“Harry,” I answer, my tone somewhere between anger and gratitude.
He approaches slowly, like I’m a wild animal who might bolt or bite. “I came to give you updates before the Bureau pulls me into debriefs for the next month.”
Wyatt leans against the counter, arms crossed. Protective. Watchful. Ready to throw Harry through a wall if needed.
Harry clears his throat. “Clarissa implicated herself in nearly everything during transport. She’s already offering deals. Bad ones. We’re not accepting anything yet.”
I swallow. “And the texts? The night my dad died?”
He nods. “All me. I tried to warn you without blowing my cover.”
Jane tilts her head. “Just curious. Was ‘do nothing and hope for the best’ part of the Bureau’s training?”
Harry looks at her with guilt carved deep into every line of his face. “If I’d acted too early, Clarissa would’ve vanished, and every victim would’ve been left without any justice.”
Wyatt’s jaw turns to stone. “And you were okay with that risk?”
“No,” Harry says instantly. “I’ve had to live every day knowing someone innocent was in danger because I couldn’t safely intervene.”
The room goes quiet.
Harry turns to me. “But you survived. You outsmarted her. You held your ground in that cabin better than most agents I’ve trained with.” He breathes out. “If you ever want to give a statement, or talk about your father, or… anything, you can come to me.”
I nod slowly. “Thank you. For saving me. And for stopping her men yesterday.”
His expression softens. “You did the brave part.”
Wyatt mutters under his breath, “She shouldn’t have had to.”
Harry hears but doesn’t respond. He hands me a card with a number on the back. “Call anytime. About anything.”
Then he leaves quietly, snowflakes clinging to his coat as he steps back into the cold.
The door shuts behind him with a soft finality.
Tank cracks his knuckles. “I say that’s enough emotional crap for one morning. Wyatt, is the bacon done, or are you slow cooking your feelings?”
“Feelings need low heat, brother,” Tex deadpans.
Wyatt plates the bacon and shoots them a look. “Go home.”
“What about my crispy protein?” Tank objects, looking hurt.
Jessie stands and tugs him to his feet. “Come on, big guy. I’ll make you bacon at home. Extra crispy, just the way you like it.”
Tank grins.“Will you wear that little ‘Kiss the Cook’ apron and nothing else?”
Jessie blushes,but she’s smiling. “Only if you do the dishes.”
Henry stands, pulling Shay up with him. “We’re heading back. Max will riot if he wakes up from his nap and doesn’t see her.”
“Us too,” Tex says, standing and hauling Jane against his side.
She raises a blonde eyebrow. “What, no bacon bribe first?”
Tex smirks. “You don’t need bacon, darlin’. You already won the full Tex package. Limited edition.” He rolls his shoulder and grimaces. “Slightly injured.”
Jane snorts. “That’s what you get for challenging me to an arm wrestle.”
