Page 10 of Back the Blue

“Oh,” she breathes.

When her face falls, I grip her shoulders and step even closer.

“We’re going to keep you safe, Lorna,” I say softly. “I swear it.”

“Okay,” she whispers as she nods.

“Why don’t you take a bath while I’m gone and try to relax.”

“No,” she says quickly.

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to be compromised if I need to be moved.”

Despite myself, I laugh at this.

“You sure you don’t moonlight as an FBI agent?”

“No, why?”

“Because you’re thinking like one.”

“Is that a good thing?” she grins.

“I’d rather you leave that stuff to me,” I tell her gently.

She nods at this. But before I leave her, I taste her sweet lips one more time. She smiles at this and then I’m out the door, double checking that it’s locked before I jump in the passenger seat of the SUV.

“Everything good?” Waters asks.

“She had a bit of a panic attack,” I say tightly.

“Yeah, right,” he chuckles.

“I wouldn’t lie about that,” I frown.

“Okay,” he shrugs. “So, what was with the hand holding?”

“Fuck off.”

He laughs at this. A little too hard. And I know I’m screwed.

“Damn, man,” he sighs. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“The great Pitbull Hughes has finally met his match.”

“Why is that such a big fucking deal?” I grumble.

“Because you’ve always been all work and no play,” he says. “And while that’s great for the Bureau, it sucks for you personally. But I think that fiery little medic is going to change all that for you.”

“Just because I held her hand?” I frown.

“No, man,” he says as he shakes his head. “It was written all over your face when you were beside her. But relax, man. I think it’s great.”

I nod and let the subject lie. Until I get a text. From Lorna.

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