Page 36 of Leaving Lando

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On the way home,Bree snuggles into my side. We’re in the back of an SUV being driven by one of Carlo’s guys. Carlo wants to move me and Brianna into a secure compound, on the theory that the two of us are still Santiago’s prime targets, especially now.

I’m resisting that. It feels like running scared, which would only encourage the bastard. If Bree asked me to, I’d do it — her feeling safe is more important than my pride.

But so far, she agrees with me. She wants to tell Santiago to fuck off and go about our lives as normally as possible.

That’s my girl.

I still wake up with nightmares sometimes. That moment when we got to Jeeter in time, only to find out that he was nothing more than a diversion to lure us away from Bree. I’m still kicking myself about that.

If my woman weren’t so brave, so kickass, that night would have ended far differently than it did.

Detective Holland wasn’t on the take. She’s a single mom, whose mother also lives with her, and Santiago was holding a metaphorical knife to the throat of everyone she loved. He sent her photos of his henchmen talking with her mom in their front yard, and walking with her kids on their way home from school.

She was terrified — rightfully so. Passing information seemed a small enough price to pay for her family’s safety, but of course it didn’t end there.

Abducting Brianna broke her.

We didn’t file charges because it would have destroyed Holland and her family, for no purpose. I talked to Tonio, and he arranged for all of them to move somewhere safe, far away from Bruno Santiago.

When Jeeter got out of the hospital, his parole transfer was approved, and he’s living with his sister. The department’s conducting an internal review to make sure nobody else is under Santiago’s thumb. We’re hopeful we can make some progress now on cases that’ve been stalled for over a year.

All’s well on the professional front, in other words. And on the personal … everything’s superb.

Bree holds out her left hand, admiring the ring. “I spent so much time convincing myself we would never be anything but friends with benefits.”

“Well, we are, sort of. We are friends, and they are pretty awesome benefits.”

“Yes, but you know what I mean. When did you know I was more than a fuck buddy?”

I drop a kiss on the tip of her nose. “The first time I kissed you, I knew I couldn’t stop there. The first time I fucked you, I knew once would never be anywhere near enough. I don’t think eternity will be enough.

“But no matter how spectacular the sex is, that wouldn’t matter if the rest of the package wasn’t there too.” I shift her to straddle me and press a kiss into her cleavage. “There’s no one else I’d rather laugh with, fight with, talk about my day with, wake up with in the morning, and go to bed with at night. You may not be perfect, Brianna Callahan, but you’re perfect for me.”

Bree sniffs back tears. “Samesies.”

I laugh and tuck her against me. “We’re going to have a good life, Red.”

“I think so … but let’s not tempt fate.”

“All right. Let’s give each other a good life.”

She kisses me. “Deal.”

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