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Monday morning came around too fast. Why was it that those weeks she wasn’t with Cobble dragged, and the time they spent together flew by.

Andy couldn’t wait for that chapter of their lives to be over.

Her phone next to the bed rang.

“It’s done,” Smalley told her as she picked up. She and Cobble lay sprawled on Cobble’s large king mattress. She put Chuck on speaker.

“Cobble is listening in,” she warned him, in case he had something to say that might be confidential. Not that she didn’t trust Cobble with her life, but he didn’t need intel that might put him in more danger. “Does that mean Tertia’s been fired and stashed in a cell?” Andy wanted confirmation. “And was it done loudly?”

“She is, and it was,” Chuck laughed, albeit wryly, and that was rare for Chuck. He was normally very buttoned up. It sounded like he was coming around on things.

“Cool,” Andy snorted. “The bosses are damned good at that kind of shit.” She couldn’t help but remember when Director Baskins had canned her ass; making it so the entire eastern seaboard could hear.

“Yup,” Chuck agreed. “He’s an efficient bastard. And in that regard, the next step is already in the works. He’s called an emergency meeting for two o-clock,” Smalley told her. “This time it’ll be the group from last Friday, but with the addition of our five, prime suspects.”

Andy could almost see him rubbing his hands together in glee.

Yup. There was nothing Chuck loved more than a good sting. The thought had obviously mellowed his negative feelings.

“I can’t wait to see their faces when I make an appearance and they find out I’ve been the one keeping Cobble hidden all this time,” Andy told him gleefully.

“That should be pretty epic,” Smalley agreed. “Especially since the rest of us will all be watching closely to see their reactions.”

Not that the perusal would probably amount to anything. Whoever the rotten apple or apples were in the agencies’ barrels, they’d been damned good at keeping themselves outwardly shiny for years. Andy’s guess was that they wouldn’t betray so much as a flicker of what actually lay beneath their skin, even when plucked off a tangled vine they’d clung to, for years.

“If you make inroads into anything when you see their faces, you’re a better agent than me,” Andy allowed. “I’ve studied them for a long fucking time, and have never come up with a thing.”

“Well, it’ll be a nice change if I can out them, because to date, I feel like I haven’t been much help,” Smalley admitted.

“Good luck with that,” Andy sighed.

Cobble, who’d been silent up until this point, decided to join the conversation.

“How is Baskins spinning the addition of the S.O.S. folks to your operation?” Cobble asked curiously.

Chuck laughed again. “He’s going to say he’s including them because he’s basically taking pity on Mizzay…uh, Andy, that she’d had to find a new job half a decade back. Shit. I’m not sure what to call you, Andriopolos, when you have so many goddamn names.”

“Let’s go with Mizzay at work, and Andy when we’re off the clock,” she advised.

“Fine. I’ll work on that. But to answer your question, Sawyer, even though Baskins aggressively fired Andy from the FBI, he’ll spin it like he feels the bureau owes her for the years of work she put in on the case—including keeping you safe and hidden even now—all without a government paycheck. So he’s willing to read in her new team so she can bask in the result of her labors.”

“Nice of him,” Andy snickered.

“Right. And since the private operatives you happen to work with have high security clearances, he’ll say he’s happy to enlist the group for help in getting El-Umar stateside, and in assisting you to bring Cobble in safely.”

“I like it,” Andy stated. “And if Beranger gives me any shit about showing up out of the blue, I’m going to pop him one right in the nose.”

“No. I am,” Cobble growled beside her. “Eventually. When I’m out of purgatory. Because from what you’ve told me, I already hate the arrogant prick’s guts.”

Yeah. She might have complained about Beranger from time to time. He was that much of an asshole.

Andy sure hoped it was Beranger who was guilty.

“I’ll let the two of you duke that one out,” Chuck segued. “Right now, I’ve got a pile of paperwork that needs my attention, and I need to grab lunch before the meeting. Who knows how long it will run.”

“Uh, before you go,” Cobble posed, “riddle me this. How is Agent Tertia taking things since she’s been arrested?”

There was now a growl from the other end of the line. Leave it to Cobble to pull his cousin’s tail.

“Better than I am,” Chuck admitted. “She’s in solitary, down in the bowels of our building. I don’t like it, but Agent Vessers is guarding her. That way, if anyone wants to ‘question’ Elody, and by that I mean, try to end her life, Vessers is right there to protect her vulnerable ass.”

“There are also cameras on her twenty-four-seven, correct?” Andy asked.

“Yeah. But since when has that stopped our traitor or traitors? They seem to be able to circumvent that kind of security as easily as would you or I. They’d just put the cameras on a loop, and no one would be the wiser.”

True. Andy had certainly used that technique a time or two before.

Chuck went on, this time with new news. “But what only Baskins, Vessers, myself, and now you know, is that Tertia is fully armed, just in case our security fails her somehow.”

So sweet .

Andy snickered to herself. If you could call packing a firearm, endearing.

“We won’t fail her,” Andy responded confidently.

Smalley was a total badass, and he’d surely be keeping an eye on Elody, remotely and in person when he could. Also, having Vessers on team-good-guy? It was like employing a pit-bull. The woman was tenacious, and had proven herself over and over to be nearly invincible.

“Still, I’m glad Tertia has several lines of defense,” Andy added.

“You and me, both.” Chuck let out a long, frustrated gust of air.

Huh. It almost seemed like Chuck was finally ready to not only acknowledge the “certain somethings” that had arisen between Elody and him, but to wear them proudly on his sleeve.

Of course, Tertia had already spilled the beans, more or less, so what else could the man do?

But still, they were all just waiting for Chuck to grow a pair and admit his true feelings out loud.

Other than that, he still deserved a little teasing.

“Watch out, Chuck. Your soft underbelly is in danger of showing,” Andy quipped.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he barked, slipping once again into his impervious, professional mode.

Okay. So maybe he wasn’t quite ready to get all emotional about his relationship yet.

“Spoilsport.” Andy raised a brow at Cobble, tag-teaming Chuck.

“ I’ll get your true relationship status out of you, Cuz,” Cobble stated with certainty. “And I don’t know why you’re hesitating anyway. From what I’ve heard, Tertia is the perfect match for you.”

“Stay out of it, Sawyer,” Chuck grumped. “Just because you and Mizzay have fallen head-first into all that true love bullshit, doesn’t mean everyone has to.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Andy rebutted, leaning over to kiss Cobble loudly in the middle of his chest.

“You didn’t just…” Chuck made a retching nose. “Okay. Time for me to go. Don’t get too distracted with each other. Remember, the meeting is set for this afternoon at two in the Boston office.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Andy assured him. “I’ll be there.”

The conversation ended as Chuck abruptly hung up.

“Typical,” Andy scoffed. “Not even a ‘happy play-time’ goodbye from him.” She used one foot to caress Cobble’s ankles.

“Ticklish,” he reminded her, wiggling.

Andy ignored him, doubling down, and he pinched her bare ass until she stopped.

“It’s going to be so much fun to tease Chuck when he finally lets his guard down with Tertia and starts getting led around by his cock,” Cobble laughed. “I can’t remember a time when Chuck allowed himself to be vulnerable, but I can tell he’s headed that way. From what you’ve told me, Tertia will be his Achille’s heel.”

“I agree,” Andy gushed. “Wait until you meet her. She’s not only beautiful and smart, she’s super nice, and exactly what Chuck needs to smooth out his rough edges.”

Andy scooted down and this time rested her chin on Cobble’s tight abs. “I can’t believe this is almost over, and I’ll finally get to introduce you to everybody,” she posited confidently. “You’re going to love them all, and they’re going to adore you.”

Cobble’s stomach went up and down as he breathed in and out.

“I feel like I know them already, just from the amount of stuff you’ve told me. But you’re right. Actually seeing them in person will feel pretty natural, almost like meeting up with old friends.”

Andy turned her face away from Cobble’s contemplative look, and eyed his erection which had been stirring behind her head.

“Hmm. Speaking of old friends…”

****

An hour later, after taking care of her bestest buddy, then showering in the world’s tiniest stall with Cobble—an adventure in itself—Andy donned her professional clothing, which were no longer regulation black and whites, but a navy pencil skirt and a crisp gray blouse that still showcased her take-no-prisoners professionalism.

“Mmm. Are you sure you have to leave?” Cobble came up behind her at the bathroom mirror as she finished running a brush through her straight, dark hair to twist it up into a bun.

He kissed the back of her neck, his lips heading lower…

Andy ducked away.

“Yes. I do. And youze need to behave yourself, or I’ll be late.” She snickered. “I’m surprised you have anything left in the tank after our busy morning. It must be all that sea air is keeping you invigorated.”

“Uh, uh,” he clarified. “It’s completely you, Andy. I’m pumped on love. All you have to do is walk past me and I’m hard,” he admitted somewhat proudly, following her out of the bathroom.

“I love you, too,” she responded, reaching up to stroke the stubble on his face.

“Great,” he groaned. “Now, because you touched me again, I’ll have to take care of things after you’re gone.”

“Seriously? I only stroked your face,” she snorted amusedly.

“It doesn’t matter.” Cobble captured her hand and kissed her palm, then reached down to adjust his…

Damn. Andy glanced at the front of his jeans and blinked. Cobble wasn’t just yanking her chain. He was packing again.

Which meant he’d certainly be yanking something else after she left.

That obvious display made it difficult to get her head back to business, but…

“You know I’ll probably be late getting back,” she warned as she grabbed her purse, then her gun, making sure it was locked and loaded. “Once the rogue faction’s head or heads explode finding out that I’m not only back in the game, but that I’ve actually been in it all along keeping you hidden, they’re going to be pissed and most likely follow me. I’ll have to be super careful and lead them astray so they can’t track me back here to you.”

Cobble growled, clearly unhappy he wasn’t able to go with her to keep her safe. “Okay. But call me when you’re on your way home and we’ll talk during your whole trip back. I want to make sure they don’t run you off the road or anything.”

Andy laughed. “You know I’ve been taking care of myself for years, right?” she asked, turning to him at the door.

“I know, but I can’t help—”

She cut off his words with a deep, soul-smoldering kiss before raising her head and licking her lips.

“Mmm. Best kiss, ever,” she teased, using his longstanding line. “And it’s okay, Cobble. I kind of like that you want to protect me. It makes me feel…girly. Which if you tell anybody, I’ll—”

“—have to kill me.” It was Cobble’s turn to cut her off.

Andy simply grinned.

Damn , she loved this man.