Page 67 of All Twisted Up
“Hampstead’s right,” Miguel said, “and if you ever meet Lincoln Snow, you’d be shocked at what a capable and decent guy he is. It’s rare to meet a man who’s trusted by his entire team the way he is.”
Raven was nodding as his husband described Lincoln. “Snow is one of the most trustworthy people I know and he surrounds himself with others just like himself.”
“That’s because he handpicked them,” Miguel said. He turned to Joshua. “All we’re saying about the DEA here, is that we’re not surprised that someone—more than one someone actually—is up to their eyeballs in bed with the cartel.”
“Okay, so give me the bottom line here,” Joshua said. “When Captain Sorensen was here earlier, he said to just stay put until a decision has been made about whether to move Nash and me. I suppose that still applies?”
I looked at him and this time, did reach for his hand. His fingers immediately wrapped around mine. “Candy said he’d let us know about that. Please stop worrying about it.”
Joshua stared into my eyes, seeming to search for the truth until he must have seen what he needed. When he nodded, I blew out a long breath, feeling better. When I turned back to Miguel and Raven, I wasn’t surprised they were looking at our clasped hands. While I wouldn’t have been caught dead holding Joshua’s hand only a few days ago, for some godforsaken reason right now, I didn’t care what anyone thought.
“I’m glad you’re up to speed,” I said.
“Yeah,” Raven replied. He glanced over at Joshua. “It must be very hard being separated from your family. Why didn’t you go into witness protection with them? Candy never explained.”
Joshua turned to me. There was something in his eyes which was hard to identify…trust, maybe, affection, definitely. He looked back at Raven as he squeezed my hand.
“Because Nash has been with me throughout this whole horrible experience and I trust him completely. He’s saved my life numerous times.”
“I thought it was so you could continue with your teaching job,” Miguel said. He glanced over at Raven and shrugged. “One of the other guys mentioned it in passing when Candy was explaining this assignment.”
Joshua nodded. “That was one of the reasons, and I completely accept that my other full-time job is located in a place that can’t be protected by one person,” he said. “But Captain Sorensen thought I could still teach. I hope so, because I have a class tonight and it’s going to be hard to find a permanent substitute. Have you heard anything about that now Judy has that information about the DEA?”
Miguel and Raven both shook their heads. “Like Candy told you, that decision hasn’t been made yet,” Miguel said. “I hope we’ll hear something today, though. He’s aware of your schedule.”
“At least we have two more guns at hand,” Nash said. “We’re both really glad you’re here and I’m really sorry it interfered with your honeymoon, guys.” They looked at each other and smiled. I inhaled sharply and realized I wanted to be that deeply in love too.
“It’s okay, Nash,” Raven said. I thought he’d read my mind but he said, “Honestly, we got to spend a fantastic, romantic week in Hawaii, so being here with you guys isn’t a problem. I hope you didn’t take what I said earlier seriously.”
“Thank you,” Joshua added. And I exhaled slowly, pushing the earlier thought away.
Miguel looked down at Marvin who sprawled in his lap. “Well, little guy, you’ll have to move since I’m going to ask Nash and Joshua to show us the layout of the house just in case someone hostile decides to disturb our peace.”
Marvin looked up at him and blinked, letting out an annoyed meow when Miguel moved him to the floor. He stood up and rubbed his thighs making cat hair take to the air and dance in a bright sunbeam streaming in through the French doors. “My legs fell asleep.” He was grumbling, but I could detect clear affection in his tone.
I chuckled as the rest of us got to our feet. “Well, come on, guys…let me show you around.”
Chapter Eighteen
JOSHUA
The four of us spent the rest of the day going over what had been happening in detail. Even though Captain Sorensen had explained the particulars with the men, they hadn’t heard everything about our escape from the gym and the raid itself. Agent Mathis—Raven, he’d asked me to call him—asked more about how we’d kept away from the bastards who’d broken into my house. I’d filled him in on the way my family and I were only living and breathing because Nash had put us up in the attic to hide. They looked at him wide-eyed, which made me feel proud for him. Though I’d known his quick thinking had saved us, their admiring glances at our savior, spoke volumes.
When the time for me to go to the school arrived, I’ll admit, I was feeling a little jumpy. And though, I was inwardly questioning the intelligence of the decision to venture out and leave the safety of our hiding place, I was also excited about doing something. I wasn’t used to having a lot of down time since my life before all this seemed endlessly fast paced. I loved my jobs almost as much as I loved being with the kids.
I loved it when Barbie’s girlfriend came over for dinner with the family and I watched Meggie’s confidence returning now that she felt safe. And when I thought of how Pete clung to Garbanzo, I got a lump in my throat. I really hoped Billy wouldn’t want the little puppy back once he came out of rehab. The kids had become attached to him so quickly.
At exactly five, there was a knock on the front door, and I watched as Nash got up from the couch to let his whole team in.I was surprised that they’d somehow gotten through the locked front gate but then remembered they’d probably have keycard access because this was an FBI safehouse. I had to admit, as one man after another walked into the house, my sense of safety increased with each new arrival.
They all had friendly smiles for me and slaps on the back for Nash. I felt inexplicably happy for him, knowing, perhaps for the first time, the meaning behind the word brothers. Though he always referred to them that way, it hadn’t really sunk in until I saw them all together in the relaxed setting of the living room. The easy banter between them was good to see, and now that I knew a little more about Nash’s lousy relationship with his parents, it was an added bonus.
“How are you feeling about tonight, Joshua?” the team medic, Agent Joy, asked as he walked over, coming to stand in front of me. I wasn’t really sure what he was referring to but the way he looked me up and down told me it wasn’t my mental health, and I smiled at him. His accent made him sound like he came from the British royal family, very upper-class, and Nash said he’d come from a long line of aristocrats but was somewhere way down the line of succession to the British throne.
“With all of you here, I feel safe.”
Though he quickly masked it, I detected a flicker of worry cross his face before he was able to school his features. He reached out and patted my shoulder. “Splendid. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
I frowned a bit. “I suppose you’ve checked out my classroom and the school itself then?”
