He tsked. “I recall you used different words.”
“And I believe you have yet to say it back.” She huffed out a breath when he sat there, staring at her, his damn heart bleeding out on his sleeve. “I’m crazy in love with you.”
He coaxed her forward, pressed his lips softly to hers. “Pretty sure I fell in love with you the moment I saw you behind that waterfall. You took my breath away. Haven’t been the same, since.”
“Which would explain why you’re both nuts.”
Bodie choked back a laugh, focusing over Rowan’s shoulder at Nick, leaning against the door frame. Dalton and the rest of the crew stood behind him, all looking more than amused.
Bodie arched a brow. “Shouldn’t you be visiting Wade? So I can take advantage of Rowan?”
Dalton laughed as they shuffled into the room, fanned out on either side. “Wade kicked us out. Said he needed to rest, that we were too annoying, whatever that means. And between the stitches and your jacked-up leg, you won’t be taking advantage of anything other than a couch for at least another week.”
Bodie sighed as a telling silence settled over the room. “Judging by how uncomfortable you all look, this is about Walsh.” He took a deep breath, prepared for the worst. “I’m assuming the CIA decided he wasn’t quite the liability we hoped he’d be.”
Nick scrubbed a hand down his face. “It’s complicated. He didn’t get a pass.”
Rowan stiffened. “But?”
Nick glanced at Avery, then back to Rowan. “He’s gone. Spirited away to an overseas black site. Holt with him.”
Rowan cursed. “And how’s that not him getting a pass?”
“Because he’s not exactly free. Sloane went rogue when she heard the news, tracked down his convoy. He’s being held in a high security facility under orders to replicate your dad’s work. Rumor has it, he won’t be seeing the outside of that place until he does.”
“What do you mean, replicate? He had all my dad’s research.”
“About that…” A hint of a smile teased Nick’s mouth. “Seems someone got past his firewalls, destroyed all his data. Walsh has no idea how it happened. Went ballistic. Said he couldn’t isolate the toxin without your dad’s detailed notes. And since that’s not an option, right now…”
“Can’t he just use his remaining supply to reverse engineer it?”
“He could… If there was any.” Nick chuckled. “Seems there was an error in the transfer codes sent to the CIA recovery team. The entire supply of Lethe toxin accidentally got earmarked as biohazardous medical waste — was destroyed.”
Rowan looked at Avery.
Avery held up her hand. “Don’t look at me. I don’t have that kind of sway with the Bureau, let alone the Agency. And computers aren’t my forte. But I know someone who can hack her way into damn near anything. Had a vested interest in the outcome of our case.”
Bodie groaned. “Sloane.”
Nick grunted. “I told her not to do anything that could get her carted away along with Walsh, but she’s incredibly stubborn. Of course, she’s denying everything.”
Rowan sighed. “So, that’s it? They fund him so he can do this all over again?”
Nick chuckled. “The thing about the Agency, patience isn’t really their strong suit. I give it a year, tops, before he suffers a tragic accident. Either way, I’ve got enough connections in place, I’ll know if he ever walks free, and I’ll deal with him, personally, if that happens. I’m willing to give justice a chance, but if it fails…”
Bodie shifted on the bed. “Is that your way of saying you’re turning me down, again? Because you said it yourself. You’re already six months past when you should have called it quits.”
Nick snorted. “You sound like Sloane. She keeps telling me I need to bow out before I get myself killed. Though, that’s probably because she wants to have the chance to kill me, herself.”
“Or maybe, she wants something else.” Bodie looked at Rowan. “Something more.”
Rowan grinned. “Definitely more. Though, I’m not discounting she also wants to put a round in his ass, likely because he deserves it.”
Nick sighed. “Guess we’ll find out.”
Bodie perked up. “Wait. That sounds more like you’re finally saying yes?”
Nick glanced at the rest of Bodie’s crew. “Gave notice this morning. I have a couple cases I need to clear off my desk, but this time next month, I’ll be calling this dreary, rain-cloaked, blip-of-a-town home.”
