Page 34 of Lost Without You

“Querida…”

“Mama…”

Ethan kept his mouth shut as Rachel and Tina entered a stalemate.

“We have more important matters to discuss than my sex life,” Rachel commented as groans and ‘stop talking’ rang out from Ryker and Wes’s side of the table.

“I’m serious. There’s something about the investigation you need to know and that’s why we had to see you today.” She paused and shook her head. “I’m actually scared to talk about it.”

Ethan took her hand and kissed it, uncaring what anyone around them thought of the intimate gesture. “Ethan?”

Ryker and Wes needed to be told about the existence of the disk to begin with. Ethan squeezed her hand and then proceeded to tell everyone what was going on. Then Ethan went over the implications of what they found and their decision to go to the FBI with this information. He also mentioned her suspicion about the hotel room even though they had no proof. And the potential issues moving forward.

Everyone requested more coffee and inundated Ethan with questions. He couldn’t blame them. This was a lot to take in.

Ryker surprised everyone by offering to help. “I know I wasn’t entirely supportive, but if what’s on that disk is true, HJR was knowingly committing fraud—and maybe worse—if Dad and that guy Finley come into play. Fuck, they might have hurt Dad, or threatened him and that’s why he left. Holy shit, that’s a total mindfuck.”

“But there’s a real risk to this, Ry. What about your family plans?”

Ryker looked at Wes and an unspoken look passed between them. Wes nodded in return. “We can hold off for another year if needed. I’m not going to let you go through this alone. Not anymore,” he reached out and took Rachel’s hand and she gave a teary nod.

“And I’d like to help,” Ryker paused and looked at Ethan. “I was an investigative journalist and I still have contacts. Maybe I could dig into HJR?”

“Not yet. Let us talk to the FBI first.”

“Anything you need. Anything, just let me know,” Ryker answered as Wes put his arm around his husband.

“That goes for me, too,” Wes replied in a serious tone.

Tina had been silent for a while and Ethan looked to her.

“I seem to be the only one who’s hesitant about taking this any further,” she finally commented as she looked tearfully between her children. “Maybe the past is better left where it is if it means endangering your lives. But I know my Rachel and Ryker, stubborn till the end. Just promise to be careful and don’t hide anything from me. Promise?”

Everyone agreed.

Two hours later, Ethan and Rachel were sitting across from Dalton again in the same conference room at the FBI field office. Dalton’s stoic expression and intense aura sucked the air right out of the room. Ethan was curious about why Dalton worked in the white-collar division. The man’s demeanor suggested he’d be more useful at facing off against the more hardened criminal personalities, like in BAU.

Ethan went through the same rundown for Dalton’s reference and passed over the disk as well as Lane’s analysis and contact information. Dalton’s expression never wavered except for one small eyebrow raise when Lane’s name was mentioned.

“I know of Lane, but we’ve never met. I’ll need time to review this and run it by my supervisor. Can you give me a few days?” Dalton asked.

“We don’t have any other choice, do we?” Rachel replied with a shrug.

Dalton nodded and stood up. “In the meantime, I’ll head over to the hotel. Unofficially at this point, but I’ll do a quick sweep with your permission. I suggest you both keep a low profile.”

Ethan stood up in turn. “I think it’s best that Rachel and I fly back to California. We can continue our research and maybe if we leave, Harrison will think we’ve given up.”

“I think that’s wise,” Dalton nodded and reached over to shake Rachel’s hand and then Ethan’s. “I’ll stop by the hotel in two hours.”

“We’ll see you then,” Ethan remarked as they headed for the door.

“I guess I have flights to book,” Rachel murmured as they wandered down the narrow hallway to the elevator. She pressed the button and the doors opened.

“Sorry if I overstepped back there, but given the time we have to wait, it just occurred to me that we’d be better off heading back. Are you okay with that plan?” Ethan asked as they entered the small elevator.

Rachel leaned her weight into him once the doors closed. A surge of desire and something like relief flooded his body.

“I agree with you. I’m just not very patient and I was hoping Dalton could start working right away.”

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