I give him a tight nod and both men walk out the back door. The place where Matt and I meet to discuss the case we’re working on is a tiny, one-bedroom apartment on the ground floor. It has a garden leading to rocky grounds, typical rough terrain but it does give a nice view of the scenery.
“Nervous?” Alfie says as he comes up behind me.
I tear my gaze away from the view and spin around to seek his comfort. “It would be crazy not to be nervous. Being relaxed and overly confident can get you killed.”
“That’s our girl,” Alfie murmurs and places a kiss on my temple.
Our girl. It’s never ‘my girl,’ even if it’s just the two of us here. That reminds me, “Did Joaquin message you?”
“Nope,” Alfie chuckles. “He’s pissed at me for making him go to the clinic. He wanted to take the day off and sit in the van, but I told him he needed to go to work. He’s been taking too many days off with me getting injured. And I know how much he loves his damn job and he misses working with his two best friends.”
I give him a small smile, knowing the reason why. “You wanted to keep him safe.”
“It’s hard as fuck having you in the line of fire. Even if I know you’re qualified and a damn agent, but my mind simply can’t cope. And Joaquin has proven to handle himself perfectly. Did I ever tell you about the time Cassidy’s ex came by the veterinary clinic and kept Joaquin at gunpoint? Fucking hell. Decker and Roper went in to save them and the fucker almost shot them but Joaquin grabbed a fire extinguisher and blasted the fucker. They took him down because of him. And there was another time where we jumped on our bikes to confront fuckers who came after Colt’s old lady, guns blazing, he just dives in no matter what. He’s capable, reliable, fucking strong and fierce…but I can’t have the two of you at risk all at once. And fuck. If something happens to me…he needs to be there for you.”
I crash my lips against his to silence all his worries. He opens and swirls his tongue against mine. Throwing everything out of harm’s way and giving us a frozen moment in time to fall into tenderness right before havoc threatens to crash our lives.
His fingers slide into my hair and he pulls my head back to break the kiss. “Whatever happens next we will be moving forward. No regrets and no looking back, okay? Live life…two if tragedy rips us apart or three for perfection. Living is one day after the next and don’t fucking dwell on shit you can’t change. Dying isn’t what we want but if shit takes a turn…you move forward, get me?”
I drag a deep breath of air through my nose. “Dying isn’t what we want so in a few hours we’re going to pick up Joaquin from work, have dinner at the diner where they have these magnificent hamburgers Joaquin brought home last week…and then we’ll all go for a ride. Bikes. Horses. Each other.”
“Each other,” Alfie croaks. “And I kinda promised Joaquin you’d ride on the back of his bike for the next week as compensation for him heading into work today.”
He winces and pouts right after and it makes me chuckle. “I’ll be on the back of your bike soon enough.”
“You’d better be,” he grumbles and places a kiss on the top of my head.
His phone vibrates and we both know it’s showtime.
“Stay strong, and like Nick said, don’t hesitate. If the fucker pulls a gun on you…aim to kill that asshole.”
“Will do,” I promise right before he disappears into the bathroom and leaves the door slightly ajar.
I wipe my palms on my jeans and focus on the entrance. Matt is bound to walk in any second and with Alfie getting a message on his phone, we know he’s arrived.
Without knocking Matt strolls in and shuts the door behind him. He throws a USB stick my way. “Get that on that biker scum’s computer.”
“What? You want me to put what on his computer?” I ask, making sure I sound confused since I need him to say the actual words.
“Just do what I tell you, it’s not that hard,” Matt snaps. “And you can print some of those files and spread it around.”
Great, more random words.
“What evidence do you want me to plant, Matt?” I sigh, getting agitated. “What’s on the stick you threw on the bed? It’s not like you can put random information on a computer or put papers on a desk and that’s it.”
“You,” Matt growls. “It’s you who is planting evidence, Greta. Not me.”
The asshole laughs right in my face.
“And don’t think you can grab that stick and run to our boss either. Everything is made on your computer and will be a direct link to you. And when I tell them about your little fuck session with those two models you did a photoshoot with, all your credibility will be blown to shit. I’ve worked years for the DEA and you’re just coming around the corner. A fucking rookie trying to suck cock and grab a quick score. Yeah, who do you think they’ll believe, me or you? Right. Now get your cunt over to the bed and grab that stick and do what I say. And if you must know, the files contain information about dog fights.”
He takes a step closer to me. “The last time I covered my tracks and I’ll do it again. That bitch was tainted by those bikers and needed to keep her mouth shut, just like you. One swipe with a knife across the throat to silence her before her dirty cunt landed in a ditch. It’s the exact way all of them treat women. Biker scum are all outlaws and think they can do anything to earn a buck and fuck whomever they like. Easy targets. Their profile fits and who knows, maybe I didn’t kill the woman and maybe those bikers you are with now did. But you make sure not to get caught, you hear me? Or you’ll find out what I’m capable of. I don’t care if you have to spread your legs to get it done. Hell, you’d probably do it anyway since you enjoy it, don’t you? Maybe you should suck my cock too before you head out and plant the evidence.”
The door swings open behind us. “Freeze, FBI,” rings out loud.
Before I can grab my gun, Matt has launched himself at me and throws an arm around my neck to use my body as a shield.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, such a cliché, my mind offers. But his arm tightens and makes it harder to breathe.
“Let her go,” Alfie says in a deadly tone.
Matt’s words flow in a rumble through his chest when he says, “Get the hell out, all of you. We’re DEA and you’re interfering with a case we’re working on.”
“FBI, Matt. Put the gun down and we’ll talk,” Nick says.
There are three other men behind him and they’re all dressed in black with bulletproof vests. I, on the other hand, along with Alfie and Matt aren’t wearing any protection. Matt slowly drags me back as he heads for the back door.
“Stay there,” Matt growls and keeps swinging his gun from Nick to Alfie.
Neither do anything and let Matt guide me toward the back. I know they can’t risk my life and I’m also very much aware they didn’t put anyone in the back yard since it’s surrounded by a gate left and right and all there’s left is the rough terrain out back which leads to a rocky nowhere.
I slightly stumble and Matt spits curses in my ear, calling me a bitch and a stupid cunt as he drags me out the door and into the daylight. I can feel his head glancing left and right in an effort to search for a way out. What a stupid idiot; there is no way out. Not unless he can climb rocks anyway.