Page 116 of Fatal Vision

Three people exited the elevator before she wheeled Colton inside. She hit the button for the 2nd floor and the doors slid shut.

Before the elevator started its descent, Colton grabbed her and pulled her into his lap.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

One hand cupped her cheek, drawing her mouth to his. He kissed her softly, then parted her lips with his tongue.

She sunk into him, enjoying the moment and the feel of his strong arms and even stronger need for her.

“I love you, Shel,” he said, breaking the kiss. “I’ve screwed up a lot of things between us over the years. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Her dad had always told her she was a spiritual being in a human body. Humans made mistakes, but their connection to spirit could lift them above those. In that realm, they could find forgiveness and peace.

They could find love.

“I’m not without a few faults, myself,” she said. “I’m going to make things right with the Bureau about Quan. I’m hoping we can do the same between us as well.”

He smoothed a stray hair away from her face. “You’re all I ever wanted. You make me not hate myself so much.”

“Oh, Colton.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “You make everyone think you’re an ass so they stay away because you’re afraid to let anyone know you care. All you’ve ever wanted is to be accepted and loved. I know it’s difficult, but you need to let down your defenses with people; they might surprise you.”

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Zeb eyed them from the hall. “I see the patient is feeling better.”

The thick erection pressing into her bottom suggested he was indeed. She climbed out of Colton’s lap. “You ready to interrogate our man?” she asked Zeb, holding the doors open.

“He’s going with us?” Colton said.

Zeb took over wheeling Colton out of the elevator. “I have orders, son. Your woman, here, is in charge, but I have to be present so I can give a report to some higher-ups. I’m just doing what the big guns tell me to.”

“His woman?” Shelby gave Zeb herget reallook.

Colton chuckled and Shelby had the feeling Zeb rarely did what he was told. “So Beatrice wanted you in on this?”

They headed for Room 312. “My former employer, actually. I wasn’t their first pick to dig into this, but I was already here. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

Shelby had to admit, she was glad the former CIA operative was there to back her up.

Zeb walked slowly, allowing her to keep up with no problem. “Did you look at the USB from Ruby?”

“Ruby?” Colton glanced over his shoulder at her. “Ruby was here?”

Another spook, this one a beautiful, dark-haired woman who was engaged to Megadeth, had caught Shelby in the hospital parking lot the previous night, nearly scaring the hell out of her.

“I reviewed it,” Shelby told Zeb. “Let her know I appreciate being put in the loop.”

“What loop?” Colton said.

“Hush.” They were at the door to Room 312, and Shelby lowered her voice. “From the Bureau’s standpoint, I’m here to get an official statement from Daniel Mitchum about the other night, nothing else.”

“From the Bureau’s standpoint?” Colton looked even more confused. “Why are you two acting so weird?”

“You’ll see.” Shelby opened the door and ushered him and Zeb inside.

Daniel Mitchum, aka Wyatt Evers, was sitting in bed watching CNN. He clicked off the TV and nodded at Shelby. “I was wondering when you’d come see me.”

Shelby pulled out a small recorder. “Before I turn this on, I want you to know that if you decide to go back to your former identity, I’ll accompany you to talk to your wife and explain things. The Bureau will never learn who you really are from me, and neither will my father.”

“And I’ve agreed to play dumb if you don’t want the Agency to know you’re alive,” Zeb added. “I’ll tell them you’re not their man, but only if you explain to Agent Claiborne everything she wants to know.”