Page 61 of Force At Third

“CeCe” went to work today at Wags, responding to the dozens of social media posts the three already active girls are posting.

My first posted response is: @cee.2: Going to miss you at the game, but I have 13 reasons to go solo. #gojags

Fucking genius. “My guy” being number 13 and all.

I then attended the Jags game as CeCe, sat next to Whit, who is looped in and knows what’s up, posted a nice pic of Hart’s ass in my story, and now, on Jags’ property, sitting on the bank of the Delaware, romantic picnic all set up, I post a picture captioned: Postgame party for 2 #newtradition.

I hear a loud whistle, stand, and turn around to see Rome walking toward me.

“I’m gonna hug you.”

“I understand the assignment.” He opens his arms. “Bring it in.”

“And now, we sit and wait.” And that’s just what we do.

“Now I know what a duck feels like,” he jokes then adds, “I want this piece of shit to go down.”

“He will.” I open the picnic basket. “Don’t expect much; the wraps are leftovers from last night. Congrats on the win.”

“Tough game. The boys are tired. AJ wanted to go out.” He shakes his head. “They’re heading home, to CeCe’s.”

“Marks is tailing them. They’re good.”

“You sure CeCe’s good?” he asks, jaw tightening.

I pulled out my phone and show him the pictures of the three of them, all teary-eyed and smiling.

“Two blondes and my Red,” he says softly.

“Yours?”

He shakes his head. “My bad. She hasn’t claimed me yet, but she knows I’m already hers.”

“This right here, this is going to allow her to finally be free of all the shit weighing her down. It won’t be easy, though.”

He leans forward, resting his biceps on his knees and looking out over the river. “Question?”

“Of course.”

He turns and looks at me. “When you gonna start shoveling out of the hole you’ve buried yourself in and let Locke?—”

I make a buzzer sound. “Nope. Not happening.”

“Why?” he asks simply.

“Because he and I have never wanted the same thing.”

“Compromise.”

I shake my head as I make a louder and longer buzzing sound.

Team Meeting

12

“How did you get keys to your ride, and we can’t even get into our places until the investigation is finished?” AJ grumbles.

“When you buy a new ride every season, your salesman answers your call and personally delivers a new set.” I hear one of the rookies huff. “I get that makes me sound like a tool, but?—”

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