Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 86450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
From the corner of my eye, I can see Marcus jolt. “Oh.”
“We had dinner on the Catherine,” I say, turning to face him fully.
He blinks in surprise.
Because he knows what that means. I don’t bring anyone on the Catherine. That boat is my sanctuary. It belongs to me, the one thing that doesn’t touch any other parts of my life. It has no part in my criminal underworld and represents the small part of my life that is good and normal.
“You must like her very much,” Marcus finally says.
“I like her way more than I should.” I look at him meaningfully. “And I’m going to keep her safe, Marcus. Whatever it takes and if Connie—”
“She won’t,” he assures me. “I’ll keep her in check.”
I stare at him, a silent message that I won’t tolerate her going off the rails.
“She’s scared, Finn,” Marcus says in a low voice. “Cut her a little slack. She’s had your back for a long time and deserves a little credit.”
I’m slightly chastened. “Yeah… fine.” I rub my neck, lifting my eyes back to Marcus. “Are you going to tell me I’m being stupid?”
He grins at me, bright white smile. “For following your heart? Never. But I am going to tell you to be careful. This is a dangerous game you’re playing with Voronin. You and I both know Mikhail wasn’t here to try to get information. He was here because they suspect it was us there that night.”
“I know,” I say on a long exhale. “Maybe I should stay away from Josie. Would that be the best way to keep her safe?”
“Maybe,” he says but then claps me on the shoulder. “But I’m going to tell you to eat the cheesecake.”
My chin jerks inward, an eyebrow shoots up. “What does that even mean?”
“You know… life’s too short. Eat cheesecake. Josie’s the cheesecake.”
“An incredibly weird metaphor,” I point out.
“You get what I’m saying,” he says, taking a few steps backward. He lifts a hand, points it at me. “I got your back, brother.”
“I know you do,” I murmur and watch as he turns on his heel and heads toward The Quartermaster.
I get in my truck and drive home. I think about Josie’s hand at the side of my neck last night and the way her breath caught. I think about Mikhail and the certainty if he gets his hands on Josie, she’s dead.
Lastly, I think about Marcus telling me to eat the cheesecake and I wonder just how stupid it would be of me to pursue something with Josie.
It could end very badly for both of us.
CHAPTER 8
Josie
Valerie Royce has been with the FBI for almost twenty years and after talking to her for no more than thirty seconds, you know she’s a force to be reckoned with. I met her just over a month ago during our onboarding meeting for the Voronin case and have had several conversations with her since.
Today we’re having an in-person strategy session and I’m grateful I’ve been invited to attend. Apparently, Malik isn’t completely sidelining me from this case.
Valerie is set up in the main conference room at the end of the large table, laptop open and her files arranged. She has silver streaks through her dark hair, which is cut just above her shoulders and pinned back on the sides. She’s wearing a sharp navy pantsuit with sensible shoes she can run in if needed. I wore something similar every day of my career with the NSA.
There’s a junior agent beside her—a younger man with the eager posture of someone who’s not been in the bureau long enough to lose the impulse to take notes on everything.
Malik’s at the opposite end of the table, Cole to his left and Reid to his right. Cole lifts his chin in greeting to me; Reid winks. Malik nods to the chair beside Reid and I drop down in it, opening my laptop so I can take notes.
We all chitchat for a few minutes and two more Jameson agents stroll in—Avery Wright and Joe Fanasick. They’re both regular field agents and will probably be handling front-line grunt work from here on out.
Malik leans forward when everyone’s settled. “All right, let’s begin. Agent Royce.”
Royce straightens in her chair. “As you know, today is a recap to see where both sides are on the Voronin investigation and further develop our game plan.”
She taps a few keys on her laptop and a slideshow begins on the flat screen hanging at mid-wall. She walks us through the bureau’s two-year history with Anatoli Voronin and does so without flourish or notes. It’s clear it’s been a long part of her life trying to take down this human trafficker.
I’ve heard this background before, but there are new members on the team. I don’t mind listening in again. I’m so heavily invested on an emotional level, every reiterated fact is like fuel for me.