Chapter 23
Adam
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“And this is urgent?” I ask Juliette, pacing the living room.
“I wouldn’t be recalling you if it wasn’t. I’m sorry, A. It isn’t my call.”
“I know.” I sigh. “I just … can’t leave her. She’s been alone for six months, J.”
There’s a long pause. “You can go back as soon as we’re done. But, Adam, we have a big crack in the case that needs all hands on deck.”
“What if I bring her? Our office is probably the safest she’ll be,” I offer, grasping at anything that would let me keep Claire close.
“Adam …” Juliette sighs.
“She’s pregnant, J.”
Silence greets me until Juliette finally talks. “I can talk to Woodcroft about you working there until we figure out a different solution. I’m not sure if she wants to just move into your place,” she says but realizes it’s probably way too soon for that.
“Fuck. Fine. Fine.” I continue to pace. “I’ll head out within thirty.”
When I step back into the bedroom, Claire is sitting on the bed, with a small smile.
“Gotta head back?”
“Unfortunately.” I sigh.
“Hey, I always knew this was temporary. It was … nice seeing you again. Maybe we can do it again sometime.” Her smile doesn’t grow.
“Claire, I’ll be back. I promise.”
“Sure.” The smile on her face transforms into misery.
“Text me when your appointment is, and I’ll be there.” I hand her my phone to get her new number.
She hesitantly puts it in, but it’s a lifeline nonetheless.
There’s nothing else I can say. We both know it’s not as simple as being able to come back, especially if there is a break in the case.
Our timing really sucks, I’ll say that. Maybe this is a sign that whatever I’m feeling, whatever is between us, isn’t meant to be. How many times can we pass like ships in the night before we throw in the towel?
Cynical, party of one.
I won’t let that happen. I know it as much as I know my own name. At the very least, I’ll be in our baby’s life.
But I’ve spent the last year and a half on this case. I can’t exactly derail it because I’d rather see where things go with Claire. I mean, I’d love to do that, but shit is too damn complicated right now to throw everything out the window and play hooky with her.
The only thing I can do is pack my bag and head out, not knowing when or if I’ll be able to return. I hate every single second of it.
Claire sits on the bed, watching me, not saying anything.
I stare at her, trying to find the words to tell her I’m not nearly done with her. That I’ll be back as soon as I can be. That I like her and want to see where things go. That I’ll be there for her and the baby, no matter what.
But all I can do is lean down, cup her cheek, and kiss her with all the emotion I can. It could have lasted eternity, and I damn wish it did, but eventually I pull away and place my forehead against hers.
“I will be back,” I whisper. Then I press a kiss to her exposed stomach.
When I pull back, it takes everything in my body to walk away.
If I can figure out this shit at work, then maybe I can take some of the obstacles out of our way.
After one hell of a drive and being caught up in New York City traffic, I finally make it back to the office.
“How’s our girl?” Lex asks as I walk in.
“Our girl?” I whip around to see him smirking at me.
“Oh, how the mighty fall,” Sin comments as he walks by me with a cup of coffee in his hand.
“What are you assholes even talking about?” Deflection is the key here.
“Oh, don’t be all butthurt that we’re calling you on your little crush,” Stone calls out from his desk.
“You’re one to talk about a crush and being butthurt.”
Sin and Lex crack up.
“Every single one of you are assholes,” Stone says.
“Takes one to know one.” Sin practically cackles.
“Alright, dickheads, what’s this big break?” I ask.
“This one’s a doozy. Oh, and congrats!” Juliette says as she walks into our desk area.
It’s an open-area room so we’re able to talk through shit easily. I’m usually never here, so my desk is a barren wasteland where random paperwork lands.
“Congrats?” Sin asks.
“Claire’s pregnant. I assume it’s Adam’s,” Juliette says casually, but the entire room stops. It’s like they collectively hold their breaths.
“Holy shit,” Stone says wide-eyed.
“Congrats, man.” Lex claps my back as the rest of the team follows his lead.
“Thanks. Can we focus on work? It’s still a lot to process,” I tell them. It’s really not. For me, it’s just a matter of winning Claire over. I’m a goner for them both at this point.
Juliette hands out a file folder to every member of our team as Woodcroft walks out of his office.
“Hunter Page is just the tip of the iceberg. We dug into his financials, and he has a shockingly large number of small businesses.”
“Which isn’t necessarily shocking if he invests in places,” Stone says.
“True, but this is an obscene amount. Like he’s running money through them or they’re just fronts to move artifacts.” Woodcroft looks at each one of us.
“So … a tech genius is selling slash stealing artifacts? And somehow Hunter Page is connected because he buys them?” I think out loud. “Are they connected? Like, direct payments? I never saw either of them hanging around Oscar.”
“We think they both started with Cano to get the lay of the land, so to speak, and then took it direct. Money isn’t an issue if Page is funding, but this means they are big guns. Cano was just getting leftovers.”
“Holy shit,” Juliette murmurs.
“What?” I ask.
“They have their own setup.”
“Well, yeah, that’s what we’re figuring out.” Sin rolls his eyes.
“No, I’m saying they have their own setup to the extent Cano did.
They have people delivering artifacts, stealing them, and buying them.
They learned from him and created their own system.
Cano was just a steppingstone, which means these guys are bigger and badder than Cano because they have more power and money. Like, exponentially more.”
“So, we’re moving on from Oscar?” I ask with a shit-ton of hope.
“Hold your horses there, Loverboy.” Woodcroft holds his hand up.
“We still have to tie up loose ends and get everyone we possibly can connected to him. Now, we just have more we can interrogate people with. Cano’s people are the key to getting information on Page and Lorentz’s setup.
” Woodcroft dashes my hopes in a minute.
“So, we’re back at square one,” Lex says.
“Not exactly. I’d consider it more of a shift. We need to see how far this goes,” Juliette adds.
“And what happens if we find connections that aren’t private entities? Government, for example. It would be huge and problematic,” Juliette muses, looking at her notes.
“That’s why we’re keeping it within this office. We see how far this goes. We talk to no one who could cause major issues until we have a compiled list or irrefutable proof.” Woodcroft is careful to look at each one of us.
“And what about Claire?” I ask. It’s stupid to bring her up. Lex is technically in charge of her, not me. I’m not privileged to information, but dammit, I need it like a drink in the middle of the desert.
“She stays where she is until we’re sure she’s cleared.
If—and that’s a big if—she’s able to not worry about any Cano backlash, she’ll still need to be somewhere we can call on her.
Her memory is incredible, and if we can connect this new branch to Cano in any way, it helps both cases,” Woodcroft hedges.
“Juliette, can you get Loverboy set up with a mobile office? I know he has his laptop, but anything else he might need, get him good to go remote. He’ll be keeping an eye on our star witness since she’s carrying his spawn.
There are too many big players in this to not make sure she’s safe.
” Woodcroft winks at me, and I damn near jump up and shout.
He’s letting me stay with her.
“Adam, my office,” he says as the rest of the team cracks smiles.
I plop into a visitor’s chair once I’m in there and immediately feel like I’m in the principal’s office.
“For now, you’ll stay at the house with Claire. If we need her here—or you, for that matter—you’ll bring her to a safe place in the city.”
“I’ll take her to my place,” I interrupt.
“If things go south with you two, I expect to be immediately informed, and I’ll have someone come replace you.”
I want to tell him that it won’t happen but, hell, who knows. What I do know is this is the chance for us. We will be finally getting time together to explore things between us, and I’m taking full advantage of it.
“Understood, but whatever happens between Claire and I won’t change the fact that I have a child with her. When am I able to head back?” I ask.
“As soon as Juliette has you set up. The rules still apply. No news, no information about the case, unless I clear you.”
“Loud and clear.”
“And I do hope it works out. I have a feeling you’re not too keen on resuming undercover work regardless of what happens with Miss Daniels. I’ll have to come up with some other ideas for you.”
I haven’t spoken to him about my plans to retire from UC work, but he apparently read my intentions.
“That’s correct, sir. I’m getting too old for this shit, and with the baby on the way, I just can’t leave her alone to parent by herself.
I can’t be under for long stints and, as you know, there’s no way for us to dictate how long a mission lasts. ”
“Completely understand that. I’m honestly shocked this didn’t happen sooner.”
“Maybe I just needed a push,” I murmur, referring to Claire and how she’s made me reevaluate my job at the minimum.
“Well, we’ll keep you updated and give you plenty to work on. You still have paperwork to get done from the Cano assignment.” He smirks, knowing I’ve been putting it off.
“Ah, now I see this is all just a ploy to get my paperwork up to date. I’m onto you, Woody.”
“Yeah, well, I’m onto you as well, Loverboy. Go enjoy the downtime; you’ve more than earned it. And keep me updated on the baby. Maybe we can arrange a little dinner so we can all meet Claire in a better setting.”
“Thanks, man, I’d like that.” I shake his hand and leave, almost completely running into Juliette, who has her head down toward her computer.
“Hey! I have you all set up. Satellite phone here …” She slams it into my hand. “Another computer equipped with our operating systems, like facial recognition software, and a company card,” she rambles.
“I don’t need a card.” I grab the laptop.
“Too bad. Big Papa says you need one for food and shit.”
“Big Papa? Does Woody know you call him that?” I grin.
“Only when I’m annoyed with him.” She winks. “Have so much fun with Claire and the baby, and I’ll be in touch!”
Then she disappears to God knows where. There aren’t many places to hide in our offices, yet she somehow does it on a regular basis.
“Your woman is scary, Stone,” I mutter as I pass him to pack up what I need from my desk.
“She’s not my woman. God, I expect it from the other jackasses, but you’re never here. I thought you’d save me from the bullshit.”
“Nah. Messing with the two of you is too much of a good time.” I toss my hand up as I head for the elevator.
“We won’t miss you!” Stone yells back, making me laugh.
I’ve never been the guy who stays in the office for any real amount of time. I thought I’d have to adjust to that once the Oscar case was over, but I somehow dodged that bullet yet again.
I don’t care how it happened; all I care about is that I get to spend some real time with the woman I can’t get out of my head. I get to show her how I can take care of her and our baby.
It’s time she sees who the real Adam Morrison is.