Page 20 of Crave

I’d slept betterthan I had in years holding Mia. My fiancée. I would do anything to make this work. For her, for me, for our son.

We had an early morning breakfast in Tiburon before we met up with Beck, and he flew us home.

After we picked up Hero and Curry, we went back to my place. It was still early afternoon, so I texted Kyle letting him I needed to talk to him when he had a second. I wanted him to know everything he could about Mia’s parents and Rafael.

My phone rang, but it wasn’t Kyle, it was Paul.

“I need to see you right away. Meet me at the NCIS office downtown. And wear your dress whites.”

What the fuck? “May I ask why, sir?”

His voice switched from formal to angry. “No, Carrion, just get the fuck down here.”

Fuck. I tossed my phone on my bed and grabbed my uniform from the closet and quickly pressed it. I hated this fucking outfit. The bib, the bell bottoms, the neckerchief—I looked like I belonged on a fucking cracker jack box.

As I was polishing my boots, Mia walked into the bedroom.

“What’s happening, sailor? Your ass looks amazing in those bells.”

“Not now, woman. Paul called me down to NCIS.” I gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

Her face twisted. “Is this about Joaquín?”

“I don’t know. Got to go.” I left her standing there with her mouth open as I dashed out the door and jumped into my truck.

As I sped down the freeway, I convinced myself this had to be about Joaquín. I’d never been called in for anything. My record had always been stellar. And, God willing, it would remain so.

I arrived at the building, flashed my ID, and checked in at the front desk. An older lady led me to a room where I found Paul sitting in a chair.

“What’s this regarding, sir?”

Before he could answer me, a woman entered in a tight black suit, her bob grazing her shoulders. Her makeup was natural, her body was perfect, but one look at her face, and my breath stopped.

It was Autumn.

“Petty Officer Carrion, thank you for joining us today,” she said, sliding past me to take a seat at the table.

What the fuck? Gone was the stripper makeup and clothes. I’d seen her dancing in a thong with gold pasties on her tits.

“I’m Special Agent Ashley Pierce. I can assume you know who I am, correct?”

Stunned I looked to Paul, but he didn’t offer an explanation.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. I’ve been undercover as Autumn while I’ve been investigating drug smuggling within the SEAL teams. Joaquín Cruz is currently being investigated for his suspected involvement with the Ramirez cartel. We need your help. In return, I will put all our resources toward getting your son back.”

Holy shit! What the fuck was Joaquín involved in? A gang was bad enough, but he was working with a cartel?

My mind replayed every encounter I’d ever had with Autumn. First at Paul’s party. How she had targeted me, teased the fuck out of me but never let things go too far. I’d next seen her at the first party I took Ksenya to. She’d cornered me there, offering to help me free Joaquín, and she’d told me that Tiffany had been involved in something shady. And Autumn had been the one who had shown me a picture of my son.

She was as great of an actress as Mia was.

Agent Pierce. It made perfect sense. How had I not suspected she was an agent?

I attempted to regain my composure. “Of course. I’ll do anything.”

“You are not to mention any part of this conversation to Mia Cruz. We believe she may be involved also.”