Page 39 of I Survived and will rise again

"Yeah, we could eat," she replies, looking down and rubbing her belly.

I can't help but grin like an idiot. She looks so darn cute. She glances back at me. "So, what's good to eat around here?"

"There's a good burger joint near campus," I suggest, remembering that Shorty loves her cheeseburgers with extra pickles.

"That sounds good," she agrees, smiling.

"Good," I reply, walking around the island and wrapping my arms around her shoulders. I place a kiss on top of her head, getting a whiff of her coconut shampoo. "Mm. You smell good." I nibble at her earlobe, making her shiver.

She giggles against my chest. "You need to shower before we go, stinky boy."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." I chuckle. "Wanna join me?" I shoot a playful look her way.

She laughs but doesn't give me an answer.

I couldn't wait to spend time with my Shorty.

And now she’s here.

In Tennessee, with me.

This is the best fucking day.

Epilogue

Javier

As I sit at my desk, my eyes remain focused on the document before me. The words seem to blur together, and I feel the exhaustion setting in after a long day of work. A knock on my door jolts me out of my thoughts. I look up to see my partner, Derick Rossi, standing in the doorway, his expression grave.

"What's up?" I ask, trying to keep the fatigue from my voice.

"Javi, the boss needs to see us in his office immediately," Derick replies, his voice tense with urgency.

I nod, feeling a sense of dread settle in my stomach. Standing up, I walk past Derick out of the office with him following behind, my footsteps echoing in the empty hall. The silence is deafening, and it leaves me wondering what the boss wants.

"I'm curious, Derick." I turn toward him. "Did he hint at what this meeting is about?"

Derick shakes his head, his eyes showing a similar sense of unease.

We walk toward James's office, my mind racing with possibilities and fears. As we knock on the door, James greets us with a serious expression as we step inside.

"Close the door," James says, his tone brimming with anticipation. "Sit down."

As I settle into the chair, my pulse quickens. James leans forward, his gaze fixed squarely on me.

"The FBI branch in Tennessee is building a new team," James says, his voice steady but filled with gravity. "And they want you to run the unit."

My eyes widen in shock. Running a new unit is a significant opportunity but comes with immense responsibility and pressure.

"Me?" I ask, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Yes, you," James affirms. "You've shown exceptional leadership, and they believe you're the right person for the job."

I attempt to comprehend this revelation as I nod in agreement. Following a momentary pause, I ask, " Can I select my own team?"

James leans back in his chair, considering my request. After a moment, he nods slowly.

"Sure, you can bring Derick onto the team," James responds, his eyes fixed on Derick. "As they're launching a new unit, it's important to have a strong partnership to lead it efficiently," he adds, turning toward me.

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