Afterward, I sent a coded distress signal to my IPB team.
I knew I’d be waiting impatiently for a response. They were the only ones at the agency I was willing to talk to about this. After the attack, I’d called Agent Renning, my superior in the chain of command at the IPB. Renning had wanted me to come in to headquarters. That had more to do with protocol than what she wanted. She must’ve known I couldn’t do that, not when things were so hot and a mole was afoot. So after she assured me that Ty’s family would be under strict surveillance, I politely declined her order and told her I would be conducting my own internal audit.
With my team.
Once they contacted me and we started working on this rogue mission, it’d be easier to find answers. As I’d told Ty, I didn’t trust anyone, but if I did, it would be these guys. If they didn’t have my back, no one did. But that didn’t mean they had my unwavering faith even then, because when we got to work, I had every intention of treating each of them as if they were the mole I was looking for. I’d learned too much not to know better.
Ty caught up with work stuff on his phone while I headed around the house and worked on my traps. When I finished, I reviewed the ones in the bedroom with him.
“So let’s say someone breaks in through the window,” I explained. “You have a knife under the mattress to your left and one under the mattress to your right. Given how they were trying to grab us last time, it’s unlikely they would shoot you point-blank if they thought they might be able to use you as leverage to get to me, so that works in our favor.”
His eyes widened. I wasn’t being careful enough in my wording. He wasn’t one of the guys I was used to working jobs with. “Sorry, I always have an issue with breaking this stuff down for civilians. You’d think after twenty years of this I’d be better at it.”
“It’s fine. Might as well say it this way. At least I know you’re not bullshitting me.”
I’d already given him a tour of the place, letting him know where weapons were and little booby traps in case he needed to set one off to take down any potential intruders. In the process, I’d fucking soaked the tank top I wore, and sweat was still running down my face.
“When was the last time you slept?” Ty asked, surely reading the exhaustion that had crept up on me.
“Don’t bother asking a question that doesn’t have a good answer. I’m going to get some sleep. I just needed to get this place set up right. Everything’s secure. The distress signal has been sent. You’re safe. The important things are taken care of, so now I can relax for a minute until we hear back from the guys.”
I showered off before heading downstairs and sliding onto the sofa in just a pair of gym shorts I’d picked up at the store. I hadn’t really thought to put on more since I was planning to take a nap. Ty was stretched out on the adjoining love seat, reading one of the books from the box I’d brought back. The way he kept getting distracted—ogling me, unable to turn the page in his book—made me think maybe I should have put on more clothes to be less distracting. Although, it’d have been a lie to say I didn’t enjoy the way I distracted him.
“You enjoying that book?”
He smiled. “Yeah. It’s fun so far. I can see why you enjoy these. Kind of light and mindless. Takes your mind off things. The view from this love seat is also rather distracting, I have to admit.”
I scanned myself quickly. “I would have put on a shirt, but I figured the fewer clothes we use, the better.”
“Do we also need to cuddle to stay warm?” he asked with a wink.
I didn’t just chuckle that time, as I had to most of his jokes since our attack. I full-out belly-laughed.
But I was sort of annoyed too that he’d put the thought in my fucking brain…that it was just that…a pleasant fantasy.
He rolled his eyes. “Get some rest, Liam. I’ll do my best not to cuddle you too hard in your sleep. I got you.”
The way he said it, I knew he really did, and it made it that much easier for me to drift off, knowing he was near, knowing he was safe and that he would keep watch.
I didn’t trust many people, but for some fucked-up reason that went against all the judgment I’d spent a lifetime building up, I knew I could trust him.
