Page 21 of Dad Bods and Blizzards

I pull out, frantic to get her off the scene before the raid team shows up. “To our place. You’ll be safe there. Unless you need a doctor. How badly are you hurt?”

“I don’t know.” Her voice cracks. She grips her shoulder.

“I can have a doctor meet us.”

She waves me off then rubs her forehead. “I can’t think. I need quiet.”

We’re only a block from her house when I spot the raid team—three black government-issue SUVs. She notices them and stiffens.

“I need one minute to explain.”

She stares straight ahead but gives a slight nod.

“Those vehicles that just passed us are carrying federal agents.” My voice stays steady, though my heart pounds. “We’re undercover, investigating a weapons trafficking ring. We have evidence against your father…” I swallow hard. “And you, but we don’t believe you knew that you were involved in setting up weapons exchanges. We couldn’t let you get taken in too. I’m so sorry we couldn’t tell you sooner.”

Tears roll down her cheeks.

“I know you probably hate—”

“Shhh.” She holds a single finger up. “I trust you.”

Those three little words break my emotions and fears free. They’re the sweetest sounds ever. I’ll prove to her that it’s the right choice. We make the rest of the drive in silence.

Naomi’s exhausted when we get home. I carry her inside, wrap her in blankets on the couch, start a fire, and bring her a cup of hot cider.

“I need to check for a concussion.”

She sits patiently while I run through a verbal test and then check her pupillary reflex. All good.

I hold her, letting her tears soak my flannel shirt. At least the mountain man dad bod I was required to maintain for the operation gives her plenty of cushion to snuggle against.

After what feels like a sacred eternity existing as just the two of us, she sits up and groans, rubbing her left shoulder and leg.

“You’ve been through a lot. Can I check you for injuries?”

She nods. “Everything on my left side hurts. I hit the truck door when I crashed into the column.”

“You’ll feel it now that the adrenaline’s wearing off.”

I tenderly peel the blanket away and wait for her permission to remove her sweats. She’ll have some light bruising but nothing major. I help her redress then get first aid supplies and clean the small cut on her head.

It could have been so much worse.

My heart rate has almost returned to normal when Woody and Griz return home.

With everyone present and Naomi able to relax, we explain everything, including the last-minute change of plans that the team called the emergency meeting for.

She comes clean on picking our office lock and reading the files. “Oh, shit. I told a friend I was coming over tonight.” She looks around and slumps. “My phone’s at home.”

“Who do you need to call?” I confess that we know all of her friends’ phone numbers and let her make the call from my phone.

We’re surprised that she asks for privacy, but go to our office.

We talk through all of the ways we’re going to protect her during the investigation and that we may face repercussions for interfering. It’s all worth it.

“Can we come out now?” Griz asks through the closed door.

“Not yet.” She sounds nervous.

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