“What’s going on?” Tessa asked.
“TV.”
Tessa turned to Zane. “I’m going to kill him.”
“I’ll help you.” His hand moved from her lower back to her elbow, and she wasn’t sure if it was for her benefit or his. Regardless, they entered the den and found the entire gang in a semicircle around the TV mounted on the wall.
A few muttered greetings were exchanged as Luke hit Play. Then the room was silent except for Hank Littlefield’s grating voice. How long had he been filming? The first shots came from the helicopter footage and showed the estate, before switching to a view of her and Zane standing at the front door. Badges gleaming. Weapons clearly visible.
“The Carmichael estate is the scene of an investigation by the US Secret Service.” Hank Littlefield’s voice-over continued as the footage shifted to a close-up of Tessa. Her hair was blowing back from her face, and her expression was one of intense focus.
Ivy Collins, Gil’s wife and the CEO of her own cutting-edge prosthetics design firm, was on Tessa’s right. She bumped her elbow and whispered, “It’s like you’re a supermodel agent.”
Tessa didn’t respond. She’d lost the capacity for speech. Hank Littlefield mentioned her name four times in the few seconds the footage rolled. This wasn’t news. The only fact he had available to him was that the Secret Service had agents on the property.
“We’ve been able to confirm that Special Agent Reed and her associate remained on the premises for several hours. We’re stillworking to confirm the details regarding the case against Marshall Carmichael and will report it as soon as our investigation is complete.”
Littlefield signed off, and the news switched to a story about a local knitting group.
Luke and Gil stood in matching poses. Hands on their waists. Expressions somber. “Tess.” Luke had nominated himself as spokesperson, but the others were clearly in agreement. “We’ve given him a long leash. We’re done.”
Tessa appreciated their big-brother attitudes. She’d always wanted a brother, and the last place she’d expected to find one was at her job. She’d expected coworkers and brothers-in-arms—and Luke, Gil, and now Benjamin were that. But they were more. They respected her abilities but also looked out for her. Not because she was a woman. They all did it. She looked out for them too. And if the roles were reversed, she would be livid and ready to act on their behalf.
“I appreciate it. I do. But Carmichael already talked to his lawyers this afternoon. My guess is this will be pulled from the air and the internet, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see an apology issued.”
“And that has what to do with you, exactly?” Gil frowned in mock confusion. “I’m not worried about his professional life. I’m worried about you.”
“What do you want me to do? Get a restraining order? I can take care of myself. He has no chance with me. He’ll figure that out. Eventually.”
“I’m starting to think he won’t.” Luke turned to Zane. “This guy is a problem.”
Zane was a statue beside her. “I got that. The question is why I’m just now getting it.”
Gil and Luke exchanged a look. “The situation devolved rapidly, and you were out of the country.”
Luke picked up the thread from Gil. “We’d planned to discuss it with you this week.”
What was going on? Were they checking up on her and reporting to Zane? “Please tell me you’re joking right now.” She focused on Zane.
“What?”
“Do you expect them”—she waved a hand at Luke and Gil—“to tell you what’s going on in my life?”
“No. But I assumed they would let me know if there was an issue.”
“Why is that, exactly?”
“For the same reason I would expect Luke to rat on Gil. Or for you to rat on Luke. We’re a team. We don’t have to live in the same state for that to be the case.”
Faith stepped into the small circle that the four of them had made. “Tess. No one is going behind your back. But we’ve all been concerned about Hank Littlefield. And yes, these guys are looking out for you. And yes, they are telling Zane how they think you’re doing. But you’re doing the same thing. Last week you told Luke how tired Zane is and that you’re worried he’s working too many hours.”
Zane turned to her. “You did what?”
Before Tessa could defend herself, Gil squeezed between her and Zane. “Bottom line, we’re all nosy, bossy control freaks who have come too close to losing each other, and we’re all up in each other’s business. I’m not sure why either of you are surprised by this. But you can work that out on your own time. I’ve cooked a fabulous meal, and I don’t want it ruined.” He started walking them toward the dining room. “Sit. Eat.”
THIRTY MINUTES LATER,Zane leaned back in his chair and groaned. “I’m going to have to run an extra five miles in the morning.”
Luke, Gil, and Benjamin all mimicked his position. Faith sipped her water and tilted the glass in Gil’s direction. “Delicious, as always.”
