Page 215 of Solanum

"Serves you right. Agent Brody, we're done here," I said, nodding toward the door.

Relief flooded Nora's eyes when she saw me, and she flew out of her chair.

"I wasn't finished with her!" Hollister pounded the table again.

Nora rushed past me, and out the door in a speed walking step made for the Olympics.

"You're fucking done when I say you're done, fuck face." I grabbed Hollister by the collar of his shirt at the same time a flurry of my colleagues entered the room while calling out my name.

I glanced to Wilkinson and Lonchamp, both of them wide-eyed and furious. I gave Hollister a good hard shake then thrust him backward in his chair.

"You're fucking done." I released him, leaving him to whine about his nose, and blew past the huddle at the door.

Lonchamp remained in the room and Wilkinson attempted a grab at my arm that I readily avoided.

"Fuck off me. Where's Nora?"

"In the hall with Chin and Moreno. Donovan, I—" Wilkinson began but I slammed into his shoulder on my way out.

"Go fuck yourself, Sir."

I thrust the doors open and found Nora where he said I would. She stood stock-still with Chin, Moreno, and Roderick surrounding her. Jenson followed me out, and we formed a huddle around Nora. She kept her gaze fixated on the ground, her lips pursed, and she said nothing. My heart slammed in my chest, boiling with rage and fear tangling in a mess that verged on eruption.

I didn't care who saw us, or what anyone would say. I stepped in front of Nora, pulling her to me in a one-armed protective grasp. She stiffened at first, until I cupped the back of her head when her face hit my shoulder.

"You're okay," I said, letting out a shaky breath. "I got you."

Nora sobbed once, both hands rising to cover her ears, but she stopped herself midway. I rocked with her, wrapping her in a tight embrace. Eventually, her trembling arms encircled my waist and she melted into me.

Moreno clapped me on the shoulder, his soft expression laden with unexpected empathy. His posture became protective as he seemed to block anyone else from getting closer to us.

"This is over, Nor," I said, softly against her cheek. "No more."

She choked on a sob, her nails digging into my side.

Wilkinson appeared beside Walsh then, the door behind them clicking shut. They glanced at the faces crowding us, and Roderick stepped aside to allow Wilkinson entry.

"Agent Brody," he beckoned, but I shook my head at him.

"Don't you dare," I said, squeezing Nora to me then lowering my lips to her ear. "Give him your badge."

"Now wait a damn minute here, Donovan—" Walsh began but I cut him off.

"You can go fuck yourself, Walsh."

"Donovan, can we talk about—" Wilkinson said, but I interrupted him as well.

"Give him your badge, Nora," I repeated.

She sniffled and leaned back. Tears stained her face as she pulled her I.D. wallet from her pocket. She held it out to him, her hand trembling furiously. Wilkinson looked between us, his eyes widening.

"Brody, what—"

"Take it," I demanded, my energy surging.

Wilkinson accepted it, and Nora swiftly unfastened her side arm from the holster. She flipped it around in her palm and handed it to him with the barrel facing her. Wilkinson took it, his jaw slightly slack.

Nora looked up at me with tears streaming from her red-ringed eyes. I held my palm to her cheek for a moment, then pulled her back into a hug. She cried quietly against my shoulder.

I didn't give a flying fuck who saw us, and I swept her off her feet right there. Her arms immediately wrapped around my neck as I slipped my arm under her knees and carried her down the hall.

Our colleagues stared after us, but only one of them followed.

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