Page 48 of Impossible Thrills

“Well … okay.” Aiden’s voice grew stronger. “If that’s where you stand, I stand with you. Of course I do.”

“Thank you.” Nick relaxed slightly with Aiden’s support. “We have to protect her. I’m going with her to Tecate. I’ll make certain she’s safe and figure out why Johnny’s men are there. You and I both know it has nothing to do with her or the children’s safety. If they’re running drugs through there, maybe I can get a lead.”

“Maybe you can draw Trattori out. He might have given her the divorce, but he’s the type who will be territorial about his ex.”

“Maybe.”

“Okay, go. Let me know what you find out. I’ll be on standby if you need us.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Anything for you, Nick.”

“Anything?” Nick had gotten Aiden’s approval, and he wanted to jump in the air. He wasn’t going to have to leave Darcy. Now to somehow take her ex down.

“Of course.”

“I hear Miss Chalisa Anderson might be in love with my boss.”

He didn’t know what he expected, but the happy sigh from his ultra-tough, never drop his guard boss, wasn’t it. “I love her far more than she loves me.”

Nick was so stunned he had no response. His boss had fallen in love.

“Is Miss Darcy Saint in love with my top specialist?” Aiden teased back.

“I think so, sir.” She’d told him she loved him twice, and he knew she meant it. There was no ‘think’ about it. If he didn’t have her ex standing between them, he’d be the luckiest man in the world. He swallowed and admitted, “I love her, Aiden.”

“I trust you with everything, Nick. You know that. If you love and trust Darcy Saint, you’ve got my full support.”

“Thank you.” Aiden’s support meant everything, and it also gave him unlimited money, manpower, and tech support to take Trattori down. He’d never been so grateful his boss was an independent billionaire and had formed his pro-bono arm.

“What are you going to do about this newfound love?” Aiden’s voice was semi-teasing, like it usually was.

“What can I do until Trattori is dead or in a very secure prison?”

“You’re right. You get to work keeping her safe and figuring out how to take him down. I’ll send Paul your way, but you only have him until Sunday when he starts his reality TV stint. Tecate is only an hour away. We can assign different assets at any time. We’ll keep watching Trattori in southern Cal and pushing to find a weakness, someone in his organization who will rat him out, something.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course. See you soon.”

Nick hung up and rushed for the door. He burst out of it.

Darcy, Jagger, and Hays all spun to look at him.

Things were still up in the air. He wasn’t anywhere close to exposing or locking up Johnny. Even when he did, he couldn’t settle down and just be with Darcy. But he felt like he was bursting with happiness. Aiden was in love and approved of Nick being in love with Darcy. A woman who, five days ago, had still been a suspect in both of their minds. A lot had changed in two weeks.

He ran to her, picked her off her feet, and swung her around. Darcy laughed and stared down at him, putting her hands on his shoulders.

“What happened?”

Nick lowered her to her feet, keeping her tight to him. “Can I come stay with you in Tecate? Meet your little ones? Make sure you’re safe? Go on a date or two?”

Her eyes widened, and she screamed, “Yes!”

Threading her fingers into his hair, she arched up and kissed him fiercely.

Nick returned the kiss and then some. He finally pulled away, but only out of compassion for their two buddies.

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