Chapter 10 #3
“We can.” Scout took a step back, extending her hand.
“Or, we keep working the case. We’ve got files from Ramsey’s facility we can go over, see if we can find Hackett in there, though, Ramsey wasn’t stupid.
He followed Finch’s protocol and kept a lot of his men’s official names out of the files.
But we might find something. And, if you’re okay with Gideon and Zadie providing the right kind of access, we could look at some police files.
See if there are any incidents that might tie into Hackett and how he’s grabbing people. ”
“You want them to hack into my own detachment?”
“Well, when you put it like that…” She smiled, and his damn heart stopped. Nothing but empty weight in his chest because she was real. Real, and alive, and so damn intoxicating, he didn’t know whether to shout or take her in his arms.
Scout narrowed her eyes before snorting and closing the distance again as she leaned into him. “That, too, but I know how you think. Work, first or you won’t be able to relax, period.”
He chuckled. She definitely knew him better than he did himself most days, and all the time apart, the distance, the failed attempts, hadn’t changed that.
Hadn’t lessened what they’d felt for each other.
In fact, it had strengthened it. Proof that this was finally their time.
And he wasn’t going to let anything or anyone come between them again.
He touched her cheek, ignoring the chorus of sighs around him. “I’ve still got your back, so… I’ll follow your lead.” He glanced over at Gideon and Zadie. “Twenty-four hours.”
Gideon opened his mouth, probably to remind Quinn they’d said up to forty-eight, only to close it and nod. “We’ll come knocking. I assume since it’ll likely be during the night, we’ll find both of you in Scout’s room?”
“Damn straight. Not making the same mistake again.” Quinn took a step toward the door, then stopped. “Knock, first.”
Quinn followed after Scout, taking a seat at a terminal they’d set up in the war room. What Quinn assumed was designed to give Zadie and Gideon more privacy — probably stop guys like Quinn from bombarding them with a thousand questions.
He glanced at the clock, rubbing his eyes to ensure he’d read the time right.
Ten AM. Not quite twenty-four hours since he’d stumbled into that firefight, and already, he couldn’t imagine another moment without Scout in his life.
He just hoped their luck changed. Between the fatigue and the hits, neither of them were up for another battle.
The thought weighed heavily on his mind as they rooted through police records and incident reports for the next twelve hours, using coffee and rage to stay awake.
The clock was already edging toward midnight when Quinn leaned back, back cracking, his muscles starting to cramp.
He glanced over at Scout, noting the dark circles beneath her eyes, and how her head bobbed a few times before she jerked herself awake, focusing on the screen again.
Leaning over, he slid his palm across her thigh, loving the way she instantly snapped her gaze to him, those blue eyes full of promise and determination — what looked like love. He nodded toward the computer. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
She straightened, a hint of fire smoldering amidst the blue. “I’m not the only one.”
“I think I passed that twelve hours ago.” He stood, offered her his hand like she’d done this morning. “C’mon. We’re not doing anyone any favors by sitting here, staring at the same intel for an hour straight because all the words are blurring together.”
“This is important. I can muscle through.”
He left his hand where it was. “I know you can.”
She placed her hand in his, rising with only a suggestion of discomfort.
“You’ve been doing it all day,” he continued, and pressed his finger over her lips.
“I’m not saying I haven’t appreciated it, but we both know, any true intel is going to come from your teammates.
This…” He waved toward the monitor. “This was a great distraction, and it definitely stopped me from feeling helpless and subsequently going nuclear.” He squeezed her hand.
“It’s actually scary how well you know me. ”
She stepped into him, a hint of that rose soap still clinging to her skin. “You know how you said you’ve been choosing me since the fifth grade?” At his nod, she continued. “Well, I’ve been crazy about you since the first. So, I’ve had lots of practice.”
His stomach dropped, the sheer honestly in her voice more than humbling him. “I should have gone looking for answers. I never should have believed those reports. I?—”
She cut him off with a gentle finger across his mouth, much like he had.
“Coulter thought we were dead, too. And he had inside intel about Ramsey. He was looking for payback, not a lifeline. And if anyone’s in the wrong, it’s me.
You’re right. I should have given you the choice.
Should have trusted in what we’ve shared our entire lives, protocol and orders be damned.
But we’re here, now. And I promise, if you’re still willing to choose me, I won’t ever let you go again, no matter how many rules I have to break. ”
He leaned into her touch, before dipping down, getting close. “Already told you that’s never going to change, so… You’d best show me where your room is before I make one of those poor decisions Neve talked about.”