Page 40

Hunt

After twelve hours behind my desk, my back creaks as I push my chair back and stand. I stretch, but it does little to clear away the brain fog. With the fluorescents off, most of the offices sit empty. A few faces remain, lit blue by their monitors.

Yawning, I rub my eyes. Hell, I need a beer—better yet, a week off. Instead, I head to Wulf’s office and knock on his doorframe.

“Ready, boss?” My keys jingle in my hand while I shift on my heels.

Finally, he snaps his laptop shut before grabbing his coat. “I had no idea it was so late. Let’s go.”

In the elevator, I smirk. “Where’s your wife?”

His eyes warm the way they do whenever he talks about her. “Gwen took the kid to Florida. Gave me a hall pass for the weekend.”

As thoughts of my woman flood my head, I zone out until we arrive at the local dive. Saying hi to our coworkers, we place our orders and settle into a booth away from the crowd.

Once our drinks are served, I clear my throat. “Kelly called me last night.”

Instead of I-told-you-so, he just raises a brow. “And?”

“We’re going to try long distance for a while.” My grin stretches so wide, it strains muscles I forgot I had. If it wouldn’t get me hauled off in a straitjacket, I’d jump up and fist-pump the air.

He pats my back, clinking his bottle against mine. “Congrats. I assume this means you’ll quit moping?”

“I don’t mope.” Curse? Yes. Punch holes in my bedroom walls? Affirmative. But mope? No way.

“If you say so.” His smirk says quite the opposite.

Before I can call him out, a commotion erupts from those watching the game.

When the noise dies down, my friend leans back in his chair. “So, how is this going to work?”

Fingers virtually crossed, I say a short prayer he’ll approve of my idea. “I’ve got some unused paid leave. I’m thinking long weekends. Would you mind if I took Fridays off for a while?”

“I can’t.” His deadpan face makes my pulse pound.

What the fuck? “After everything I’ve done for—”

Beer sprays all over the place as his laughter interrupts my rant. “You should see your face, man. Priceless.”

Still chuckling, he shakes his head. “Chill. The director wants a man in Burlington. You in?”

My mouth gapes open while my brain cells misfire. Then, I lunge forward, pinching his cheeks.

“I could kiss you right now.”

“You do—the offer is off the table.” He shoves my chest but yanks me into a bro-hug, slapping me hard on the back. “All kidding aside, when I needed you, you’ve always been there. This hardly begins to repay all I owe you.”

“Consider us even.” I tap the passing server’s arm. “Single malt. Top shelf.”

Heart soaring, I picture Kelly, Mack, and me. Maybe a dog. And a fence, but I’ll gladly fix up her grandmother’s house.

Before any of this can happen, I need to make sure she’s safe. “Any word on John Bourdin?”

My friend’s frown reflects my own thoughts on the matter. “Other than the original rumors, he escaped to Iran, nothing.”

“Those mercenaries had it in for him. I’m betting we’ll find his body come spring. If he’s still alive, he better not show his face anywhere near me.”

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.” Baring his incisors, Wulf grins. I know that look. A year ago he dragged my ass to Belarus to save his wife. He’s telling me to do the same.

Because of this, I press my luck, “You think you could live without me tomorrow? I could take an early flight and get there by mid-morning.”

The happily married man chuckles. “Hah, we’ll survive, no worries. Do me a favor. Bring your PC. Check-in a few times a day to make sure nothing is blowing up.”

“No problem.”

We talk for a while longer, the conversation winding down as the night stretches on. Eventually, he scrubs a hand over his face and exhales. “Guess I should head home.”

“Yeah, me too.” I get up from the table, rolling the tension from my shoulders. “Night, Wulf. Thanks again.”

By the time I make it back to my apartment, the city is quiet, the streets nearly empty. Inside, the air is still, the only sound, the faint hum of the fridge. Kelly’s probably been asleep for hours, but if I don’t call her right now, I might actually explode.

I slip off my jacket, drop onto the couch, then dial her number.

“Wildlife?” Her sleepy-thick voice has a soft rasp which makes me smile. “What time is it?”

Unable to hold back, I shout out my news, “Hey sweetie, I’ve been reassigned to Burlington.”

A thud follows a rustling noise. “Holy crap. What? How? I thought the nearest FBI station was in Albany.”

My smile broadens until it hurts. “After the ricin debacle, the boss says we need a presence near the northern border. Axel helped make it happen.”

Her breathing quickens, excitement bubbling through the line. “I can’t believe it. Is it too soon to ask you to move in?”

My chest expands at the thought of her waking up in my arms every morning. This— us —it’s everything I’ve ever wanted. “As long as Mack’s okay with it. If she needs time, I can hold off until she graduates.”

“When are you coming?” She sounds like a kid on Christmas Eve, and I’m her Santa Claus.

“Next week. I just need to wrap up a few things here.”

“I can hardly wait to see you.”

I chuckle, knowing if I let this go on, we’ll be up all night. “Go back to sleep, babe. I’ll phone you in the AM.”

A sleepy sigh drifts through the line. “I love you.”

“Love you too.” Ending the call, unable to relax, I lean back to stare at the ceiling.

On my next inhale, I open my computer and purchase a ticket to Burlington, leaving in the morning.