t help asking.
She placed a comforting hand on my arm. “I would never take her on dangerous tasks. This is good training for her, but not dangerous. It will just be me and her at the house, no one else.” I nodded, that was good enough for me.
“And she likes working with you? I mean, does it seem like something she wants to do as her job in the future?”
“Oh, definitely. She’s good at it too. Sometimes the young ones see stuff us old ones miss, you know? They question everything, and that makes them valuable to us.”
Nodding, I emptied out the rest of my coffee in the sink. I hated to admit it to myself, but I liked that Ida had found something she cared about doing, even if I would never be able to hear details about her work. She could talk to Pete and Linda about it, which helped ease my worry.
Linda had helped me pick out a school for Ida and she would start in a week, so I knew Ida working with Linda would be a part time thing soon, which eased my worries as her big brother.
When I’d tried to ask Linda any further questions about the FBI and the fact they normally didn’t hire anyone as young as Pete—who had only just graduated high school—she’d waved me off and said it was confidential information, as well as the reason how Linda got her into one of the best schools so fast.
I was about to protest, my protective side kicking in, but then Linda had assured me it wasn’t dangerous work when Ida was with her, that Ida simply was more in a training state with more schoolwork than actual work.
Then Linda had asked me to trust her, and that helped, because Linda was family and I did trust her.
Ida appeared in the kitchen dressed in jeans, a hoodie, and laced up boots.
“Ready,” she announced, smiling excitedly, and that smile said everything I needed to know.
Ida was thriving here. And since her mother hadn’t bothered to contact her, it seemed she would be able to stay without us having to worry about her mother making it a problem.
Linda had assured me she would help if Ida’s mother became an issue, and that helped my worries.
“Perfect, go wait in the car I just need to pee and then we’re off,” Linda said, handing over her car keys to Ida before waving goodbye to me.
Which left me alone in the kitchen while Pete got ready for our date. I might as well google which restaurant to take Pete to.