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“If what she shared on the way here is exactly as it happened, it sounds like Birmingham wasn't the one who plotted the initial poisoning anyway.” We all stand in silence until Sam speaks up again. “And if all this works out, she’ll move up to the president role, which means she'll have an even bigger target on her back. Are you two prepared for that when you can’t even figure out how he's hurting her now?”

I take a menacing step toward the fucker, but Tank's arm lashes out, smacking across my heaving chest.

“Yes, she'll be safe. And we'll figure out how he's still poisoning her.” He shoots a concerned look at me.

“I'm doing this for her,” Sam says, looking straight into my eyes. I bristle at the challenge behind the stare. “I'll back off the case—for now. But don't expect me to stay away, not when she's in danger because of what I've dragged her into. If you need anything from the DOJ office, just let me know.” With that, he nods to Tank and turns to the front door.

Only once the door is shut behind him and it's just me and Tank do I let the worry and fear for Randi sink in.

“What are we going to do?” I ask, pacing the small foyer once again. I feel like a caged animal. So much needs to be done, to be handled, but instead I'm standing here doing nothing.

The phone in my pocket vibrates for what feels like the hundredth time in the last few hours. I slide it out and glance at the screen, already knowing who it’ll be.

“She's getting clingy,” Tank remarks with a tilt of his head toward the phone in my hand.

I grunt in acknowledgment. “She keeps telling me she feels like someone is following her. That she's scared.”

He arches a brow. “Not like you to just ignore something like that.”

I shake my head. “Normally I wouldn't. You know that. But this feels fishy. It just all of a sudden happened out of the blue. My gut is telling me she's making it up and using it as a way to get me to come around more.”

“Well, she is your fiancée,” he says with a chuckle.

“Shut your damn mouth,” I say with a smirk. “Not too much longer.”

“Yeah, if your mother has any say in it, she'll be your wife by the end of the year.”

I shudder. “That will not happen.”

“Even if she can help us?”

“Jessica?”

“No, you clown. Your mother. We know she has inside eyes and ears on the team. Maybe we should use it to our advantage instead of trying to eradicate the rat.”

My brows dip as I think through all the different ways what he's suggesting could go wrong. But am I willing to sink deeper into metaphorical debt with my conniving family?

Yes.

Fuck yes.

Every day, yes.

19

Randi

December

Waves crash somewhere in the distance. Taeler screeches in excitement nearby before a loud splash meets my ears. A lazy smile tugs at my lips. Behind my borrowed sunglasses, I keep my eyes closed, knowing there are at least ten agents protecting me in the distance, plus the few standing close. A relaxed sigh passes my lips. Beneath me, the heat from the pool deck seeps up through the lounge chair, keeping me warm even though I'm in a bathing suit and the soft breeze is crisp.

“This is the life,” I say to no one in particular.

Peeking one eye open, I search for my hunky agent. Dressed in shorts, a snug Dryfit shirt that leaves nothing to the imagination, and armed to the teeth, he's sexy as hell.

Feeling the weight of my lusty stare, his gaze flicks to me.

“Aren't you glad we made you put the iPad down?”