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“It’s okay, Andy. We’re okay.”
Grayson is brooding in the corner. “They took him?” He nods toward Tommy, his eyes fierce.
“Out to the canyon,” Tommy says. The room grows deathly quiet. I can see the vein in Grayson’s forehead throbbing. I know he’s thinking about his own wife.
Before he can say anything, two uniformed officers and a woman in a suit walk in. It takes me a moment to understand that the woman is Detective Parker. There's still gaudy makeup on her face but her undercover outfit is gone. In her suit, she looks…kind of cute. You would never guess that she's a total badass. “Sorry to barge in, folks. But we need to get final statements,” Detective Parker says.
“Who's this ?” Greg asks. After what we've been through, I understand Greg's question. I usually wouldn't trust anyone further than I can throw them. Being pregnant, that’s not far. But Detective Parker has already proven herself.
“This is the chick that close-lined Don." I say with a small laugh. It's not what really happened but I can totally seeing Detective Parker laying out a guy twice her size like that. She smirks, a small dimple popping up in her left cheek.
Greg clears his throat as I don’t shake the woman’s palm. “Sorry, Detective. I’m Greg Sanderson. I think we’re all a bit wary of people right now.”
“Understandable, Sanderson. You were FBI, right?”
“I was.”
“If you’d like, I can record everyone’s statements so there are no misunderstandings?”
“I’d appreciate that,” he says. With Greg’s seal of approval, the entire room begins to relax.
Detective Parker takes out her phone and presses the record button, but before she can ask the first question, Grayson clears his throat. “I have access to all financial records for the Cardenas family businesses. We’ve been laundering money for the Ukrainian mob. They call themselves the Chernobog Brotherhood.”
All heads turn his way. “Arrest me, and I’ll give you everything. It’s all on my laptop at home. Bank accounts, spreadsheets, transaction reports, graphs, receipts—they go back at least twenty years.”
Miranda’s soft voice speaks next. “I can confirm that. Our shipping company used to help import drugs. I believe it was heroin. I can point out which shipments on our historical records.”
“Under duress!” Greg suddenly shouts. Detective Parker looks at him. “They were under duress. Threatened by their aunt and then their grandfather. This man’s wife was killed as a warning. His young son was threatened.”
But Grayson puts his hands in his pockets and shakes his head. “They never threatened my son, and my wife is technically missing for the last two years. I’m done lying. I’ll take whatever they can throw at me. The Cardenas will never hurt anyone again.”
Detective Parker looks like she’s been hit by a bus. She pauses the recording and looks wide-eyed at each of us. “You have records?” she asks practically salivating.
For a moment, the room is quiet. I look to Grayson, expecting to see him rethinking his confession. What I see is even more confusing. Grayson is staring at Detective Parker, his gaze almost…shy? But if his look is strange, Detective Parker's is even weirder. Her cheeks grow rosy and she bites her lip.
No one speaks as the two continue their staring contest. Okaaaay. Miranda clears her throat and our eyes meet. From experience, I know my expression is identical to hers. Amusement is painted in her dancing eyes. Her gaze shifts to Grayson and she wiggles her brows. I cover my mouth so the giggle doesn't pop out.
Detective Parker suddenly breaks off the stare and points over her shoulder. “I’m gonna call this in. You guys… you’re good?”
I have to laugh. The woman is flustered, and it’s adorable. I watched her take down a man who matches her weight in his left thigh with a smile and yet one look from my cousin and she's a puddle of goo. The detective walks out, and the group is quiet.
“I think Gray just gave her a small heart attack,” Tommy finally says. The tension breaks, and the entire group laughs. Except for Grayson, who is back to acting surly.
As we do, Tommy nuzzles into my neck. I smile at him, and he returns the look. Pure affection and love are written all over his face. I peck his mouth, but Tommy cups my cheek and captures me in a long kiss. My arms fly around his neck, and he opens his mouth wider.
My tongue slips inside, and he responds with enthusiasm. Our lips press together harder, and I moan into his mouth. I don’t notice that the group eventually walks out, leaving us alone. I only know Tommy. His smell and the feel of him wrapped around me is everything.
Minutes pass, but our kiss doesn’t slow until one of the babies kicks. As we’re currently pressed together, tummy to tummy, Tommy jumps back, his eyes wide. “Was that the babies or are you hungry?”
I smile and put his hand over where one of the kids had kicked. “That’s one of your boys, Tommy.”
Another kick, and I actually see Tommy’s hand wiggle. “Oh my god! I felt it!” He’s already in tears. He rips the covers off me and pulls aside my gown, exposing my round belly. He presses his cheek to where the baby is kicking.
Another kick, and he’s grinning from ear to ear. “Tree or Bush?” he asks, not moving his head.
“I have no idea. But can we stop calling them that?”
He doesn’t answer, still laying on me. After a fifth kick, I grab his face and pull him back towards me. I know we need to talk to the police and probably get home, but for now, I’m content to kiss my beautiful boyfriend until they force us apart.
