Page 63 of Special Agent Isabella

Before they were able to set the pot on for tea, the phone rang, and they bustled around getting ready to go on a mission to Fulton House.

* * *

At first, when Stacy, Vinny, and Abbie had returned to the governor’s mansion, she’d been ecstatic. Sadly, it didn’t last long. Once Stacy had been brought up to date on the drive-by shooting that happened earlier, disgust and exhaustion hit hard.

She rubbed the tightening bands around her forehead, realizing that even headache medication wasn’t helping with the stress anymore. “I never dreamed anyone would shoot up my home while my daughter was in it. Will this nightmare never end?”

Collin, who’d been eyeing Vinny from the first moment they’d met, had finally backed off once he recognized a fellow veteran. Seeming more relaxed, he spoke to Stacy. “I promise you this. The wee one and yerself will be safe, ma’am. Ye can go to your bed now and catch up on your sleep. Mr. Vinny and I’ll stand guard as well as the police officers outside that are still here.”

Vinny nodded, his hands in his pockets and his complexion pale. “I guess I never really believed those crazy fools would go this far. I see it clearly now what a bunch of maniacs they’ve become.”

“Theyare. They.” Stacy stared at Vinny until he looked at her. “Notyou.” She jiggled the sleeping child still in her arms and nodded. “I’d better go to bed. She won’t let me put her down, and we both need more sleep. It’s been a hell of a long night.”

* * *

Stacy tiptoed from the bed where Abbie was still sleeping. Her daughter had been thrilled to see her mommy again and had refused to be parted, even after they’d returned home. Now, in the late morning, she had a million chores rushing through her head and didn’t know where to start. God, how dismal her future looked some days.

If she didn’t have such a beautiful child depending on her and a constituent of many fine people outnumbering the few wild ones, she’d take a job at a law firm and stop putting herself in this foolish danger.

She’d never intended on going this far in the government. Being a US Senator had filled her with quiet pride, and she’d relished the work. Fulfillment had blossomed while performing for the people and trying desperately to instigate new laws and find ways to vote in the benefits she’d promised them in her earlier campaign speeches.

Unfortunately, one can’t forecast how the world might play games with their future. A governor whose politics she never agreed with, up and has a fatal heart attack while the lieutenant governor gets indicted for fraud, which means she’s forced to step up and take on the leading role.

She’s also left with a mess in the state senate. A bunch of representatives, who don’t like her or her politics, have become more aggressive… trying to force her to sign off on a bundle of laws she doesn’t agree with. How’s that for facing the day with a smile.

Stiffening her backbone with words like “fuck it”, she got ready for the coming day. One can only do their best. Live up to your own high standards.Those were the words her late husband had said while she’d been on the campaign trail. And those sentiments were even more important today.

Yet, facing these trials and ordeals alone sucked. She whimpered before biting her lip. Then whispering a prayer to her beloved Hank, she got on with her mind-boggling list of chores.

God knows, she was facing a busy time ahead. Now if only Tanner and Bella could catch the son of a bitches who wanted her dead, she’d be able to sleep at night without fear for her own and her daughter’s safety. Getting the proper rest every night would go a long way to making her days more tolerable.

ChapterFifty-One

“What do you mean she’s gone?” Tanner followed Bella to the bedroom where he could see the rumpled empty bed for himself.

Sitting on the edge, gripping her arms as if to ward off pain, she blurted, “Demi’s not in the bathroom. I checked.”

Tanner stopped heading toward the door and turned back to the woman who’s misery was palpable. “Don’t be so down, baby. She’s probably just gone home.”

“No doubt, but she won’t stay there.”

Tanner sat beside Bella, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. “What makes you say that?” He kept his tone warm like heated honey, wanting to be sensitive to her obvious misery.

“She whispered goodbye last night.”

“You mean when you left the bedroom?”

“Yes. Unlike Demi, she gave me a hug and said thank you for being there for her. I said, of course. Then, when I added goodnight,shesaid goodbye. I thought it strange at the time but when I looked back, her eyes were already closed, and she seemed to be drifting off.”

“Look, let’s just give her a call. I’m sure she wanted to get back to the center. You know what a mama bear she is about that place.”

“Not so much lately. I’ve sensed a change and just found out the reason last night. I don’t know a lot about it, but earlier she said she’s thinking they might be forced to move out of Fulton House.”

“Seriously? Poor Demi. That would destroy her.”

“I’d have thought so too, but when she told me, she seemed almost indifferent. Since that first incident with Hewie, the kid who came looking for trouble with a gun and returned last night, I’ve noticed a difference in her attitude. I don’t know how to explain it. After she told me about Alan, I put it down to her falling for the guy and being in love.”

At that point, Bella hid her face in his neck, and he knew she’d become weepy and wasn’t willing for him to see her in such a state. He rubbed her arm and nestled his head over hers, trying to show his support.

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