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“I’ll be there,” he tells whoever is on the other end and hangs up.

I let go of my death grip and try to step back, but he still has one hand framing my face and neck.

“Baby, I have to go.”

“I heard.”

“We’re not done with this conversation.”

“We’re having a conversation?”

“We were about to. You’ve given me a gift I’ve been waiting for since you marched your sweet little ass into my station shooting fire about your car. I didn’t know it until the words came out of your mouth, but I’ve been waiting.”

“You have?”

“Oh, yeah, Emi.”

My parents choose this exact moment to come back into the room, chatting about lunch. Walker kisses the tip of my nose and steps back, leaving me on still shaky legs.

I only catch a few words as he explains to my parents he has been called back to work. A thousand thoughts run through my head, but the one thing that sticks out is that he didn’t say it back.

Chapter 15

Walker

It took exactly five seconds for my mood to change from mad to downright pissed off. Agent Kelly stands by my desk with two other men I know are SLED by the badges clipped on their belts.

I knew I didn't have the luxury of having the whole day off, but fuck did the timing suck when Kelly called.

The sound of Emi’s ‘I love you’ still rings in my ears as I try to forget the look on her face when I got summoned to the station. There was no masking her disappointment, but I knew it was more than me leaving. She was waiting for my response.

The sound of those three words on her lips did something to me. Something inside my soul exploded and left a sense of peace I'd never felt before. By the end of our first date, I knew I was falling for her. There was no hesitation; loving Emi was easy.

That’s why, when she called yesterday in a panic about her trip to her parents, I knew it was time to step up. It was time to prove she couldn’t run me off if she tried.

“You miss me, Kelly?” I ask him as soon as I reach my desk. “As much fun as spending last night with you was, I’m already taken.”

“Hate to tell you, but you’re not my type.”

“What’s so important that couldn’t wait a few more hours?”

“We’ve had a break. This is Agent Collins and Agent Ross.”

I shake the men’s hands then look back to Kelly pointedly. “Bring me up to speed.”

“This morning, Ross and Collins got word that something may be going down tonight. That’s why they’re here. We’re going to pair off, have sets of eyes on separate locations. Both of them high-end establishments around the city.”

My first thought is that it’s Sunday night in the Bible Belt; there’s not a ton of social activity. Thursday through Saturday nights are heavily patrolled around the city. DUIs, bar brawls, and general mayhem are heavier.

“How good is this tip? We spent ten hours watching the docks last night with absolutely nothing. I’m not too keen on doing it again.”

“Only one way to find out. But that’s not all.”

He jerks his head in the direction of the conference room and we follow. This has been his temporary office since arriving. His laptop is surrounded by paperwork, folders, and pictures. It wasn’t like this yesterday when we left, so this tells me he’s been busy since I dropped him off this morning.

“Our undercover agent working as a bartender has information. It’s not a lot, but it’s something. According to him, it’s a BDSM club. That’s why there was so much secrecy surrounding it. The owners have been private. There’s a general nightclub, and that’s what’s registered under the business license. The place is invite only; you can’t get through the front door without being a member or on a list.”

“Are they selling sex?”