Page 49 of Vengeance Mine

One huge bonus is a half bathroom located in the corner. It’s as filthy as the rest of the room, and we won’t be able to flush the toilet when Dante is home, but it will do in the meantime.

When I come back out of the bathroom, Cruz is watching me with an eyebrow raised. “I’ve slept in some pretty shitty places, but this is pretty low on the list.”

I chuckle softly, coming up to wrap my arms around his waist. Peering up at him, I bat my eyelashes and reply, “Yes, but I was never with you. Surely that makes it an upgrade?”

He bends down, brushing my lips with his. “That is true. What was I thinking?”

Pressing myself against him, I deepen the kiss, letting out a soft moan as his tongue tangles with mine.This isn’t the time, I remind myself, and pull away with not a little regret.

We pass the time removing the dust covers and letting the mattresses air out. Cruz explores the boxes and finds one with a couple of sleeping bags in them. The box had been sealed, and they were clean enough. We spread them out on the bed, then curl up together while we wait for Dante to go to bed.

Then the fun starts.

Chapter 33

Special Agent Susannah Gerhardt

Four Days Later

Unknown:Do you know what song I love?

Me:No, what?

Unknown:Homeward Boundby Simon & Garfunkel.

Me:I love that one! Does SK like it too?

Unknown:They do! I hear it’ll be on the radio at 3.

Me:I’ll look out for it.

Unknown:Oh, and we should watch a movie. Tell the gang!

Maybe I should have joined the CIA instead of the FBI. I’m kinda loving all this cloak and dagger spy shit.

Knocking on the Bannermans’ door, I reread the text while I wait for someone to answer. The door cracks open, and a silver-colored eye peers out at me. Blinking, I raise a brow. “Um, Eric? Are you going to let me in?”

“Can’t.”

“Why?”

“We’re naked.”

“Ah. Again? Wait, don’t answer that. Not my business. Can you please tell Nate I’ve heard from Dutch? She’ll be back at three and is bringing Cruz with her. And she wants us all to watch a movie or something.”

“I’ll tell him,” he replies, then shuts the door in my face. Charming.

When the screams start, I quickly back away from the door and hurry to the elevator to find Ryan. I definitely don’t need to know what they’re doing in there.

I’m not sure what she means about the movie, but since she wants me to “tell the gang” I’m assuming she wants to show us something, so we’ll need somewhere big enough to do that.

Ryan, luckily, is fully dressed and offers us their communal area. They have a large screen TV and plenty of seating for everyone.

“Were you able to dig up very much information about Cruz?” I ask him before I head back to my floor.

“Jase, Eric, and Trey spent an afternoon on it. He’s definitely one of us.”

“Oh?”