“Some jerk who likes the ocean and wants to impress a girl who loves turtles, I guess.”
I pull back as we reach the door. “Luke, are you the owner?”
He starts to unlock the multiple dead bolts and types in a code before it flashesDisarmed.
“As of this week, yes.”
He pushes the door open, and I gasp at the blue light–filled display of fish in the entrance. It’s an enormous cylinder that stretches from the floor up, over two stories high.
He reaches for my hand, pulling me inside before shutting the door behind us. I gape at the scene as he leads me through the displays of ocean life trapped behind the glass. The overhead lights are off. We can only see because of the interior bulbs illuminating the aquatic animals. The mood is intimate and romantic, and I’ve never felt so giddy to be on a date with a guy.
This feels like a date.
I look over to see him watching me observe the sharks swim above us in the long tunnel exhibit. I blush and look away.
He finally speaks after a few moments of silence. “I brought you here for a few reasons, one of which is why I asked you to leave your phone in the car. You never know who is listening. Even if the device is turned off, they can hear what you say...they being the FBI, the Russian Mafia, anyone who could benefit from listening to what we’re talking about.”
“Why would they want to listen to us?”
“Because I’m going to share classified government secrets with you that would get us killed if the wrong ears were tuned in.”
I suck in a gulp of oxygen as I stare into his luminous green eyes.
He goes on, gaze steady on mine. “Fallon was dating Reid, and he intended to propose. Reid was my best friend. I would’ve died for him. I believed the four of us were brothers. Then, on the last mission...Garrison shot Reid in cold blood.”
My mind whirls as I envision the cold murder scene and what it must have been like for him to witness something so traumatizing.
He continues, “The altercation with the Russian Mafia—where we were supposed to take down their leader, Tycos—didn’t get far. We were in their territory when Garrison pulled a gun out and shot Reid in the back of his skull. It was surreal, like a dream. I was the only one who saw. Henrik heard the gunshot, but he thought it was an enemy and that it was too dark for me to see clearly. He’s wrong. I saw everything. I used to think Garrison did it out of spite, hatred, and I thought he was a mole for the Russians. I found out when I went to visit Fallon and then him, that it was Reid who was the traitor.”
His voice fades away, his eyes growing distant.
“I found out later that headquarters had accepted a transmission and knew there was a mole among the four of us. They were trying to find out who by giving us all false information to see who leaked it. Our missions had been going south for a while. Garrison was our IT expert, and he’d intercepted a message meant for Reid. My best friend was actively betraying us and giving away our position, leading us into a trap, when Garrison killed him to protect us all.
“He’s been searching for proof all this time, same as I have. I just didn’t know where to look. Reid put Fallon in danger. I hated Garrison all this time, when he saved all our asses and protected Fallon...”
His voice breaks and he sucks in a breath of fresh air before slowly expelling it. I’m dumbfounded, my thoughts whirling out of control.
Luke watched Garrison shoot Reid.
I can’t imagine how traumatic it would be to witness something like that, then to think for years that one of your closest friends killed the other one and got away with it. I’mabout to attempt to comfort him when he goes on, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.
“Reid was going to propose to Fallon. He told me two days before he died. Until I received the wedding invitation, I had no idea she was even with Garrison. They started dating a year after Reid’s death, and she kept it from me because she knew I hated him. He started dating her to protect her, but he ended up falling for her. I’m not legally allowed to tell you—or anyone—what happened that night. Garrison finally found the proof he needed and told the FBI, so the investigation is finally over, but?—”
I finally lift a finger to silence him, placing it against his lips. His eyes focus in on mine, anxiously searching to see if I believe him.
“Luke, it’s okay. I believe you. They told me...told me you might have been the one to kill him, but I believe you. I’m so sorry I?—”
He pulls me in for a hug, strong arms holding me against him. “No, no, Kate, don’t apologize. I should’ve explained a long time ago. I’ve been in love with you since—” He cuts off as I gasp at his admission. A faint smile forms over his lips. “Sorry. That just came out. I meant to...ease you in. I love you, Kate Dawson, with all my heart.”
Moisture builds in my eyes as I nod. “Uh, okay...are you sure? Are you serious?”
He laughs, pulling me in even closer. He smells like his woodsy bergamot cologne with a slight mix of bourbon. His finger reaches out to brush a stray strand of blonde hair behind my ear.
“I love you so much. I’ve been going insane the last month without you. I was dealing with all these FBI interviews, apologizing to Garrison, to Fallon. Trying to come to grips with what happened. I’ve been a mess, but I’ve just fucking missed you.”
A teardrop flows out of my eye as I blink up at him, trying to hold in the involuntary reaction. His dark hair is shiny in the blue lighting, skin glowing as the sea life floats around us to create a blissful dome of seclusion and happiness.
“I’m sorry about the resignation letter, Luke. I panicked, and I just...I’m so sorry.”
