Talia watched them walk Yewell from the warehouse. She let out the breath she’d been holding. Mason came out, walking a handcuffed Stanton by the elbow. She cracked the door and got out.
The huddle of people was at least a dozen. Several law enforcement agencies, but that world was a small one. Local feds knew local cops, especially lieutenants and captains. They milled around, getting caught up with what had happened.
The group pinned down in the hallway had been helped, and they were out now. Dead bodies probably littered every square foot of the warehouse, and more were walked out of the building in cuffs.
Talia moved to meet up with Mason. “The assistant director?”
He made a face while Stanton shifted to glare at her. Mason said, “Don’t even think about it.”
Stanton grunted. Mason handed him off to a couple of FBI agents, explaining who he was.
She turned to watch as Yewell was brought out, followed by his father. Only one of them had been cuffed. Victoria moved with them, explaining the severity of the situation to the FBI guy in charge of the scene. This man represented a serious threat, and she wanted him in federal prison ASAP. The Secretary of State just looked shell shocked.
Mason touched her elbow. Talia glanced over. He made a face.
“Yeah, she’s pretty intimidating when she needs to be.” But Victoria wasn’t what she wanted to talk about. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “You?”
“I’m good. Ready to get out of here, though.” She needed a shower and two days of sleep. After that she was going to give Dakota back her tennis shoes. “I’d like to check on Niall.”
That was assuming Mason intended to accompany her where she was going next. Maybe he couldn’t, or didn’t want to. There was probably too much for him to do here. Paperwork. His boss had been arrested.
She had no idea—
Mason shifted, close like when he’d kissed her. “Can I drive you? If it’s all right with you, I don’t think I’m okay letting you out of my sight right now.”
Well, now. That was sweet. And sweet always needed a little sassy. Like a cherry on whipped cream. Talia stuck out one foot and put a hand on her right hip even though the movement made her left side spark with pain. “You’re the one that got abducted. And nearly killed. And nearly swept away by water in a tunnel.”
Mason grinned. “And shot?”
“It’s a graze.” She waved at him. “You look like death warmed over.”
“You look beautiful.” He gathered her in his arms and kissed her, until someone close by cleared their throat.
Both of them turned to see Victoria, standing there with a very smug smile on her face. Behind her, Dakota was outright laughing. Her fiancé stood beside her, the dog at his feet. Apparently they’d all shown up, and she hadn’t even noticed.
“How’s Niall?”
Relief flashed over Victoria’s face. “He woke up pretty groggy, but they’re hoping that things will start coming back fast.”
Talia still wanted to see for herself. “And Welvern?”
“He’s good. Called to ask me if I’ve managed to steal away his entire team yet.”
Alvarez walked over, tall and slender. Beside him was a muscled man—not as big as Mason—who stuck his hand out to Victoria. “Drew Turner.”
“Mr. Mayor.” She smiled. “Of course. How’s the sheriff?”
“Good. Thank you.”
Talia gaped. “What…”
“You’ve been distracted.” Victoria’s eyebrows angled together. “I wouldn’t have expected you to run a background check on our undercover friend.”
Like Talia needed a background check? She said, “Northcorp Inland Holdings.”
Drew’s head jerked around to her. “Are you Talia?” She nodded, and they shook hands. “Small world.”
“That it is.” Victoria glanced between them.
Mason said, “I feel like there’s a whole story here that no one’s told me.”
“I’ll catch you up later.”
Mason took her hand. “I’d like that.”
Dakota made a noise. “Is he gonna come on board with the team as well?”
“What if he did?” Talia challenged. “What would be the big deal about that?”
Before Dakota could say anything, Victoria cut in. “He isn’t.” She held up a hand to Mason. “No offense. But Mason has a lot of work to do now. After all.” She grinned. “He’s the acting assistant director of the Secret Service office in Seattle.”
Talia blinked. “He is?”
“I am?”
Alvarez snorted. “You guys are clueless.”
Well, it wasn’t like Talia hadn’t figured out everything up until that point. Besides, the hacker had incriminated her in a security breach. He couldn’t get into a relationship with her when she had that hanging over her head, could he? The hit to his career, and reputation, would be significant.
“Whatever just happened on your face,” Alvarez said, “didn’t look all that good. But I’m thinking you don’t need to worry about it.”
Talia felt all of their stares. She didn’t want to be the center of attention, but here she was. She needed to say something, so they didn’t try to fix all her problems. It was what they did, and she loved them for it. But trying to convince them she was fine never worked. Too bad it seemed like they were going to keep doing it anyway.
She lifted her chin. “We caught the bad guy, didn’t we?”
“And then some,” Josh said.
“Everyone is alive, or they’ll heal. Right?” She looked around.
“True.” Victoria smiled.
“So why are we standing around here? We should go celebrate!”
Dakota laughed, strode over and planted a kiss on Talia’s forehead. “You’re right. Dinner? I’m thinking stuffed-crust pizza.”
Talia said, “I’m thinking steak.”
Alvarez slung his arm around her shoulder. “I second the steak.”
Mason stood watching them, a big grin on his face. “As soon as we get that graze stitched up, we can go get steak.”
“Graze?” Alvarez looked at each of them, then her. “You got hurt?”
“It’s a graze.”
He spun to Mason. “You let her get shot?”
Mason lifted both hands. “I didn’t—”
“Calm down.” Talia tugged on Alvarez’s shirt, then tried to shove him away. “Don’t think I won’t stun gun you.” Where was her device? She had no idea. But when she found it, Alvarez was going to learn she was serious.
Talia headed for the car, listening to them argue behind her.
“How bad is it?”
“Dude.”
“Someone tell me.” He didn’t sound happy.
“Let’s just go.”
Josh said, “I want a loaded baked potato.”
“I gotta get home. It’s a long drive, and I want to be there before Ellie goes on the night shift.”
Talia glanced over her shoulder. “Bye, Drew!”
He waved over his shoulder and walked away in the opposite direction.
“I’ll drive.”
“No, I’m driving.”
“I’m the one who has the keys.”
Neema barked.
Talia’s heart swelled as the voices blended together. The team was in one piece. Life went on. Things would go back to normal. Cerium was a problem for another day.
Mason got to the car door first and held it open for her.
Dakota said, “How come you never do that for me?”
Josh sighed. “Would you really let me?”
“No, but you’re supposed to want to do it anyway.”
“I do.”
“Oh.”
Talia grinned. She lifted up on tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Mason’s lips. “She’s totally jealous.”
He laughed.
“I am not!”
Coming fall 2019
Please consider leaving a review on your favorite book retailer.
You could also share about the book on Facebook. Your review will help other book buyers decide what to read next.
Visit www.authorlisaphillips.com where you can sign up for my NEWSLETTER.
Be the first to hear about new releases.