Then he pulled her in for a tight hug that made it even better.
A voice called out to interrupt them. “Agent Young. We need you.”
Sam growled into her neck but Tansy laughed. She’d forgotten they were in a storage unit surrounded by agents. Apparently fear wasn’t the only thing messing with her observational skills. She whispered. “Go. Do your job. I’ll see you soon.”
He squeezed and kissed her again, hard enough to heat her blood. “Count on it. I love you.”
Sam hated paperwork at the best of times.
This was far from the best of times.
Discharging a weapon on duty meant a mountain of paperwork. Discharging a weapon while on vacation meant that mountain morphed into a whole range of mountains.
If Graham hadn’t kept him up to date on Tansy’s safety and progress back in Keene, he’d have walked out of the FBI field office hours ago.
According to the agents who’d interviewed the injured man at the hospital, he was the quintessential thug. Knew nothing except that if he followed orders, he got paid.
Because Sam was officially on leave, he hadn’t been allowed to conduct interviews with Howard. At least they’d let him watch through the two-way glass.
Howard didn’t appear the least bit worried about being arrested. He hadn’t so much as blinked when they’d told him they already knew his identity. The asshole sat calmly with a smirk on his face the entire time Sam watched. He refused to answer a single question, including his name, until his high-priced lawyer arrived.
Slick, self-important, cocky.
At least they now had his fingerprints on file.
They hadn’t found a single match to any unknown prints in the system, which wasn’t surprising. Howard was an experienced criminal. He’d been in business for years and had more tricks up his sleeve than most.
He also had minions to do his bidding and the dirty work.
But they’d get him.
He’d hurt Tansy, and he was going to pay for that.
Rage simmered beneath the surface of Sam’s skin. Flowed like blood.
He needed to get rid of it somehow. If they were at Midnight Lake, he’d run the perimeter, train with Tansy.
Take her to bed and stay there for days, making love to her.
He’d tell her he loved her again. And that it was a forever love.
Shanice Williams entered the interview room and everyone stood a little straighter. Sam hadn’t met her before today, but her reputation was known everywhere. Young, tough, brilliant.
In the past few hours, he’d found out her reputation was well earned, and the woman was respected by everyone in the office.
She stood beside him for a minute and they watched Howard smirk. Then she shook her head and looked at Sam. “Can I speak to you for a minute in private?”
Sam followed her to her office, which was smaller than he’d expected. She motioned him to close the door and then she sat behind her desk and he took the chair in front.
“I’ve been reading up on you, Agent Young. I’ve also talked to a few people back in California. You’ve got a solid reputation, but the word is that you’re looking to step away from the FBI and start your own protection business.”
Sam had to chuckle. “There is absolutely nothing as terrifying as the FBI gossip train.”
Shanice grinned. “Very true. Is it accurate?”
Sam nodded. “I’m on vacation for a few more weeks, but that’s the direction I’m thinking.”
“I’d like to give you more options.”