I sigh. He’s rigid, not touching me even though I’m smoothing my hands up and down his pecs now.
His brow is furrowed, and I nearly laugh at his dead-serious expression. Even though he’s not reacting outwardly to my flirting, he’s breathing heavier, and his fists are clenched.
I finally stop tormenting him and back up. “Sorry. That wasn’t fair.” I head for the door, but before I reach it, he grabs my hand and yanks me back so that I slam into his chest. His hands cup my face and his lips are on mine before I have time to react.
He kisses the daylight out of me before releasing me, smirking. “There. Now we’re even.”
I lick my lips and turn toward the door once more, shaking as I open it. I wish I could say that he doesn’t play fair, but I did this to myself, and besides, I’m not sorry.
Chapter 30
Colton
I’ve made arrangements with the captain to have a second cop stationed at the seminar tomorrow. I’ve also spoken to Davis, and Blade is sending a guy too.
This doesn’t keep me from pacing Eve’s office most of the morning on Friday. The hair on the back of my neck is on end. I’m not even sure why. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened.
It’s after lunch, after Eve and I have finished eating takeout at the table in her office, after Lacy and a few other of her coworkers have stopped by to flirt with me, after Eve has once again shut the door and kissed me just to “remind you who belongs to you,” after she safely returns from the ladies’ room.
That’s when I get the call. From my boss. I yank my phone up and connect to him as I step out into the hall. I tell myself it’s so that I don’t disturb Eve while she works, but that’s not entirely true. The way my hackles have been up all day, I answer the call with a high level of anticipation.
“What’s up?” I say all casually.
“Swat moved in on the seller an hour ago.”
I stop pacing and freeze in my tracks. “Pardon?”
“Yep. Got another tip. This time it was for the seller. Not a middle man. The whole tamale. Name’s Antonio Russo. Goes by Tony. We raided his estate and found three women in his custody. In cages in the basement. We took his computers of course, but there was a printout of the women he was selling in two days. Evelyn Dean’s name was on the list.”
I can’t breathe, but I somehow manage to step back into Eve’s office and continue toward her. She lifts her gaze and freezes at the expression on my face. “You’re sure?” I ask my boss.
“Positive. It’s over. If you want to swing by here, I’ll show you everything.”
I slowly lower onto the chair across from Eve’s desk. “Why didn’t someone call me before the raid?”
“Ten reasons, Marshall, and you know it. Starting with the fact that we couldn’t possibly know the tip was good. Then let’s move to the fact that there was no way I would have trusted it enough to pull you from Evelyn to chase squirrels. What if it had been a decoy to lure you from your post?”
I sigh. He’s right. Of course.
“Now, it’s over. Come in this afternoon if you want visual proof, or take the fucking weekend off and I’ll see you Monday morning.”
“Got it. Thanks.” I end the call and meet Eve’s gaze. She has rounded the desk and is leaning against it, close enough for me to grab her and pull her closer. I’m sitting, but I hold her hips and tip my head back to look at her. “It’s over. They got the seller.”
She gasps. “Seriously?”
I nod. There is a lump in my throat. It’s insane. Of course, I’m beyond relieved that they caught the guy, but this means my time with Eve is over. I can stay with her for the next two nights, but then I have to return to my real life on Monday morning.
“How did they get him?”
“Someone called in a tip. Probably the same guy.”
“Was it the man who’s been following me?”
I realize I don’t know the answer to her question. “Not sure.” Why the fuck didn’t I ask that? It’s possible the guy following her either works for the seller and will now disappear because his source of income just dried up, or he might have also been the tipster. No idea. I still want to hunt him down though, so I’ll make sure the captain or Davis’s boss eventually makes an ID.
She feels unsteady, so I pull her onto my lap, hug her tight, and stroke her back. “It’s over,” I repeat as much for myself as for her.
“What happens now?”
“You get your life back and don’t have to spend every second of your day with an undercover cop breathing down your neck.” I’m trying to sound light and comical.
Eve doesn’t laugh. In fact, her eyes are watery. Her voice trembles. “Do you think that’s funny?”
I shake my head. “No, baby. I’m sorry.” I said I wouldn’t call her that at work, but I can’t help it. She looks like she’s about to fall apart, which is so backward since we should both be relieved. A man who intended to sell her into human trafficking has been caught.
Neither of us feels elation.
“Is there anything you need to finish this afternoon? Or could you take the rest of the day off?”
She sniffles. “I don’t even know. I can’t think.”
I stand, helping her to her feet. “Get your stuff together and turn off your computer. I’ll go tell your boss what happened and that we’re leaving and you’ll be at the seminar in the morning.”
She nods. “Okay.”
I tip her head back. “You’ll be all right for a few minutes?”
“Yes. Of course.” She dabs at the corners of her eye, sucking back emotion.
“I’ll be right back.”
I make
