“Do you know Agent Nilsson?” Easton stopped in front of the dining room table and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Sure.” Gus put down his salad fork. “She’s worked cases we’ve encountered that involve children.”
“She reached out to Bryce,” he said. “Personally asked that I be reassigned to her group to gather intel for a trafficking case.”
“Lena Nilsson?” Gus snagged a piece of bread from the basket in the center of the table. “Has to be a coincidence. She was involved with Sasha’s case because Melissa Fletcher was an adolescent. Gotta say, she’s the last person I’d think of who would knowingly fuck with an investigation.”
“From our interactions, she seemed very by the book,” Sasha volunteered.
“To the point her lack of empathy was pissing me off,” Gus grumbled. “Sasha had just survived an explosion and she was at her bedside firing off questions.”
“She was just doing her job, honey.” Sasha put a placating hand on Gus’s upper arm. His brother was damn lucky to love and be loved by a person that matched him so well. What they had was special, and for the first time in his life, Easton wondered if he was fucking up by not jumping headfirst into what was developing between him and Kinley.
“Guys, come sit and eat. Pacing around the table won’t help you figure this stuff out any faster.” Julie stood and grabbed the spatula from the quickly disappearing pan of lasagna. She sectioned off two huge pieces and placed one on each empty plate. “It’s a freaking miracle none of you have ulcers from stress. Kins, sit next to me.” She patted the seat beside her. The way his sister could deliver a polite demand, flashing her dimples and a smile, was no less effective than a drill sergeant ordering compliance. Apparently, Kinley thought so too because she slid into the chair next to Jules and picked up her fork. “I promise not to drag you off to any spas,” she joked, but her smile was open and welcoming, and there was no malice in her tone.
“Between Easton’s grilled cheese and now a homecooked lunch, I’m, ah … getting spoiled.” She quickly pushed a lock of hair behind her ear as a blush rose up her cheek. He sat beside her and squeezed her knee. She was uncomfortable, but he wanted to kiss her senseless for engaging with his sister when there was so much stress swirling in the air.
“You’re part of this crazy family whether you like it or not.” Jules gave her a wink before returning to her food. He loved that his sister was welcoming Kinley into the fold.
They ate and talked, steering the topics away from the investigation for the time being. As the meal went on, Kinley’s expression softened and she leaned into the table. Her smiles were no longer forced, and Jules and Sasha had them all chuckling about some recent misadventure at the grocery store. Gilligan paced under the table, occasionally stopping to paw at everyone’s legs to beg for scraps. God knew Jules had most likely already fed the little sausage his own plate of noodles and sauce in the kitchen.
For the second time that hour, Easton’s phone went off. The mood snapped to serious, and he silently cursed the caller for ruining the happy moment with his family. The number was one he didn’t recognize.
“Hello,” he said, a pit of apprehension solidifying in his chest.
“Is this Agent Adair?” the voice was female, professional, and lacking inflection.
“Yes. Who’s this?” Everyone seated at the table went silent, all eyes pinned on him.
“Lena Nilsson. I’m calling to answer some questions Agent Bryce said you have about the investigation I’ve requested you for.”
Gus shrugged and lifted his hands in a questioning gesture. Easton mouthed Nilsson at his brother. “I do. There are dozens of cyber-intelligence agents in our group. Why did you ask for me specifically?”
“A recommendation from Assistant Director Lenny Powers with the criminal branch. He emailed to tell me if I needed help, you were my agent. Apparently, you impressed him on a recent assignment.”
Adrenaline unfurled within him, making his heartbeat quicken. “What assignment?” He pushed to his feet, no longer able to sit still.
“He didn’t say.” Agent Nilsson’s tone remained impassive, despite his growing suspicion. “The email was brief. I just forwarded it to you.” The sound of nails clicking over a keyboard sounded over the line. A second later, a ping emanated from his phone, signaling an incoming message. “Is there something I should know?”
“I’ve never met Powers, and I haven’t worked with him on any assignments.” Kinley’s theory that someone in law enforcement was either the perpetrator or shielding one was seeming more viable by the minute. He fucking hated the thought that someone who had sworn to protect was hiding behind some sort of badge like a goddamn costume.
“Why would he say that, then?”
“I’m working a case that someone wants me taken off of, leaving the only known survivor of a serial killer vulnerable.” He’d shared more than he intended, but Gus believed she was straight. Plus, he wanted to gauge her reaction.
“Aren’t you part of the cyber division?” she asked. Christ, you’d think he’d asked what the weather forecast was based on the lack of inflection in her voice.
“There’s currently some gray area.” He looked fixedly at Kinley. Those big brown eyes were going to be his undoing. But the way they sparked and burned with lust when she looked at him was sweet torture.
“I see. I don’t know what is going on, but I can vouch for Powers’s character. He was my mentor. Has been working his whole life to put the worst of the worst behind bars.”
“Well, maybe he’s found some gray area himself.” His eyes were still locked on Kinley’s, and the way her chin was tilted upward, staring at him under her lashes, made him wonder what those pretty lips would look like wrapped around his—
“I’ll reach out to someone else in your division.” Agent Nilsson’s clipped tone yanked him out of his fantasy. He was an asshole, plain and simple. Just because she’d allowed him to kiss her once didn’t give him the right to fantasize about her when his sole mission should be protecting her. “Thank you for your transparency.”
He cleared his throat. “If you get any more suspicious emails, contact me.”
“Yes, I will. In fact, I’ll connect with Powers. There has to be an explanation.”
“As long as you know I’ll still be paying him a visit.” Right after he read the email Nilsson had forwarded to his inbox, he was tracking the man down.
“Naturally. I’ll reach out when I make contact.” Without another word, the line disconnected. The urge he had to toss Kins over his shoulder and take her upstairs to his bed hadn’t subsided. He’d just have to learn to live with the permanent zipper imprint from his jeans. Now that they had a tangible lead, they had work to do.