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“Those two are having an affair,” Callum said, subtly jerking his chin toward a couple on the other side of the room. He liked the image of himself as hovering above the fray, but really, he enjoyed drama. “Both married to other people, who are both here.”
He inclined his head toward another couple, also standing too close to each other.
Shay spotted both pairs and laughed. “No, babe, it’s a foursome.”
Callum choked on his drink and then studied all of them for a minute. “Or they’re cheating to get back at their respective partners and being as obvious as their spouses are to rub it in their faces.”
“I like my way better,” Shay said. And then nudged him to give her more details about these people he’d worked so closely with for so long. As he did, the tension slowly bled out of his shoulders, and she got two almost-smiles out of him.
It was a good night.
Shay began making noises about being exhausted around midnight, despite the fact that this was pretty much afternoon for her normal schedule. Still, Callum got it, because, inexplicably maybe, he gother.
“Just let me pop by my office. I have a file I want to get,” he said. “Five minutes.”
She nodded and then tried to blend into the wall so no one would talk to her. Despite being in a yearslong relationship with an FBI agent, she’d never grown comfortable around law enforcement. She couldn’t imagine that changing just because they were all toasted.
“It was nice that you guys could come,” Xander Pierce said, slipping into the spot Callum had vacated.
Shay cursed quietly. She hadn’t even noticed him crossing the room. “It was nice of you to invite him. He doesn’t really have steady colleagues otherwise.”
“Hate the circumstances, but love the silver lining of being able to work with him,” Pierce said, and he sounded genuine. But men like him tended to sound genuine even as they lied to your face. Maybe he didn’t think of it as a lie. He just didn’t want to admit, even to himself, to throwing a wrench in Callum’s life. Maybe she was creating drama where none existed.
“I know he feels the same,” Shay said, both diplomatically and truthfully. Callum didn’t suspect Pierce had been the one to block his transfer, after all.
“This probably isn’t any of my business,” Pierce said, and Shay fought a wince. No conversation that started like that ended in any other way than Shay wanting to punch someone. “But are you carrying anything?”
Shay reeled back, her hand on her womb. Then her brain caught up with the fact that he wasnotasking about her pregnancy in one of the weirdest ways possible. “Uh ... no?”
He nodded like that was what he’d expected. “I know Kilkenny likes to keep his work separate, but if you ever need guidance on getting a gun license ...”
“Um ...” She was nearly married to an FBI agent. If she needed help, she’d ask him. But Pierce was watching her with an intensity that made her want to step back. “Okay. Thanks.”
“I know you leave work late,” Pierce continued, and Shay did shift back this time. Of course, he’d come to the bar—he knew what her job was. It was still strange to have him reference it like that. “The attacks are ramping up. I just want everyone to be vigilant.”
And she wanted this conversation to end. “Right.”
He leaned in closer, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath. “Look, Kilkenny would never say this. But. I think it might be wise to distance yourself from him a bit.”
“What?” Shay said, moving from scared to angry as she slowly realized what this all was. He was hitting on her.
“No one wants to talk about it, but it happens. Wives, girlfriends ... they get targeted by these monsters,” Pierce continued. He didn’t sound drunk, but he must be. “I’m just saying, you might want to think about your own safety. It might be easier to end things now before you get hurt. Or worse.”
“I don’t think that’s any of your f—”
“Hey.” Kilkenny stepped up behind her, his hand resting on the small of her back, as it had all night.
Shay stared at the floor so she wouldn’t have to meet Pierce’s eyes. The conversation had unnerved her more than it should have. There was nothing strange about the agent in charge of a serial-killer task force warning the women in his vicinity to be vigilant. And probably he’d crossed the line there at the end, but she’d experienced much worse on a normal Wednesday at the bar. If he remembered this tomorrow, he’d probably be mortified.
“Are you ready?” she asked, trying to force a smile for Callum.
“Yes,” Callum said, before shaking hands with Pierce. “See you in the New Year.”
“Hopefully not too soon,” Pierce said, seeming to settle back into himself. He didn’t look at Shay, just turned to the group of people behind them, all of whom welcomed him with raucous greetings.
The drive back to the hotel was quiet, and Callum kept shooting her curious glances. Finally, just as they were about to turn into the parking lot, he asked, “Did Pierce say something to you?”
Shay debated telling him. But what would she say?Yes, he told me to be careful and it creeped me out?