26. Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter twenty-six
N ick clicked the video call through to Aria and waited for her to pick up. The second he saw her face, he smiled.
“Did you talk to her?”
He smirked. “Hi to you, too, love.”
Her shoulders slumped but her smile didn’t dim. “Hi. How are you?”
“Good. Feeling better. Leg still hurts like hell, but I’m getting by using the crutch.”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“I won’t. And yes, I talked to Stacy. She’s doing well. Playing a lot of board games with the agents protecting her and watching TV. She’s obsessed with a show called SciGirls . It’s a show based on STEM. Each episode there’s a question that the tween characters have to solve, I think. She seemed really excited about it.”
“She’s missed a lot of school. Wherever she goes next, she’ll have a lot to make up. I’m glad she’s found something interesting to take her mind off everything that happened to her and is still going on.” Aria pressed her lips tight. “What did the agents say about her?”
“She’s quiet. Does what she’s told. But she has nightmares and doesn’t sleep well. They say she asks about us and when she can see us.” Nick wished he could go see her, but he didn’t want to compromise the case or jeopardize Stacy’s location.
Aria put her hand to her chest. “I miss her. I can’t wait to be able to talk to her again.”
Nick nodded. “Hopefully, that will be soon. Toby, Nicole, and Emma are doing as well as can be expected at home.”
“I’m so glad, even though they still have a way to go.” Aria held her phone and walked into her kitchen. “Mason told me you’re officially on leave.” Hope filled her gaze.
“I am.”
“Does that mean you’re moving here?”
“Soon. We still need to figure out a few things between us. Plus, this case isn’t over. In fact, there’s something I didn’t tell you.”
“What?” She sucked in a breath. “You’re not changing your mind, are you?”
He tightened his grip on the phone. “No. Not about you, or moving to Wyoming. This is about the case.”
She sighed out her relief. “Okay. Well, what is it?” Anxiety rolled off her words and shone in her eyes.
“Javier Lopez threatened me.”
Aria huffed. “I’m sure that happens a lot with the people you go after.”
He shook his head. “This wasn’t an idle threat. I killed his sister. He threatened revenge and that he’d take the person I love most, too.”
“Oh.” Her face paled.
“I couldn’t handle it if something happened to you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me because you’re going to catch him.”
He appreciated her confidence in him. “I need you to be safe. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You make me smile. You’re the one I want to spend every morning kissing and every night wrapped up with. I love you, Ari. You’re my everything. And if he ever hurt you…please tell me that you’ll take the threat seriously. Javier Lopez is dangerous. Who knows what he’ll do if he gets his hands on you.” Nick couldn’t let his mind go there. He’d end up locking Aria in a room and never letting her out until Javier was behind bars or dead.
“Well, he’ll find it hard to do anything to me when I’m usually in a bar full of people. Plus, you know I know how to take care of myself.”
He did know that.
And her sass and confidence helped ease his mind.
Plus the extra security Mason and Jax had set up at the bar and at Aria’s apartment when Lyric had lived there and had a stalker would help keep her safe.
He wanted her cautious, not scared. “Just be careful. Keep an eye out. Don’t go anywhere alone. Call or text me throughout the day, so I know you’re okay.”
“Will you do the same?” It sounded like he better.
“I have been for weeks.” He immediately regretted how he’d said it. “I’m doing everything I can to make you a part of my life.”
“I know. We’re so close to having what we want. I appreciate the effort you’re putting in and that you’re coming here to be with me. It means everything to me that you’d make that sacrifice.”
He wanted to touch her, to reassure her. “It’s not a sacrifice if I want to do it. I’ll still have my job.” Though he planned to work a lot less.
“Not the one you earned. I know the one you’re taking here will be less risk and probably more responsibility without so much traveling.”
Thank God. “Which is what I want so that I can have a life outside of work. So I can spend more time with you.” He’d have some balance and happiness in his life.
“I just don’t want you to regret these choices.” She was so sweet.
“I don’t. And I won’t. Not ever. Not when I have you.”
Aria paused for a moment. “Do you mean that?”
He didn’t hesitate at all. “Yes. You’re mine. And I can’t wait for us to be under the same roof. When this case is over and it’s safe, will you move in with me?”
She sat up straighter and grinned, so big her cheeks pinked. “Yes. I can’t wait either.”
He smiled back at her. “Good. Something to look forward to.”
Aria leaned into the camera and studied him. “Are you okay? You know, after having to protect yourself and shooting that woman?”
He hadn’t had a lot of time to dwell on it. “It’s never easy, no matter the circumstances.”
Julia had given him no choice but to defend himself.
“You’re a good man, Nick. Never forget that.” Her words and how much she meant them hit him right in the heart.
“As long as I have you to share all of this with and to brighten my day, I’m good. I’ll also be talking to the FBI counselor about the shooting. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I do. I always will. I love you, Nick. Hurry home to me.”
She was his home.
He would make sure nothing happened to her because of him.