Page 46 of Flynn

And lastly the shooting outside the FBI building.

Worst of all, the knowledge that this all started with the brutal murders of her second cousins, Steve and Robin Miller, along with her cousin Roman Paulson. The DNA link was disturbing in more ways than one.

It all came back to her family being involved. Distant family, maybe, but still family.Why, Lord, why?

There was no answer from above.

“Taylor, please don’t cry.” A warm hand rested on her shoulder. She belatedly realized Flynn had come into the room to find her.

She struggled to pull herself together. It wasn’t easy. The dam holding back her tears had opened, and she couldn’t figure out how to slam it shut.

“I’m here. You’re safe. I promise I’ll do everything possible to keep you safe.” His voice sounded tortured, as if he was just as upset.

Somehow, she managed to stop crying. She took one breath, then another, slowing her breathing to the point where she could speak. “I know that.” Her voice was muffled against the pillow, so she said it again, louder this time. “I know that.” She wiped her face with the pillowcase, then lifted her head. “It’s been a long day.”

“Too long,” he agreed, smoothing his hand down her back in a sweet gesture. “But please don’t give up hope.”

A Bible verse from the book of Psalms flashed in her mind from her last church service. Something about hope. What was it?For in thee, OLord, do Ihope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God (Psalms 38:15).

Amazingly, a sense of peace washed over her. She and Flynn were not alone in this nightmare. Here on earth they had support from the Finnegans, Doug Bridges, Cassidy, and other members of the tactical team who were determined to protect them.

But over and above that, they had God with them. She felt the Lord’s presence now more than ever before.

She swallowed hard and nodded. Then she sat all the way up, moving over to give Flynn room to sit on the edge of the bed beside her. “I haven’t given up hope. I just—lost it for a minute. Everything that has taken place of the last few hours weighed down on me to the point I suddenly felt overwhelmed.”

“That’s understandable.” A frown furrowed his brow. “I hate knowing how badly I’m failing you.”

“You’re not.” She drummed up a weak smile. “You’ve been great. Truly.”

“Says the woman who was sobbing her heart out a minute ago,” he said with a wry grimace.

She reached over to take his hand. “I’m fine. Thanks to you, Flynn. The way you threw yourself over me when the gunfire rang out? That was true courage.”

He tucked a strand of her blond hair behind her ear. “It was instinct, not courage. I’m trained to put myself in harm’s way. Any of my teammates would have done the same thing.”

She knew it was more than skill and training. Maybe all cops reacted like that instinctively. Yet, she knew Flynn would protect her with his life. No matter what. She managed a smile. “Maybe I lost focus for a minute, as the situation outside the FBI building hit hard, but I know God is watching over us. With the Lord’s help, we’ll get through this.”

He nodded slowly, his green eyes intent as their gazes caught and held. In a nanosecond, the atmosphere in the room changed. A keen awareness abruptly sizzled in the air between them. She found herself leaning closer, even as he did the same, dropping his head so that their mouths met halfway.

His kiss was tentative at first, but then deepened as he drew her close. The synapses in her brain went haywire, and everything faded except for Flynn.

His strength. His warmth. His woodsy scent. And the way he kissed her as if he’d never get enough.

A feeling she shared wholeheartedly.

She slipped her arms around his waist, turning into his embrace. Being with Flynn like this was amazing, and she wanted nothing more than to sit there kissing him forever.

But, of course, that was impossible. It seemed like mere seconds had passed when there was a sharp knock on the door. She wanted to pretend she didn’t hear it, but then the knock came again.

“Flynn? Taylor? Everything all right?” Cassidy asked.

Flynn abruptly ended their kiss at the sound of Cassidy’s voice. The way his breath came unevenly made her feel good to know she wasn’t the only one impacted from their embrace.

She wanted to pull him in for another kiss, but he glanced toward the door.

“Fine,” Flynn said gruffly. He cleared his throat, then added, “Everything is fine. Be out in a sec.”

She ducked her head, hiding a smile. He continued holding her for a long moment, then reluctantly released her. “I need to get back out there to discuss our next steps.”

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