Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 128307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
I don’t care if they’re a first-week rookie or a thirty-year veteran; you don’t join another agent’s case, then push them so far left field they can’t even see the sideline.
“I’m not asking you to watch from the sidelines.” The avocado and egg combination dancing on my tongue tastes even more divine when he adds, “I’m asking you to lead this investigation… from here.”
I gasp, surprised. “What?”
Smiling, he pushes a tablet toward me. “Profiling. There are too many suspects for one agent to handle. I need help with this.”
“I’m not a profiler.” The shock in my voice can’t be missed.
“No, you’re not,” he agrees. “But you know this type of suspect better than their mommas do. You know their telltales, their ticks. You will spot their guilt better than any agent I could bring onto this case.” His praise floors me. “Since I need to be on the field, I need someone I can trust to helm this operation while I’m not here.” My lips barely part before he continues talking, revealing the reason for his change of heart and foiling my campaign to object. “And you can do that from the living room. You will coordinate the stings, analyze any data brought back, and call all the shots. Adeline and I will be in the wings the instant we’ve returned from the field, but you’re in charge of this entire operation. It is your baby.”
His offer isn’t exactly what I want. I should be out there, in the thick of it, soaking in the adrenaline of a high-profile case. I want to experience the rush of being another step closer to bringing Kendall home, but it’s something, and the fact that Grayson is willing to compromise allows me to swallow my pride and reluctantly surrender.
“Fine,” I cave. “But I want updates, Malfoy. Constant updates.”
Relief flickers in his eyes. “You’ll have them, freckles. I promise.”
Either in euphoria for taming the beast without bloodshed, or still feeding off the tension that hasn’t budged an inch since our exchange last night, he kisses me on the forehead. His touch lingers longer than anticipated, and it soars my pulse. Our combined scents are becoming as familiar to my senses as his voice is becoming to my unborn son, who hasn’t stopped wiggling since I entered the kitchen.
Closing my eyes, I lean into Grayson for just a second, relishing his closeness. I feel protected in his safety bubble, like nothing bad could ever happen to me, even though it already has.
Then, faster than I can snap my fingers, he’s gone.
After grabbing his keys, phone, and jacket, he heads to Adeline, who is waiting by the open front door. I’m glad I didn’t steal this opportunity when I notice how much anticipation is brightening her dark eyes. She’s been waiting for this day for months, if not years.
“Don’t let him convince you to do anything stupid,” I say, half-joking, half-serious.
Adeline grins. “I’ll try my best, but I offer no guarantees.”
After a brief glance in my direction, they leave. The door’s lock clicking into place behind them announces I’m alone, but I don’t feel as powerless as I did only minutes ago. I scarf down my breakfast, burn my tongue with a tea far too hot to consume, and then sit behind a bank of monitors to begin surveillance on our first sting of the day.
In minutes, I’m dragging a wireless mouse over a yellow-lined notepad, seeking surveillance points for our first rendezvous. Throughout the week, the tech team installed surveillance systems; however, this spot was left out since it was only added to the list last minute.
Grayson and Adeline have bodycams, but a broader context is needed for operations like this. A spotter could be hiding around the corner, and a muscle could be waiting out front. You need eyes over the entire block, not just the room housing possible suspects, so I won’t stop until I have every inch of the building Grayson is traveling to under my watchful eye.
Surveillance of our first undercover sting commences without hindrance. Grayson and Adeline mingle with the attendees of an early morning class, mostly unnoticed. They’re only subjected to the occasional glance. Class attendees do not admire Grayson’s natural beauty and animalistic grace as he is accustomed to. He is under scrutiny as much as the attendees are, the difference in height and age between him and Adeline too staggering to discount after only one stare.
It only takes minutes to declare this sting a bust. There’s nothing of interest. No suspicious faces, coded exchanges, or signs of the outfit we’re hunting. It is just a group of early risers hopeful that their predawn routine will prepare them for the upheaval that lies ahead for them over the next two to five months.
After pushing on comms, I say, “Activate evacuation plan. This operation is a bust.”