Page 48 of Forged in Steele

They worked together, Kelsey’s pencil whisking over the page, until the door opened. Bristol reached for her sidearm and spun. Teagan stepped in carrying the Diet Coke. Bristol relaxed, took the icy cold can from her cousin, and handed it to Mary.

She rested the catalog on her knees and eagerly clutched the soda. “Thank you. A boost of caffeine is exactly what I need.”

She popped the top, the fizz sputtering into the air, and slurped the drink. “I found the right nose when you’re ready for it.”

“Ready now,” Kelsey said.

Bristol didn’t want to bother them and risk slowing their progress. She quietly stepped across the room to Teagan.

“How’s it going?” Teagan whispered.

“Good, I think.” Bristol made sure to keep her voice down too.

Teagan studied Bristol as if she were looking at a suspect in an investigation.

“What?” Bristol tried to swallow down the discomfort of her older cousin’s study.

“You didn’t tell us Jared istheguy.” Teagan cocked her head. “The one who got away.”

This was the last thing Bristol needed to deal with right now. “Did he tell you that?”

Teagan shook her head. “When I got the Coke, I overheard Reed and Jared talking about you going undercover with him and that you had a past.”

Bristol should’ve known it would get back to her family and should’ve preemptively told them, but she didn’t want them to look down on Jared when he was leading the team. She didn’t want it to distract anyone. “There’s nothing to even think about.”

Teagan moved closer. “The looks you guys shared say something else.”

“It’s nothing. Really.” Bristol clutched her cousin’s arm for emphasis. “So don’t go blabbing it to the family. I don’t want any distractions when we’re looking for a baby.”

“If you say so.” Teagan mocked zipping her lips.

Bristol had no idea if her cousin would comply. The family wild card, she was completely unpredictable. She often did whatever she pleased, no matter the consequences. Sometimes her impulsive behavior hurt others. She didn’t plan to hurt them. She loved everyone deeply, but she was a leap-before-looking woman.

Bristol crossed her arms. “If you value us getting Luna back, then you’ll keep quiet.”

Teagan’s expression sobered. “On that note, I’ll head back to the dungeon and the videos.”

“You all going to work through the night?”

She nodded. “As you said, a baby is missing. None of us will sleep if we can help find her.”

Bristol gave her cousin an impromptu hug.

Teagan gripped Bristol tightly and then let go. “What was that for?”

“This is a hard one, and I needed a little comfort.”

“I’ll stay away then and force you to seek the comfort from a certain man who’s still into you.” Teagan grinned and slipped out of the room with a flourish.

Vowing not to need hugs from Jared, Bristol turned back to Kelsey. She’d moved on from the nose to the mouth and was turning the drawing around to show Mary. “How’s this?”

Mary sighed and slumped back in her chair. “That’s her. That’s the woman.”

“Thank you for all of your hard work.” Kelsey stood. “I’m sure this will be most helpful.”

Mary drained the last of her Diet Coke and set down the can. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.”

Bristol wanted to get the sketch out to law enforcement, and the sooner, the better. She crossed over to them to get Mary moving.

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