He pulls me nearer, making an attempt to appease me as my shivering, soaking-wet physique virtually convulses in his arms. He needed to get me some dry garments, however I refused to cease at dwelling first. I’ve to point out up for my dad and mom.

That thought has me wishing for the dawn like by no means earlier than.

“I’ll at all times present up, Ace. Regardless of how darkish it will get, I’ll at all times fucking present up. That’s our fairy story.”

The darkish, blustery world whirls across the automotive as Doug jolts to a cease. Even the streetlights have withered within the whiteout, barely discernable. One thing about that imagery is reassuring. Us, parked right here—nonetheless and small—as Mom Nature throws an absolute tantrum. The solar retreating, whether or not out of worry or routine or pure knowledge. The bushes and wind and clouds all willingly changing into her pawns. It seems to be like a checkmate transfer. Like the tip. However regardless of how a lot havoc she wreaks, the solar will reign once more.

So, whether or not or not my golden god illuminates this nightmare tonight, I can climate this storm.

I cough and sputter by a number of cleaning inhale-exhale cycles earlier than I look at Rex. “I’m good. I’ve acquired this.”

He nods at me and knocks on the window separating us from Doug. When the door opens, I rush inside with Rex sizzling on my heels.

It isn’t like a police station, which is what I pictured. It’s an workplace constructing. Women and men in enterprise apparel scurry about, chatting on telephones and banging on keyboards, oblivious to the treacherous scene unfolding past the home windows. It’s almost seven o’clock, and never one in all them appears to be ready to finish their day.

The man who gave me the cardboard swaggers out, all smug and cocky. He’s misplaced his overcoat and swimsuit jacket, however his white button-up remains to be dotted with the drippings of our earlier encounter.

“Miss Carver”—he gives his hand, so I take it, inwardly reeling—“thanks for arriving so shortly. Cooperation is greatest for everybody. I’m Agent Matthew Colehorn. Comply with me.”

He might have shaken my hand and greeted me cordially, however the pleasantries are nowhere to be discovered. The snowstorm was hotter. However I can do icy.

Play their recreation.

He guides me to an empty workplace room, however a cursory go searching reveals it’s something however atypical. There are cameras within the higher corners and nothing however a easy desk and a handful of seats. Pulling out a chair, he gestures to it with a wordless request for me to take a seat, so I do, folding my frigid, gloved fingers in my lap. The extra compliant he thinks I’m, the higher.

By no means allow them to see.

His scrutiny switches to Rex with irritation. “There’s a ready room across the nook. Espresso, water. Don’t contact the meals. It’s in all probability been out all fucking day.”

“I’m good the place I’m at,” is all Rex returns, arms stiff in entrance of him, one hand clasping his wrist on the opposite. Bodyguard mode in overdrive. His grey eyes look downright deadly.

Colehorn pins me with a formidable glare. “Time to name your guard canine off. This case is classed. He can’t be in right here.”

Rex clears his throat, issuing a delicate risk with the noise. “I’ll depart when Miss Carver’s attorneys arrive.”

It happens to me that I would get additional if I’ve a couple of minutes alone with Agent Asshole. “I’m good, Rex. I’ll let you already know if I would like you. Go watch for the attorneys.”

“Cee—”

“Please.” I solid him a stern, entreating stare. “Let me deal with this.”

I respect his hesitation. It’s what Liam would anticipate, however I must get my dad and mom launched shortly. If the FBI needs one thing from me, I’m not going to waste one other minute earlier than determining what that’s.

A silent nod is Rex’s solely response earlier than he slips out of the room. That energy my father talked about could be legitimate. Rex would’ve argued with me previously—or on the very least spewed a slew of directions. I must harness that authority. Possibly I don’t have a lot to face on inside this room, but when I widen my lens, I’m the one in management right here. I simply want to seek out my angle.

Colehorn plops right into a chair, flashing me his greatest bad-cop glower. It’s mildly spectacular. He actually nails the grumpy, threatening, my-mission-is-to-ruin-your-life scowl. If I wasn’t intimately related to the nation’s wickedest puppeteers or conscious that these I like bury individuals who cross them, I’d in all probability cower on the sight. However since these are my closest and most cherished relationships, I merely wait quietly, unfazed and void of any expression.

His face softens, like he’s decide—a brand new tactic. “ what? I’m going to leap proper in, Celeste. No want for any hard-ass bullshit. As I stated, you will have every thing we have to make a deal on behalf of your dad and mom. This may be good and straightforward. Cooperate, and also you’ll all be dwelling earlier than this storm traps us all right here.”

“Nicely, I do admire the lodging.” My mouth curls right into a sardonic grin. “We aren’t fairly on a first-name foundation although, are we, Matthew?”

“You give me what I’m in search of, you possibly can name me regardless of the fuck you need, darling.” He opens a drawer on his facet of the desk and tosses a file down in entrance of me. “Let’s begin there.”

I college my options, ingest a cleaning breath, and flip open the folder. The image on high is of Liam, however I present no notion of recognition. Impatient, Colehorn spreads the images out. One after one other, he flops them down with a smack. He’s failing miserably at adopting the not-so-bad-cop demeanor he tried a minute in the past.

The images rework the tabletop right into a collage of my household. Extra of Liam. Wells. Ty. Gage. Numerous locations. Typically alone. Typically collectively. No Ivy. That’s a constructive.

Nonetheless, my insides coil round my backbone, inflicting acid to leap for my throat, however I gulp all of it down. My eyes meet his with the very best poker face I’ve ever customary. “And?”

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