I look back at his screen, everything clicking into place and becoming crystal clear. “You’ve been hunting them,” I say, shaking my head in wonder and then turning to face the man with the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. “I can’t believe it took me this long to figure it out. Of course you stay up late and save random women on the internet, and of course no one knows and you don’t receive a lick of credit for it.”
“Don’t put me up on a pedestal, Van,” he starts to say, but I cup his face and kiss him.
“Too late,” I whisper. “I think you’re amazing and the sweetest man I’ve ever met.” Suddenly excited and feeling like a co-superhero, even though I haven’t done shit to bring this about, I lean forward and ask, “How do you catch the bastards? What about the women? How do you save them?”
“It’s usually a very long, complicated process, because like the rats they are, these fuckers know how to hide. Once I have the evidence I need and a name and address, I put it all together and send it to a contact I have in the FBI.”
“You’re working with the FBI?”
His mouth quirks up at my shocked tone. “Not really, and please don’t ever say those words to anyone else. It’s completely untraceable, and the guy I send all this to has no idea who I am.We share a mutual hatred of traffickers. He wants to bust them more than he wants to track me. That’s all I care about.”
“Your tattoo,” I say, resting my hand on his shoulder and letting my fingers drag along where I know the skull made of zeros and ones is hidden under his shirt. “Nobody.”
“That’s how I want it,” he says.
I rest against him as he scoots the chair closer and leans in to type. I’m always amazed at how quickly his fingers fly across the keyboard. I shouldn’t be. Niki’s exceptionally good with his hands. He works so fast that I can’t keep up with what I’m seeing on the screen, but finally he’s typing in an email address for an Agent Jackson. The message is simple and to the point.
Agent Jackson,
Found another sick fuck for you.
—Nobody
After I’ve read it, I turn my head and kiss his cheek. “Thank you for finding her. I hope they get to her soon and that she can get the help she needs.”
“Agent Jackson works fast. There’s no reason not to. I provide more than enough evidence to put these guys in prison for life, and I always give an address. I’ll make sure she gets help.”
“How?”
I swear he almost blushes when he says, “Remember I told you I fund a few charity organizations that help survivors? Well, this is a big part of why I do it. I’ll make sure they reach out to her and that she knows it’s all free of charge.”
“Of course you will,” I say, laughing at the look he gives me. Looking down, I pat my stomach and say, “Daddy’s a superhero.”
Niki laughs and nuzzles his face against my neck. “I’m far from it, Van. You’re the superhero. I wouldn’t last five minutes in a kindergarten classroom.”
“You would be amazing, and as soon as I have my own class, I’m bringing you in to meet all the kids.”
“They’ll probably run screaming from me, or the other teachers will see me and it’ll give you a bad reputation.”
“Your nieces and nephews love you, and a bad reputation might be fun.” I play with the back of his hair while I think about it. “I’ve never really done anything rebellious. Cindy and I barely toed the line when we were in high school. Our crazy teenage years weren’t all that crazy, but now I get to be the teacher who’s married to the tattooed guy with a nose ring. You can drive me to school one day on your motorcycle. That’ll really start the gossip.”
I laugh when he scoops me up and starts to carry me back to bed.
“Come on, wild girl, both my babies need sleep.”
I melt a little at his words. We just found out I’m pregnant today, and he’s already in daddy mode. It’s one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.
“I could use some sleep,” I agree, “but right now I feel wide awake.” I let my nails drag softly along his neck.
He side-eyes me while stepping into our room. “Well, we can’t have that, now can we?”
When he sets me on the bed, I scoot back, parting my thighs when he notices the way my shirt has risen.
“God, I love it when you wear my clothes.” He starts to strip out of his own shirt and pants, and when I see how ready he is for me, I let out an appreciative sigh.
“And I love it when you wear nothing at all,” I say, making him smile before he gets on the bed, hovering his body over mine.
Snaking a hand under my shirt, he cups one of my breasts and nips at the crook of my neck. “Do you need me to give you a few orgasms so you can sleep?”
