Page 10 of Blood and Sand

“In the parish?” I asked, surprised the small parish would have a serial killer. “Why haven’t I seen anything on the news, or why hasn’t it come across the FBI wire?”

“Yes, we have a serial killer in the parish, and the higher-ups are keeping a lid on it. Right now, the murders are only being reported on locally. With the number of bodies this guy is racking up, it won’t be long before it becomes a national story.”

“Rey, you know you have to go through official channels in order for the FBI to get involved, and your case definitely isn’t coming across my desk here in Atlanta. But if you would like my help specifically, you could request the Louisiana field office call me in once the locals ask for their help.”

“I know all that, DeeDee, but that’s why I asked foryourhelp, not the FBI’s.”

“Rey, this isn’t like when I was in school, my job…”

He held up his hand, stopping my protest of getting involved in local matters without clearance from the FBI. I worked on cases both locally and nationally, but never without a request from the local authorities. Even with outside cases, prosecutors or defense attorneys that needed my help had to be cleared by Steele, and there was some sort of pissing contest the local and federal authorities had with one another. One I had been thrust in the middle of many times.

“Listen, Mama Wright told me you were heading home for an extended vacation.”

“Of course, she did,” I mumbled, rubbing my temples. “Why is my grandmother giving you details on what I’m doing, Rey?”

He smirked. “Because she loves me.”

I shook my head, chuckling. He was right. My grandmother thought the sun rose and set on whatever Rey LaCroix did, and if this case got us to spend more time together, she would be all for it. She gave me hell for walking out on Rey like I did, although she understood why I had no other choice.

“Okay, give me the basics of the case, and I’ll call you in a couple of days to see if I can make any headway.”

I rose from my seat, walked around my desk, and stood in front of the man who still held my heart in his hands.

“Thank you. We need all the help we can get on this one.Ineed all the help I can get. It was good seeing you again, DeeDee.” Gathering me into his arms, he held me tightly, his embrace feeling like home. “I missed you so much.”

“It was good seeing you too, Rey.”

I laid my head against his chest, inhaling his scent, listening to the sound of his heartbeat and relishing the feel of being in his arms again. I missed him too, but I kept that to myself. He tightened his hold as though if he let me go, I’d disappear. The tap on the door brought me out of the place I had longed to be for the past three years.

“Dana…” Aaron called out in a harsh tone, and I stepped out of Rey’s arms.

“I’m sorry, Dr. LaCroix. I explained to Agent Hart you couldn’t be disturbed, but he refused to listen,” Renee angrily said.

“It’s all right, Renee. I’ll be with you in one minute, Agent Hart.” I looked past Rey into the eyes of a man who looked like he wanted to burn the world to the ground.

Rey handed me the expandable file folder and had that smug ass smirk stretched across his face. He was up to something.

“Don’t do it,” I mouthed, causing his smile to widen.

Shit!

“It was good seeing you again, DeeDee, but no need to call me later. Mama invited me for the weekend.” He looked down at the wristwatch I’d given him on our second wedding anniversary, then back at me.Is he still wearing his wedding ring?“My plane leaves in a couple of hours. I’ll see you at home.”

He leaned down, placing a kiss on my cheek.

“Did you have to say that?” I whispered in his ear where no one else could hear.

He stood, winked, and shrugged. He knew exactly what the hell he’d done. So, he knew who Aaron was.Asshole.He sauntered out of my office, bypassing Aaron, giving him his signature smirk.

Aaron was seething, and although we were in that off-again stage of our relationship, he’d made it clear what he wanted from me and had just been in my bed this morning. So, he had a right to be angry.

Before he could speak, I held up my hand, stopping him. It was time for me to be an adult and let Aaron go. He was too good of a man for me to string along. Comfort, sex, and the need for companionship caused me to cling to him, but I needed to be honest with him and with myself. I hadn’t gotten over Rey, and I didn’t know if I could, especially if he wanted me to help him with this case.

We would be around each other a lot more, and old feelings hadn’t died. Well, at least on my end, they hadn’t. Apparently, not on Rey’s, either, since he still wore his wedding ring. Aaron deserved to know where I stood with him. I wasn’t going to be his wife, and until I got over Rey, I couldn’t be with him or anyone else.

“Shut the door, Agent Hart.” I sat behind my desk. “We need to talk.”

This conversation had been a long time coming.

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