Page 120 of The Attraction File

FORTY-SEVEN

Edgar

“Well, if it isn’t the man with the tiny balls.” Jagger smirked at me, folding his arms.

“And if it isn’t the asshole . . .” I said narrowing my eyes at him. I wanted to charge him and throw him to the ground, but I knew Damien’s men would be on me in seconds. I didn’t want to risk being taken away from Evaleen and her mom.

He shook his head. “The asshole what?”

“That’s it. You’re just an asshole.”

He laughed, his body shook from the surprise merriment. Reaching behind his back, I moved quickly in front of the women. If he was about to pull a gun or knife, at least I could use my body as a shield.

Jagger pulled something small and black, like a cell phone but with only one button. He clicked it and I realized it was a walkie-talkie.

“This is Agent Morrison, I got them. They appear to be safe but have an ambulance ready just in case.”

My mouth fell open. He was an agent? I glanced around and saw Evaleen crying, holding her mother.

Jagger’s eyes fell to them and he walked past me, bending to their level. “Don’t worry, ladies; I’m with the CIA, we have Damien Rosen and his associates in custody. No one will hurt you anymore. You will need to be checked out by the medics. I know you are shaken up, but if you could come with me and give a statement that would help move our investigation along.”

“Anything to put that man away,” Evaleen’s mom said as fierce determination laced her words.

I was still in shock and walked over to Jagger. “You kicked me in the nuts.”

He stood and shrugged. “I was undercover.”

“But no one was there. You didn’t have to kick me.”

“No, I didn’t have to.” He turned just as some other agents entered the room.

He may be an agent but he was still an asshole.

We helped the ladies up. I took Evaleen in my arms before she could go off with one of the agents. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re safe.”

Her hand came to my temple. “Your eye, how does it feel?”

Grasping her wrist, I lowered it, brushing her fingertips over my lips. “I would take a thousand punches to this beautiful face of mine if it meant you were safe.”

She rolled her eyes but a shy smile bloomed. “I love how you still flatter yourself while talking about me.”

“Well, it’s a big sacrifice, but if you enjoy it so much I’ll give myself much more praise in the future.”

Her face grew serious. “Edgar, you have to know. That file in Jacob’s office. The Attraction file. It was mine and some of those documents about the employees were from me. But those photographs of you and the women with you, they planted that. I only had a few background checks from employees that had some issues in their past, but I felt they understood their mistakes and were good workers. Also—”

I stopped her before she could go on. “You don’t have to explain, Evaleen. I understand. When you freaked out when I told you I had security cameras in my place I kind of figured that you couldn’t have gotten those pictures from years ago. It did take a moment of doubt, but once the surprise of everything wore off, I knew you couldn’t have done anything as terrible as that.”

I pulled her close for a kiss. Despite the chaos of the past day, her hair felt soft and so welcoming curled in my fingers as I pressed her to me. My lips joined hers and it felt like home. Nothing urgent, just relief and tenderness.

A few sweet kisses to let her know I wasn’t ever going to walk away from her. Evaleen grasped at her blouse at her chest and turned to go with an agent.

I went to make sure her mom was taken care of. Jagger chose to walk with me as we made our way out of the warehouse.

The sun was fading as dusk fell and it didn’t take long for my eyes to adjust and find swarms of cars and an ambulance.

“You can thank your brother for me,” Jagger said

I glanced at him. “My brother?”

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