Page 59 of Keeping Astrid

Snapping off the water, Astrid toweled off. Her decision made—life without Callum wasn’t a life she wanted.

Growler grabbed the toast that had just popped up and placed it on the plates he had set out in front of him. He then spooned on the scrambled eggs and a couple of slices of crispy bacon. He’d heard the shower shut off and expected Astrid to come down the stairs at any moment.

There was so much he had to tell her. A lot had changed overnight. When he’d read his messages, he’d been glad he’d been sitting. He’d had to read them three times before the reality of them sunk in.

He’d called Ox and then Cass to confirm the contents. After what had occurred the previous day, it seemed too good to be true. Both confirmed the validity of the information, with Cass telling him to check Astrid’s working folder where he would find the visual proof he needed.

“You trying to put me out of a job?” Astrid asked as she walked into the kitchen. The familiar vanilla scent of her bath wash swirled around him.

Immediately, his body responded to her closeness, but he tamped down his desire. After he told her the news, they could go upstairs and celebrate, considering she didn’t have to be at the station and he didn’t have to go into the office until late afternoon.

“Have we had this conversation before?” he queried.

Astrid picked up a piece of bacon and bit into it, her eyes shining in mirth. “Who knows, maybe? Maybe it’s our thing.”

He laughed and sat next to her. The next few moments passed in silence as they ate their breakfast.

“Are you going to tell me what has got you smiling so big?” Astrid laid her silverware over her empty plate.

“Maybe I’m just happy to be here with you.” Teasing her hadn’t been part of his plan, but he couldn’t resist. He was just so fucking relieved.

“Nice try, Growler. How about you have another shot?”

He paused at hearing his nickname slipping from her lips.

“What happened to Callum?” He couldn’t believe he asked that question. It didn’t matter what she called him. Why was he making such a big deal out of it?

Astrid shrugged. “I figure that if I want something out of you, I need to use a name that triggers a response to orders.”

Growler sat there, stunned for a heartbeat, before laughing. A deep belly laugh. “I guess I deserved that.”

“You did.” She crossed her arms, a classic defensive move, but Astrid wasn’t shutting him out. The laughter shining in her eyes and the way her lips curved into a large smile told a different story.

Deciding that he’d dragged it out for long enough, he leaned across the table and unfolded her arms before taking her hands in his. “You’re free. The threat is gone.”

Her brow furrowed in confusion, as if she didn’t understand what he was saying. Then it cleared, and her smile return. “What? Are you joking? How did this happen? When did this happen? You aren’t playing with me, are you?”

The need to have her close to him propelled him to stand and pull her into his arms. Immediately, hers closed around him and he sighed. There was nothing better in this world than having this woman in his arms. Holding her close to him. Loving the way she fit perfectly against him. “I’m not lying. It’s true. Cass heard chatter on the dark web last night that word was being passed around that the Ramirez Cartel were no longer interested in you. They had something bigger in play.”

“No, that can’t be right. Not after what was left on my doorstep yesterday. It doesn’t seem possible that they would send me a message like that and then, a few hours later, call off chasing me.”

Seconds ago her body had been pliant in his embrace, now her muscles were stiffer than a tree trunk.

Her disbelief wasn’t unexpected. Hell, he hadn’t believed it until he’d seen the proof. “I know it’s hard to believe. Let me show you what Cass found. When you see it, you’ll believe the threat really is over.”

Without waiting for a response, he dropped his arms to grab her hand. Growler led her to the family room and sat with her on the couch. Grabbing his Alliez tablet off the coffee table, he pulled open the document he wanted to show Astrid.

“Read this.” He handed the device to her.

Growler sat back and watched her eyes scanning the text. He could tell that she was re-reading it a few times. Not that he blamed her for doing exactly what he’d done. As she’d said, it seemed so far-fetched that in the space of twelve hours the threat against her had gone, but there it was in black and white.

“This is too good to be true.” Astrid placed the tablet back on the table. “None of this makes sense. What is this other thing they’re focusing on? Why were they so hellbent on getting me before, but they’ve now decided that they’re going to back off?”

“I get it. I thought the same. But I called both Cass and Ox—it’s all true. Cass vetted and verified the information. For whatever reason, the cartel have deemed you’re no longer a threat and announced that to anyone who was listening.”

Growler held Astrid close, hoping that what he was saying was getting through and she could believe it.

“It’s over,” she whispered.

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