Page 103 of Free

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Jeremy glanced over at D, trying to give him as much support as he could while they waited for Jessica to get back from her first solo sting. After months of training, D had let her go out alone, and now they sat nervously, waiting for the text that everything was done and she was on her way to the dump site.

"She's going to be okay. You trained her well." Rani sat across the room from them.

"I know, but I still can't help but worry about you guys." D glanced at Patrick and Marshall, who were watching the computer monitors.

Jeremy looked around the room. "We've built a great team."

D shook his head. "No, we've built a great family."

"Even better." Jeremy smiled, glad that they were finally at a place where everything seemed to be running smoothly. Everyone was trained and doing their part. There were still little things to work out, but for the most part, they were fully up and running. It was a bit overwhelming to sit back and think about all they did. Leading the team with D was something he'd never dreamed he'd be doing, but now that this was his life, he couldn't imagine doing anything else.

A text dinged on Jeremy's phone and he glanced down, smiling at the simple text from Jessica. "She's safe and headed to the dump site."

D visibly relaxed. "Thank God."

A second later, the police scanner came to life with the call for officers to report to the sting site. "Sounds like she did a great job. Let's get her home and call it a night." Jeremy rolled his shoulders. He was tired after spending all day on the computers, making sure everything was a go.

"Tomorrow, we'll go over what we are doing next week. I don't want to go in too heavy, but I do want to look into that one where the parents are photographing their kids for profit." D nodded to Marshall. "That was a good find."

"Thanks." Marshall smiled. "Police are on site."

"Good. Jessica should be home in no more than thirty minutes. Great job, everyone. We couldn't do this without you." Jeremy smiled.

Rani stood. "I'm going to bed. If Jess needs me when she gets here, have her wake me."

"Thanks, Rani." Jeremy watched him leave before turning to D. "Wanna grab a beer while we wait?"

D nodded as he stood, glancing at Marshall and Patrick. "Yell if anything changes."

Once out in the kitchen, Jeremy handed D a bottle and took one for himself. "So, the kids have grown up and gone off on their own," he teased.

"That's exactly what it feels like, doesn't it?" D grinned. "We've come a long way. Jessica has proven herself, and now that the shit with her brother seems to have blown over, I think we can finally sit back and relax as we focus on taking down the pedophiles."

"We can never let our guard down." Jeremy still worried someone would recognize D when they went out, which wasn't very often. "You look good with the longer hair. I like it." He tugged on a strand.

"I'm getting used to it." D shook his head, sending his hair every which way.

"Know what I like best about it?" Jeremy grinned.

"What?"

"Holding it in my fist when I fuck you from behind."

D's eyes lit up. "Come to think about it, that might be my favorite part too."

Jeremy took a long sip of his beer. "We've come a long way in just a few months."

"We have, but we have even farther to go. I still need to find a therapist." D sighed.

"We'll get there. Bryon said he'd keep an eye open as well. The right person will come along. So far, we've been lucky."

"We have. I just dread the day our luck runs out."

Jeremy frowned. "We aren't talking that way, remember?"

D nodded. "Right, positive only." He took a drink of his beer.