Page 99 of Killer of Mine

She laughs but the sound cuts short when the elevator stops, and the doors slide open.

River waits for us outside. He looks Freya up and down. “You ready?”

She nods.

“Farrah is strict but fair. Listen to her, tell the truth, and don’t sass, understand?”

Freya salutes him. “Yes, sir.”

River scowls. “Freya,” he warns.

“What? I was being good!” There’s a twinkle in her eye that I’m still getting used to seeing. Whatever Eli said to her last week worked wonders. She still has moments where she withdraws and gets lost in her past but she’s no longer hiding away. The house feels happier with her in it. More alive.

We walk down the hall together towards Farrah’s office. Her PA, Zach, makes a call then waves us through. “She’s ready for you.” His eyes linger on Freya as we walk past, and I move myself to block his line of sight.Turns out I’m possessive as hell when it comes to my woman.

I open the door for Freya and step back to let her pass. “Woah,” Freya murmurs under her breath as she takes in the office. Large glass windows span the wall in front of us. Farrah’s desk is off to the right but before it, two leather couches and an armchair surround a sharp glass coffee table.

Heels click against the wooden floor as Farrah crosses the room. She holds a posh black coffee mug in one hand and gestures to the couches with her other. “Take a seat.”

We sit on the couches and Farrah settles in the armchair, crossing one slender leg over the other. She’s wearing a pant suit so deep a purple it’s almost black. Her nails are painted to the same purple, the color a perfect match for her brown skin.

River clears his throat and nods at Farrah. “Freya, this is SCU Unit Chief Farrah Syed.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ma’am,” Freya says.

Farrah analyses Freya before eventually dipping her head in response. “I’d like to offer you a job.”

I have to bite my cheeks to stop from grinning. I knew today was going to be a good day.

Freya sits up straighter and blinks. “What?”

“I’ve spent the morning going through your files. You’re a very impressive young woman.” Farrah places her coffee on a side table and clasps her hands together. “Finished top of your class at the Police Academy, promoted to detective in just four years. The only other person I know to have done that is sitting right next to you.”

Freya glances at River then back at Farrah. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m offering you a job as a profiler for the Serial Crimes Unit. You’ll be on Agent Park’s team, your primary case will be to catch Maxwell, but the contract is permanent.”

“But I broke the law.”

I kick Freya’s foot.

Farrah smirks. “You’re not the first criminal the FBI has hired, and I very much doubt you’ll be the last. I believe you’ll do more good on our side than behind bars. Now, I need an answer.”

“Uh, yes,” Freya stutters, “I mean yes please. I’d like the job.”

Farrah nods and stands up. “Good. I have some forms for you to fill out. We’ll need to legally change your name of course, assuming you don’t want to be known as Angelica?”

Freya shakes her head. “I don’t.”

Farrah strides over to her desk. Freya gets up to follow but not before turning back to us with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. All four of us grin up at her.Welcome to the team, baby girl.

We go out to Mozzy’s bar to celebrate. Freya calls Luke and he meets us there.

“Do you think he’s going to be upset I’m leaving?” Freya asks as we walk into the bar.

“I really don’t care,” River says.

Oz hooks his arm around Freya’s shoulder. “Ignore him. Luke will miss you, but he’ll understand.”