Page 31 of Back the Blue

For the next ten minutes, I listen as plans are made. Ashley never let’s go of my hand while they speak, nor when other agents are called in to contribute. When everything’s settled, we rise and start to head out. But the director blocks our path for a moment, prompting Ashley to straighten as he finally releases my hand only to pull me against his side. The director smiles at Ashley for a moment before looking down at me, his face growing serious.

“I am profoundly sorry that you’ve been dragged into this situation, Miss Lewis,” he says. “The Bureau dislikes it when innocent civilians are put in danger. Please understand that.”

“I do,” I nod.

“That being said,” he starts as another smile tickles his lips. “I’m inclined to be a little thankful that fate put you under Agent Hughes’ protection.”

My face flames hot at his words as they bring to mind the memory of being under Ashley in another, more pleasurable way. My reaction makes both men chuckle. Then the director offers me his hand. I take it and allow him to pull me away from Ashley so he can hug me. And whisper in my ear.

“This will all work out as it should, dear,” he says. “I have faith in Hughes and his team. You should as well.”

“I do,” I tell him as I pull back. “Thank you, though.”

He nods at me before taking Ashley’s hand and wishing him luck. Then we’re off once again. This time, Ashley sits in the back seat with me as we’re driven to another unknown destination. The silence is deafening. Ten minutes later finds us at a small apartment building. Five minutes after that, Ashley escorts me into a sparsely furnished one-bedroom apartment. After he locks us in, he pulls me into his arms. I go willingly, but I hate the look on his face.

“We’re going in fast and hard,” he says softly. “We should have the element of surprise. As soon as we’re clear, I’ll call you. Here. Only Director Jackson and I have the number.”

“Okay,” I nod.

His expression falters for a moment. Then he brushes his hand over my cheek. Before he can say anything else, I speak what’s in my heart.

“Come back to me, Ashley,” I whisper. “Please.”

He nods. Kisses me gently. And leaves.

Twenty-One

Walking out of that apartment and leaving Lorna alone is physically painful. The ache growing in my chest feels like a block of cement. All I want to do is lock myself away with her and keep her safe. With me.

Forever.

But I can’t.

She’s not the kind of woman who can stop living her life and doing her job. Not that I’d have a snowballs chance in hell of stopping her, but still. The sooner she gets back to her normal life, the better. For both of us.

Twenty minutes later, I’m back in the FBI building meeting with my team. Time is of the essence, so we’re suiting up while we go over the plan. Just before oh-five-hundred, we’re closing in on Diamond’s location. There’s a solid perimeter set up around the house in case he and his crew decide to bail. That would be the safer way to end this. Because if they want to fight, it’s going to get ugly and quick.

As soon as I get the word, we move in. My point man breaches the door, and we file in and clear the first two rooms in less than thirty seconds. I want to relax, but I know better. As soon as we start for the stairs, they start shooting. We fall back into defensive positions and hold our fire. When they do as well, I call out.

“This is the FBI! The house is surrounded! There’s no way out! Give yourselves up!”

I swear I hear someone laughing above us. I’m about to call out again when more gunshots ring out. Through the ceiling. We scatter and make our way for the door before filing out onto the porch. I radio our situation to the perimeter team. For the moment, we are at a disadvantage. It’s not until our backup arrives that they’re able to give us the support we need to flush them out.

A few strategically placed flashbang grenades followed by some tear gas send them running. With the advantage back in our favor, we swiftly disarm and secure them. But when the dust settles…

“Where’s Diamond?” I demand.

I’m not surprised when no one responds with anything other than smirks and a couple of ‘fuck you’s.’ Setting my anger aside, we do what’s necessary to bring in the seven members of his crew and then search the house. We take in plenty of evidence to lock up his boys for quite some time. And Diamond when we finally catch up with him.

By oh-six-hundred, things are finally settling down. More than once I’ve almost slipped away to call Lorna, but I’m worried about waking her. God knows she has to be wiped out given all that’s happened in the last couple of days. Sure, she’s used to the normal crazy and pressure that comes with her job, but this was beyond anything she should have to deal with.

After I debrief with Director Jackson, we meet with our surveillance team to try and pin down Diamond’s location again. Unfortunately, the cell phone he was using when he was working with Ellis, the same one he called me from this morning, is no longer in service. The fact that he was smart enough to ditch it is really pissing me off. With nothing new to report, we leave them to their job. And I finally get to call Lorna.

Director Jackson is still walking beside me when I initiate the call. It rings only once before she picks up. And I’m smiling until I hear his voice again.

“Pitbull.”

My feet stop moving in the next millisecond. Director Jackson follows suit and turns toward me. His eyes locking with mine as I growl out his name.

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