Page 101 of ILY
I can admit to myself now that all I’d wanted to do was wrap him in a blanket, feed him soup, and then make him come until all the stress left his body. I wanted his hands all over me. I wanted to feel the rumble of his moans, to hear the tremble in his voice as he begged for more, to feel the tension of his body as I tipped him over the edge.
And now I want even more.
I want forever. I want to go scorched earth on this case and this property and build something new from the ashes. I want to give him the life he’s always wanted. A life that means he doesn’t have to stress or work or chase random, vindictive groundhogs around.
The immediate future is already set. I’m going to turn this case over to my colleagues once I have enough evidence for them to go on. Then we’ll head back to Portland until he’s given the okay to return, and…
And…
Shit. I’ll probably start packing the moment we get there. I’ll push up my retirement and sign everything I need to so I can get my pension. I’ll say my goodbyes, cancel all my doctor appointments, and find a way to make this place a home.
Which won’t be hard.
Not with Leaf.
But for now, I have this daunting task ahead of me.
With a heavy grunt, I try one more time to open the fucking cellar door, but I can’t get it to budge. The thing has been purposefully sealed so it would take a demolition crew to get in, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it took even that team an entire day to break through.
It’s wild to think that a woman directly related to Leaf could be capable of all of this. I move to the kitchen chair and sink down, staring at my phone.
I have a few more steps I need to take. The second is to finish a more thorough search of the property, but the first is to make a call I don’t want to make because I didn’t tell Leaf I was going to do it.
I’m just not sure I have a choice.
In one of the cabinets, I found Lynda’s old address book, and there was a number inside for her son. I don’t think Rain is going to appreciate me dragging him back into his mom’s bullshit, but if anyone can tell whether she was acting strange or suspicious over the years, it would be him.
Leaf already told me Rain mostly lived with his dad, but it’s the only lead I’ve got with a connection to her.
I just pray Leaf forgives me for not telling him first. Picking up my phone, I put in the number, then hit the button for FaceTime. My breath sits heavy in my chest as I wait.
And wait.
And I’m pretty sure he’s not going to pick up. Shit. My number comes up as unknown, of course. Thanks to my status with the FBI, my profile can’t be listed on my iPhone account.
I’m about to hang up when suddenly the screen goes black, and a second later, a face appears.
He looks a lot like Leaf, which is strange—a bit older but the same hair and similar eyes. His narrow on me, and he clears his throat. “Yes?” he asks aloud.
His Deaf accent is very thick. I turn and prop my phone up on the taller cabinet so I can use both hands. ‘Hi. My name is Thorne Logasson. I’m with the FBI.’
Rain’s eyes widen. ‘FBI?’ he repeats, then licks his lips. ‘You sign?’
‘Hard of hearing,’ I tell him, then turn my head and pull my ear down so he can see the edge of my hearing aid. ‘I’m not fluent, but I’m learning.’
He looks suitably impressed, and I’ll take it because that expression is not going to last very long after I tell him why I’m calling. And as if on cue, he leans his face toward his phone screen.
‘Are you at my mom’s?’
I sigh. ‘Yes. I’m investigating her.’
He sits back, his brows furrowed. ‘You know she died? My cousin lives in the house now.’
I do everything in my power not to blush, but I feel my ears getting hot in spite of my willpower. ‘I know. Leaf and I…the two of us…’ My fingers hesitate, even when my brain doesn’t want to. ‘Friends.’
Rain’s eyes flare wide just for a second, and one side of his nose raises twice. Something Denver taught in class. It means he understands. I appreciate that he doesn’t ask me to clarify. ‘What are you investigating?’
I take another deep breath and roll my eyes toward the ceiling for a second. This part of the job never gets easy. Especially when the person I’m talking to is kind, and Rain seems very kind.
