Page 65 of Special Agent Isabella

“What do you mean?”

“Quit hedging. You know exactly what I mean. We were wrapped in each other’s arms, sleeping. Though we hadn’t had sex, one might think so. Therefore, she decided… we’re now a couple.”

Bella heard his words, and remembered his earlier love message being silently articulated, but noticed there still hadn’t been any talk of commitment. Finally sick of the tippy toeing, she blurted out her truth. “I don’t allow men to hold me all night unless I care about them and want a relationship with them. Maybe it’s different for you.”

Tanner’s wonderful face brightened from a smile so tender, she felt compelled to lean over to place a kiss on his lips. His husky tone reverberated through her whole body, making it tingle. “You’re mine. You know that, right? Always have been.”

Gulping back threatening tears, his announcement filled with the most beautiful, yearned for words she’d ever heard, she nodded and put her forehead against his. “Yeah, okay then. I’m yours and you’re mine.”

They continued on to Stacy’s home, holding hands while driving. Both lost in their own worlds. Once they pulled into the driveway, flashing their badges at the guards posted there, they saw the devastation the shooters had created the night before.

“Oh, my God. How disgusting!” Anger sparked in Bella’s tone. “Even though I was here when it happened, I never really took the time to see it from the front. Look at all those bullet holes in the house and where they put up plywood to cover the broken windows. People have gone loco, Tanner. Shooting at a place when they had to have known a child lived there. Then making sure we can’t find them by destroying their truck. Talk about extremists.”

“Bastards.” Tanner nodded at her words, disgust obvious in his narrowed eyes and tightened mouth. “Look, I promised to work with Vinny today. He’s going to direct me to those dark-web hideouts where all the sicko lurkers tend to hang out. We’ll come up with some names, and when we do, I’ll have the whole FBI on them like a buildup of dust after a freak tornado. It’s time to put an end to this bullshit.”

“I want in.” She swiveled his way so quickly, she almost knocked over the coffee cups in the holder.

“You have to care for Abbie, Bella. The kid trusts you. In fact, Stacy texted; she’s waiting for you so she can go into the office. I have no doubt she won’t allow anyone else to care for her precious daughter, and I don’t blame her.”

Bella nodded slowly. “Right. Fine. I’ll stick with the kid but it’s killing me not to be on the streets with the rest of you. I want to catch those sick sons of bitches so bad, my skin’s crawling.”

He shut off the car and turned her way. Reaching to caress her cheek, he crooned, “My bloodthirsty baby.”

Laughing, she leaned into his hand for a few seconds before pulling away and getting out of the car. “Just keep that in mind if you ever decide to be a bad boy.”

ChapterFifty-Two

They walked together into the kitchen and found Collin and Vinny at the table while Nan had Abbie at the counter helping to take the dishes from the dishwasher.

As soon as the child saw them, she ran to throw herself first into Tanner’s arms and then leaned over to make the change to be with Bella.

“Hi, munchkin. What kind of trouble are you getting into today?” Bella couldn’t believe how happy she was to see the kid. Smiles filled her face, and she wanted to hide away before others saw her acting so juvenile and needy.

Abbie gave her a serious look. “I want to go and find the bullets, but Collin says I can’t. He says the police already picked them all up. Are they going to find the men who tried to kill our house?”

Looking over the child’s head into Tanner’s wickedly gleeful eyes, she laughed. “Yep. Those bad guys had better watch themselves because the police are gonna catch them. It’s against the law to shoot people’s houses.”

“Good. Their mommies should talk to them about being bad too. Then maybe they’ll stop it.”

Bella thought about the child’s words and took them seriously. “Sweet pea, this country has a kind of mommy substitute that we call a judge. They’ll be holding what’s known as a trial and making sure those bad dudes are told all about what is against the law. Then they’ll make them take a time out in a special place called a jail.”

“Good. Because they need to smarten up and behave better from now on. Right?”

“Right.” Bella tried hard not to laugh but her eyes gave her away and she knew Tanner saw it. He chuckled as did the other adults in the room. Then he turned to speak with Vinny.

Knowing she would be expected to be there for Abbie, she wasn’t surprised when Stacy opened the door to join them.

“Hi, Bella. I’m glad to see you back here with Abbie. I have to go into the office today. Bruce says it’s bedlam around there. They need me to show up. Maybe then, things will quiet down, and we can get back on track with the work of the government.”

Bella lowered Abbie and they both watched as she ran to the housekeeper to help her bring food to the table. In a few seconds, she balanced a fruit platter all by herself. Then Nan stepped up with a tray filled with steamy, wonderful smelling dishes loaded with pancakes, bacon and eggs and added those to the table.

Next, Nan surprised them with the tone in her voice and her next order. “Both of you, sit down. We have to eat in the kitchen for now.” She gently moved Abbie’s blonde hair over her shoulders, pretending not to notice when her touch slipped the wig back into place. “Our Abbie has been waiting to eat breakfast with you, and she’s helped me prepare a fancy meal, so take a few minutes.”

No one had the nerve to ignore her order. Instead, they all picked out seats, Tanner making sure to be next to Bella. Then Collin, Nan, Vinny, Abbie, and Stacy found places. Abbie beamed around at those passing the plates and voiced her feelings out loud. “I’m happy today. I like eating in here.” She turned to stare at her mom sitting next to her. “But you look sad, Mommy. Are you okay?”

Stacy reached for her daughter and gave her a hug. Looking at the others, she added, “How quickly children recapture their happy moods.” She kissed Abbie’s cheek and admitted, “It’s Daddy’s and my eighth anniversary today, honey. We should have been celebrating it together.”

“I can cel-brate with you.” Abbie’s small hand patted her mother’s.

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