“My top priority is keeping the Sares safe.We get Vaughn indicted and locked up, then I’ll deal with the estate and my new insta-family.”
“You have a sister.”
“Not how I imagined this morning would go.”
“I suspect not, but this is good news.”At Nic’s quirked brow, he chuckled a little, adding, “Present circumstances notwithstanding.Tell me about her.”
Nic gave him the highlights of the conversation he’d shared with Lette, his features far more revealing than his words.The morning’s tension faded from his frame as he described how his sister’s resembled his own.His face lit with pride as he recounted her acceptance into art school.Hope melted the ice in his eyes as he revealed she carried his class ring with her, that she and her mother had tried to see him multiple times on base, that Lette wanted to know him better and was interviewing for jobs out here.
Cam’s heart cheered for his lover.Family was important, he knew that better than anyone.But doubts continued to simmer in his belly.Low-level enough to ignore, but they were still there.What did this mean for their future?Was there room for him in Nic’s new insta-family?Questions for another time.He needed to be here for Nic; they’d worry about family and the future later, when the possibility of both were secure.
When Nic was done, and Cam had assured him he was doing everything a brother should, he stole a quick kiss on his way to standing.“All right, let’s go talk to Lauren.See what other evidence she’s found, and if it’s enough for indictments.”
“It better be.I already called the grand jury for tomorrow morning.”
Cam grinned.“Now there’s the overly confident Dominic Price I know and love.”
Eyes blazing, Nic grabbed his tie and yanked him closer, nose to nose.“There is one thing I stand corrected about.You, Cameron Patrick Byrne, are the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.”
The kiss Nic laid on him chased away Cam’s doubts.For now.
Fourteen
Idling the truck at the freeway exit, Nic drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel, off rhythm from Pearl Jam on the radio and Cam’s off-tune sing-along, but right on rhythm with tomorrow’s opening statement running through his head.
Cam reached out, first turning down the music, then cuffing the back of Nic’s neck and massaging.Nic closed his eyes, savoring the dig of strong fingers into tight, tired muscles.“You’re ready for tomorrow,” Cam said.“You’ve got it.”
A horn blew behind them, and Nic opened his eyes, the light green in front of them.“And you?”he asked Cam, as he turned onto the surface street that led to Gravity.
“I’m ready, though I’m still not convinced it shouldn’t be Aidan.”
“You’re not the only agent testifying.El will be up before you, Lauren after.And you’re the agent running point on this operation.You’ve been present both times we questioned Vaughn.”
“But I wasn’t the first agent on scene at either your father’s death or at Harris’s.”
“You are the agent with the most recent field experience, though.”
“But—”
“No more buts.”
He swung the truck into Gravity’s parking lot, only Eddie’s sand-crusted Wrangler left at this hour.He parked next to the main entrance, turned off the ignition, and shifted in his seat.He needed Cam to walk into that grand jury room tomorrow with no doubts about the case they were presenting or about his credibility to present it.
Bowers was right; they didn’t have a smoking gun.No murder weapon with Vaughn’s prints on it.What they did have was a growing mountain of evidence that pointed to a pattern of behavior, enough to make a case as long as the whole team sold it.Especially Cam.Because if Cam was at his best, Nic would be too.They fed off each other that way.As upside down as the rest of his world was right now, Nic was certain of two things—his place with Cam and his place in the courtroom—the both of them converging tomorrow.
“As well as I know Aidan,” Nic said, “I know you better.I know how you’re going to answer and I know you can follow me—my moves, my thought processes, any curveballs thrown at you—better than anyone.I have to think fast on my feet in a courtroom; you make that easier.”
Cam averted his gaze, one corner of his mouth hitched up in a bashful smile.“Well, okay then.”
For as cocky as Cam was ninety-five percent of the time, Nic lived for the other five percent when he could remind Cam what an amazing man he was.“Don’t be nervous.You’ll be perfect.”
“I’m not nervous.You’re ready.I’m ready.So are Moore and Lauren.”Cam picked at a shredding piece of vinyl on the truck seat.“I just don’t want to compromise this case.I know what it means to you.”
Stretching across the console, Nic covered Cam’s restless hand, then his lips, saying with his kiss how much he appreciated the sentiment and how much he trusted Cam to live up to it.
Nic reluctantly pulled away as breath became necessary, just as the parking lot lights shifted into late-night safety mode.“We better go.I want to catch Eddie before he leaves for the city.”He’d called his teammate earlier and filled him in on recent developments.Eddie was scheduled to relieve Mel on Sare guard duty at midnight.“I’ve gotta sign some checks too and you can grab a stout.”
Cam stole another quick kiss.“You’re too good to me.”
