Chapter 37
Kade
I rest my feet on the conference room table with my eyes half-closed. On the seventy-inch monitor behind me, Bree sleeps. Not expecting company, I almost fall to the floor when the door cracks open.
Suit rumpled, dark circles under his eyes, Ito gives me a curt nod, then heads straight for the dregs of my box o’ joe.
As he rips sugar packets, I push him the last three creamers.
“How do you think it went, Counselor?”
“She’ll be free as soon as Wulf puts the paperwork through.” His certainty releases the tension in my shoulders.
“Thanks.” Finally, I can focus on the future—one that includes a brave, smart-mouthed pilot.
“No need.” He smirks. “It’s my job. And don’t worry. Her parents can afford my fees.”
Picturing a lifetime of debt, I grimace. “Bree will insist on paying them back.”
“Convince her to take the money—then help her ghost them. You look like you can handle clean breaks.” Making a face at the bitter brew, he heads out the door. “Long night. Don’t let her talk to anyone, not even family.”
“I won’t.”
The door clicks shut, then swings open again. A grinning Hunt strolls in and slaps me on the back.
“Wulf says the DA’s dropping all charges. Based on your eyewitness account, the FBI will rule Griffin’s death justified.”
“How can you be so sure?” I want to believe it’s over—but every instinct says don’t trust it. Not yet.
“Optics. Tourism. No one wants murder-mayhem headlines in the Burlington Free Press.” He yawns. “Come on, wake her up. Breakfast is on me.”
At her door, I pause. Even after an all-night interrogation, she takes my breath away. Leaning in, I brush my lips against the nape of her neck.
“Hey, sweetheart, time to go.”
“Mmm?” Her eyelashes flutter, then she focuses on me. “I’m not under arrest?”
“Nope. The Feds believe our account. Lucky for us they have the lead—not the State Police.”
Fuck me dead. Her smile lights up the whole damn room.
“How’s the boy he shot?”
Hands at her warm, soft waist, I pull her to her feet. “Surgery went well. Lost a kidney but should make a full recovery.”
“That’s great news. And Carmine?” Her face hardens, making me wish the bastard was six feet under.
“High security facility in New York State. No bail. No deal.”
“Excellent.”
Arms encompassing her, I press her tight to my chest. “When I heard that shot in the woods…”
My voice cracks. “My heart stopped. I can’t go through that again.”
“Ditto.” Her fingers slide through my beard, steadying me.
The kiss that follows isn’t just heat—it’s a vow. One that damn near undoes me. We’re deep in it when her stomach growls like a wild animal. Her giggles break the spell.
Okay, eat, then fuck.
Soon, we’re dining at a nearby restaurant with Wulf and Hunt.
Bree nods at her gray haired interrogator. “Nice job, by the way.”
“So… no hard feelings?” He flashes her a genuine smile which she returns.
“Nope. The end justifies the means and all that. I get it.” Her face clouds. “Do you mind if I ask how Carmine and Griffin teamed up? How long they’ve been…”
The senior Fed’s exhale fills the silence. “Still untangling it. We found out they met in college.”
As he rakes his hand through his hair, her jaw drops. “Please tell me they haven’t been killing since then.”
Voice lower, his gaze hardens. “There’s a lot of cold cases to sort through. Three, for sure, fit their profile.”
“Which one killed Brett?” Her unflinching eyes lock onto his.
He waits for the waitress to walk away before answering. “Quite sure it was Griffin. We may never know for sure.”
Her chin bobs up and down. “Because it was too easy? No hunt. No skill.”
“Exactly.” He shares a glance at Hunt.
“His motive?” As she lifts the coffee cup to her mouth, Hunt leans in.
“We know Griff was in the woods that night. He followed you after you left Andrea. Perhaps the victim saw something damning. Unless Carmine talks, it’s all speculation.”
“Where’re you off to next?” My busybody brother-in-law takes a bite of his egg sandwich.
Seriously? He had to go there?
It’s too soon to ask her to move in with me. With no money, nowhere to stay, she might think I’m offering charity. She could bolt. I might lose her before I even have her. But hell, my heart’s already unpacked and put her toothbrush next to mine.
“She’s staying with me… at least for now… if she wants.”
Yeah. Might go down as the lamest ask in history.
But Bree lights up like I handed her the damn moon.
Across the table, Hunt grins into his coffee. “Kelly mentioned Homeland’s hiring pilots. Shoring up the northern border. Sounds like a perfect fit. She gets a referral bonus. Kade gets you. Win-win-win.”
Mr. Smartass Matchmaker winks and pulls out his phone. “Sending you her email. Just attach your resume—she’ll take it from there.”
“Hang on—Doing it right now.” A few minutes later, Bree hits send, then crosses her fingers.
She wants to stay.
With me.
Holy. Freaking. Crap.