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)
“Yes, especially since I can tie him.”
And why I didn’t see it before now, I don’t know, but it hits me like a sucker punch to the gut. Josie is the linchpin in this now.
I take my first sip of the Lagavulin and it tastes flat. “You’re the case.”
“I’m the case,” she agrees. “Malik wants to put me in protection… a safe house Jameson owns.”
“That’s a really good idea, Josie.”
“It’s not going to happen,” she says, and I can tell that this might have been an argument in her meeting today, but she won that battle. “I want to know about Voronin.”
“Because that was our deal,” I say with a faint smile.
“Because I want this case solved so I can get on with my life.”
“Both good reasons.” I take another sip of scotch. “What exactly are you looking for?”
“Anything that will help us, but I suspect your knowledge is rooted on the water. Do you have any other off-load locations other than the one on Fidalgo?” I hesitate in my answer, enough of a time lapse that it prompts her to add, “I will never give your name as the source of this information, Finn.”
Oddly, I believe her. “South Sound. It’s a private dock that he uses for smaller, irregular runs when he wants to avoid the north patrols. I can show you on a map.”
“Thank you,” she breathes out and I can see the gratitude in her eyes. It’s not what has me sharing more.
No, I want Voronin behind bars because that’s what will make Josie safe. “He only moves on the darkest nights. Always. The new moon and the few nights on either side of it. That’s the window. Anything outside that window, he’s not on the water.”
“That narrows it considerably.”
“The lunar calendar will be your best friend.”
She doesn’t say anything for a long moment, eyes searching mine to see if there’s any more to dig out. But there’s not.
“All right,” she finally says. “Now, let’s talk about us.”
“There’s no us,” I say, setting my glass down.
“What?” Her tone comes out soft but rough with shock.
“I need you to get out of Seattle. I just gave you information that should expedite the FBI’s ability to get Mikhail, which will get you Voronin.”
She looks at me. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re the case, Josie. You’re the witness who will link what happened on that dock to Voronin. You’re in danger and so you need to leave.”
“We don’t know that. I went into the water and—”
“Voronin is looking for you.”
Her mouth drops open but then closes as she frowns. “How could you possibly know that?”
“Mikhail came to see me yesterday. He’s looking for you.”
“The same Mikhail who tried to kill me?”
“The one and only. And he strongly suspects I was the boat out there. They most definitely are not assuming you’re dead. So you need to leave.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No,” she snaps in frustration. “I went through this argument already this morning and I won. I’m staying.”
“You won it because the FBI needs you to land this case.”
“I’m not leaving. I’m not the type who will ever walk away.”
I stand up and cross to the window. I look out at the dark water and the lights of Seattle across the bay because I need to not look at her for a second. “As someone who knows Voronin’s people, you’re making the wrong choice.”
“But it’s my choice.” I turn to look at her and find that she’s standing. Her glass is abandoned on the table, her arms crossed defensively. “I saw those women being marched off to slavery and I’m the same woman who for years has carried the burden of losing two operatives. I don’t get to look away from this and live with myself afterward. I’m picking the one option that will let me sleep at night.”
I take a step toward her. “You’re being stupid.”
Her arms drop and her chin lifts. “I’m being honest.”
I continue to move to her and she doesn’t back up. Lifts her chin a bit higher.
“I’m doing this with or without your help,” she murmurs just as I come toe to toe with her. Her head is tipped back, stubborn defiance in her eyes. “And I’m still waiting to hear whether you were being serious when you said you wanted a second date.”
The fight in my chest competes with the need there. I can’t seem to separate them, so I pull Josie to me and kiss her.
It’s not the kiss from when we were on the Catherine. That was the kiss a man gives a beautiful woman after a romantic dinner. This kiss is representative of a man who’s just been told by the woman he’s falling for that she won’t move from a path that’s going to get her killed.
It’s rougher… faster.
And fuck if she doesn’t kiss me back in the same way with the same desperation.