Page 82 of Wilde In His Arms

“Not anymore.She moved in with me yesterday.There’s no way I can get her to stay away from the bar, so she’ll spend most of her time there.”

He nodded.“We’ve got agents watching her.”

Nick wanted to believe that would keep her safe.He knew better.All Lopez needed was a moment’s distraction to take her.It soured his gut and made his blood run cold.“Lopez is gunning for her.”

“Does she know that?”

“She knows he’s a threat to me and everyone close to me.She was still asleep when I left.But I texted her about the note.She’ll see it when she wakes.And the agents guarding the house.”As much as he’d like to keep her locked up at the house, he knew that wasn’t any safer than her being at the bar, surrounded by agents and patrons, along with everyone she worked with who knew to watch out for Javier Lopez.“Where’s Agent Bateman?”

“Running down a lead on a banking case.Something about wire transfers, Medicare, and defrauding the government.”

“Great.More corruption in the system meant to help those in need.”Nick rolled his eyes.“And Mason?”

“He got a call about that doctor in your case.Pike, I think he said.Dude’s attorney wanted to meet to discuss what his client has to offer.Apparently, Lopez has the guy take care of lots of his victims.Doc is ready to give specifics for immunity.”

“Why didn’t Mason fill me in on that?I would have gone to the meeting.”

Agent Monroe gave him a pointed look.“Because you’re on medical leave and haven’t been cleared by IA.”

He hated being sidelined.“Yeah, well, you all should continue to keep me informed, so I can hit the ground running when I’m cleared to return to work.”

“Don’t you have the final interview about the shooting today?”

Another pain in his ass.“Yes.I’ll do it from home.”That way he didn’t have to relive it in front of everyone in the office.While the shooting was righteous, it still left a stain on him.One he’d never lose.

Julia had done some terrible things, but that didn’t mean she deserved to die.She’d given him no choice.Though he’d rather have locked her in a cell the rest of her life.Punishment enough.Time to reflect on her bad deeds and how she made others suffer.Time to think about how life went on for others while hers shrank to a cell and just surviving, instead of really living.

Agent Monroe sipped his coffee.“How’s the new place?You like it here?”

“Perfect, becauseshe’shere.”

Agent Monroe smirked, a twinkle in his eyes.“So it’s like that.”

“It’s more than that.I’m going to marry her.”

“Does she know that?”

He nodded, knowing exactly what kind of ring he wanted to get her.“She knows, I just haven’t popped the question yet.”Soon.He didn’t want to wait much longer, but he needed to get Lopez locked up so they could move on with their lives without looking over their shoulders.

“What are you waiting for?”

“Nothing now, except Lopez’s arrest.We’re finally in the same place, with the same roof over our heads.”

“Well, then, congrats, even if it is premature.”Agent Monroe held up the letter.“I’ll put this into evidence and add a copy to the file.Anything else?”

“Where’s my office?”

“Mason said to give you the one with the best view because you spend too much time indoors.So it’s the first one on the right.Overlooks a park and a bunch of trees.You can see part of the street, too.Shops and restaurants around here are good.There’s a place a block up that has really good coffee, bagels, baked goods, and donuts.None of the places are open past ten, so if you’re working late, you’re shit out of luck.We’ve been taking turns stocking the fridge and cupboards with some snacks and staples.”

Nick liked that the guys were working well together and turning this small office into a place where they could collaborate on cases, hang out, and decompress.This job took a lot out of you.It was good to have people around who knew what you were going through.And he was glad Mason was getting to know the other two agents.He was too used to being undercover and on his own for the most part.

This would be a good change for him.

As for Nick, he only had three guys right now to oversee, plus their cases.That was a cakewalk compared to the twelve agents he supervised back in Montana.

They’d be backing up the Blackrock Falls PD on any cases that overlapped their jurisdiction and working wider in the state, but this would be home base.Here.With Aria.With their extended family.

He and Aria would find a routine that worked for them.

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