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“My offer still stands to pay for your PI licenses. I’ll even throw in self-defense classes,” Marcus offers, which causes Maren to laugh.

I’m scared to respond, until I feel Walker’s chest vibrating.

“Why don’t we talk more about it when I get back in a few weeks. Maybe when the scene we walked into isn’t so fresh in my head?” Walker suggests.

“Got it,” Marcus concedes. “Now, can we get your stuff and get the hell out of this room? I don’t know what you gave that guy, but it fucking reeks in here.”

Now, I do join them in laughing, thankful that Marcus found a way to break the icy tension in the room.

Chapter 25

Walker

My frustration has ricocheted to an all-time high. Another day and night spent with little action. We know there’s something going down; we just can’t seem to catch a break.

Now that the DEA is fully involved, our team of five has expanded by a dozen. For the last week, I’ve been in Columbia with Agents Kelly and Ross, while Oliver has been with Agent Collins in Myrtle Beach. SLED has other agents in different cities around the state. Tomorrow, we’ll be rotating, and I’ll be in Beaufort for however many days until I’m told to go to the next location.

“You got anything else?” Kelly questions me.

“Only the gut feeling that these people know we’re onto them. The same thing I keep telling you.”

“And I keep telling you, patience is the name of this game.”

“Patience is my least admirable virtue.”

He huffs, shaking his head. “You turn into a grouchy fucker when you don’t get your way.”

“It’s not getting my way that’s my problem.”

He understands my meaning. “I guess I can see your point. If I had to go to a hotel room every night, knowing I had an Emi in my bed, I’d be tense, too.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“I see you get it, but warning, don’t mention Emi in your bed ever again.”

“You make it too easy to for me to ignore.”

I stand, even more irritated. “I’m out. See you in the morning.”

“I hope you bring a better attitude tomorrow, Walker. This whole broody and miserable vibe is starting to kill my mojo,” he calls after me.

I flip him off, cursing under my breath.

When I get to my truck, it’s after eleven, but Emi will be up waiting on my call. She always is. Besides a few texts during the day, this is the only time I get to call her. Being surrounded by a bunch of men every minute of the day has become my life.

She answers, unusually chipper for this time of night. “Hey, sweetie!”

“Thought you may be close to sleep.”

“I can’t sleep. I’m too excited.”

“Excited about what?”

She goes quiet, a ruffling on the other end of the line, then she starts to backtrack. “I guess excited is not a good word, maybe anxious. I’ve been waiting for your call.”

Her tone changes, and my first thought is that she’s hiding something from me. But since the night in the hotel, she’s kept her word. I’ve had Marcus keeping an eye on her and Maren.

“Guess what?”

“What?”