I don’t acknowledge him further. Instead, I stride toward the door with an easy grace as if I have every right to be in Anatoly’s home. If Karl were smarter, he would go check the camera feeds, so let’s just hope he’s not a proactive go-getter who has me fooled.
Regardless, I’ve got free rein to leave New York and return to Pittsburgh. I’m definitely anxious to get back to see what magic Bebe can whip up to help me take this fucker down.
But more than that, I’m just as excited to get back to Bebe.CHAPTER 16Bebe“Don’t you even work anymore?” I hear teasingly from behind me, and I tilt my head way back on the couch to see Anna exiting the elevator into the communal area on the fourth floor. Always nice to see her, but better yet… she has her three-month-old daughter, Avery, in her arms.
Tossing the magazine I’d been perusing on the coffee table, I roll quickly off the couch, bounding to my feet. “Give her to me,” I demand, making grabby hands at the baby.
Laughing, Anna brings her to me and we make an effortless transition. As I settle back down onto the couch, I put my nose to Avery’s soft head and inhale. “God, I miss the smell of a little baby.”
Anna snickers, then plops on one of the chairs. Admittedly, I’d knocked off work a little early today, but it’s never something I’d apologize for. I give Kynan a good sixty-seventy hours most weeks, and he’d never begrudge me time away from my desk when I’m frustrated.
And I am frustrated. I haven’t heard from Griff in almost three full days, which has my anxiety flaring.
I tickle Avery under the chin, and she smiles before blowing a bubble out of her mouth. Leaning in closer, I baby talk to her. “Who’s the cutest little girl in the world? You are, that’s who.”
Anna props her chin in the palm of her hand. “You’re such a softy with her.”
Which is a backward way of saying I’m not soft with others, which… that’s legit. Shooting her a smirk, I bring my gaze back to Avery. “I just loved this age so much when I had Aaron. It went by way too fast.”
“Speaking of which,” Anna says as she leans forward a bit. “How are Aaron and your mom doing?”
“Settled in,” I say, using the corner of my thumb to wipe drool off Avery’s chin. “Anxious to come home, and I’m just as anxious to get them back.”
Anna, of course, knows all about what’s going on. As Kynan’s right-hand man—woman—she knows everything around the office. In fact, she’s become the go-to person for me to ask questions.
“What about Cage?” I ask. “Any word from him?”
“He checked in today,” she replies glumly. “No leads on Malik at all, but Kynan’s going to keep him there for a while. He’s flying well under the radar though.”
Meaning our government would not be happy to find out Jameson has someone on the ground snooping around for our missing man. This trip is not sanctioned, but Kynan’s never been one to play by the rules.
Glancing up from Avery to Anna, I take her in.
I mean, really look at her, and holy hell… she’s gorgeous. She lost the baby weight but managed to keep some excellent curves. No clue if she had those before since none of us knew her before she got pregnant, but they’re sexy as all get out. Her blonde hair is styled in soft waves, and she’s actually wearing expertly applied makeup that makes her cheekbones stand out and her gray-blue eyes shine.
“Wait a minute,” I ask while frowning, because none of this makes sense. “What are you doing here looking like a million bucks with your baby in tow?”
Anna chuckles. “I’m actually going out with some girlfriends tonight. They’ve been harassing me to get back out and have a life, you know? So I picked up Avery from daycare, then slapped some more makeup on. My mom is going to be swinging by soon to get her.”
“Good for you,” I cheer. Anna’s been widowed for going on close to four months now. While I have no preconceived notions about when people should or shouldn’t move on, I think Anna’s ready. We’ve all watched her healing take place as she has worked here for Kynan. Part of that has to do with being a new mom with a baby she’s deeply in love with. Avery is partly her father, and Anna has that amazing connection to him through her daughter. Over time, she laughs more, doesn’t cry as much, and has genuinely insinuated herself into our work culture, becoming like a family member.
Moreover, she’s become one of the biggest champions in keeping the torch alive for Malik. While Kynan is never going to stop searching for him, Anna is the one who keeps his memory alive for us. She barely knew him when he left to go on a mission with her husband, but since then, she’s made it her job to be our very own eternal optimist about bringing him home. While she knows her husband isn’t coming back, she’s never given up faith we’ll find Malik at some point.