Page 144 of Tapped

I could kick my own ass for thinking slow was the right answer to anything. I had to fight every instinct not to tell her exactly the way I feel and convince her to be my wife as soon as possible.

Like yesterday.

The moment she’s back in my arms, I’m going to make sure we don’t take our time with anything. She deserves the world. I’m going to give it to her and do the same for Chase.

“Fuck,” I bite. “They’re two streets over from the warehouse where the drugs were stored. How did we miss that?”

Brax changes lanes to pass a string of cars. “We didn’t miss anything. They did a hell of a job hiding it. We’ll get to her. Keep your shit together.”

I shake my head and point to the right. “Take the shoulder. There’s no way we’ll make the next five miles in rush hour if you don’t.”

This isn’t the first time Brax and I have sped down the highway with lights and sirens pushing the envelope. Debris and trash fly up behind us from driving the part of the highway that never sees traffic.

“Koening,” I grit. “We knew he was on the loose, but fuck. Had I known she’d be a target…”

“No one had a reason to believe she would be. Braim has been behind bars for weeks—they’re connecting cold cases to him left and right. There was no indication Evie was on anyone’s radar.”

“Her name has been in the news because of Michaels. I didn’t think anyone in the organization gave a shit about him.”

The radio comes alive and alerts us that units in the area are closing in on the warehouse. The lieutenant on duty instructs the officers to stay back and wait for backup.

Fuck that. I’ll go in guns blazing by myself if I have to.

“Dammit. Hurry up, Brax.”

He hits the gas. I reach out and hold the dashboard as the SUV narrowly fits between traffic and the guardrail.

“If I take the next exit, I can take the backstreets through the warehouse district. Do you want me to chance it at rush hour?”

“Do it. The closer you can get me, the better. I’ll go on foot if I have to.”

“Shit. Hang on.” Brax grips the steering with both hands as the right side of his government car squeals against the guardrail to avoid a minivan that’s hugging the shoulder. I look out the back to see sparks fly in our wake. “Tim will love that. We’re getting off this damn highway. I hope you’re ready to run in that suit.”

“Just get me as close to her as you can.”

35

FOREVER

Evie

“The way I see it, you hooked up with the DEA agent to rat out your husband. Don’t try to tell me that guy with his hand on your ass and who looks like he could inhale you in one breath isn’t a pig. The attorney saw you himself this afternoon and watched him in the courtroom while motions were made against my people. His name is Emmett and he’s a fucking narc.”

Teddy has lost his patience.

I cry out when he jerks me to the side and pushes me into a folding chair. The cell phone shifted in my bra. I yank myself from his hold and cross my arms to hold it in place.

And pray someone gets here fast.

Teddy turns to the other guy who’s been content to witness the show his boss is putting on. “When will they be here?”

He looks at his watch and shrugs. “Anytime, but you know he’s always late.”

Shit. There are more coming.

Teddy turns back to me and stoops to a crouch. He brings a hand up, and I jerk when he touches my bare knee. That doesn’t deter him, and he draws circles on my skin with the tips of his fingers.

It doesn’t matter how hot and sticky this warehouse is, goosebumps spread across my body in disgust.

---