“Hmm?” Krys muttered. Ace realized he wasn’t going to get any enthusiasm from his cousin.
Cold-blooded, that’s what he is.
“I just received word that the FBI is closing in on the Moretti family,” he said bluntly. “Obviously, our guys in the force can’t cover the crime spree that’s been going on the last few weeks. We need you on it.”
“Got it,” Krys said, then abruptly hung up.
Ace stared at his phone for a minute, not sure he believed what had just happened. He turned back to the counter, and when he put the phone down and looked up, Emma was staring at him with wide eyes, her hands clasped to her chest.
“What?” she whispered.
“Emma, the bacon,” Ace pointed emphatically. She hurried to switch off the burner while Ace sat at the counter.
“It’s fine,” Ace muttered, hoping to divert his mate so she could go back to happily making breakfast.
“Uh-uh,” Emma muttered, pointing a finger at him. “I’m a Fontana, remember? You can’t treat me like some ordinary girl. Mob shit is going down. Tell me.”
“Well, I’m sure you heard the important stuff,” Ace said, meeting her eyes. She nodded. He could tell by the way her eyes danced and her lips tightened that she was nervous.
“But who did you call?” Emma asked.
“My cousin, Krys. He’s the best at stealth work that we have. He can get the intel we need and take care of anyone that gets too close.”
Emma nodded slowly. Ace got up and went to her, putting his arms around her waist. He felt her tremble just a little.
“It’s never-ending, isn’t it? No matter how safe we think we are, the mob business will always come back.”
“Hey,” he said, holding her tightly against his chest. “We’re protected by both families now, aren’t we? Don’t worry.”
“But we aren’t protected from the FBI,” she said wryly. Her green eyes narrowed as she looked at him. Ace kissed her softly.
“Nothing gets past my cousin, I promise you,” Ace said. “This will all work out.”
Emma’s eyes softened, and she wrapped her arms around him, snuggling against his chest. She believed him, and that was a good thing because Ace wasn’t really as confident as he sounded.
He was confident in Krys’s abilities, yes. That was undeniable. Once the FBI was involved in something, however, things could get messy. All they needed to do was tug on one loose string, and the whole damn net could unravel.
Ace wrapped his arms more tightly around his mate. Emma was all that really mattered. He had to trust that they would be safe. As he looked into her eyes and kissed her again, Ace found it was easy to hope for the best now. It was a gift she had given him … an edge of optimism for his cold, hard heart. He knew how strong and brave his wife was. He was even more thrilled that Emma knew her value and strength. No matter what the future held for both families, Ace believed he and Emma could handle anything.
The End