Page 70 of Honor ’N’ Duty

This wasn’t over. Not even close.

A strong hand came to rest on her shoulder—Kade’s.

“You’ve got this,” he said, then leaned in to whisper, “And you’ve got me.”

Smoke rested his head on her thigh, looking up at her.

“And Smoke,” he added, smiling down at her with concern and something else. Something more. Dare she hope it was the same thing blooming inside her own heart? Was it love?

“Thanks, Smoke.” She petted the top of his head, running her fingers through his thick black fur and letting his innate calming presence do its thing.

“There’s a fresh pot of coffee in the break room,” Manny said. “You both look like you could use a jolt.” He pointed to the forms on his desk. “I’ll be back in a minute, and we’ll fill them out.”

“Laia?” Kade’s brows rose. “Coffee?”

“Thanks. Cream, no sugar.”

“Smoke, stay.” Kade pointed to the floor inside the cubicle, then he and Manny went to get coffee.

Laia picked up the Confidential Informant Registration form and looked it over. A chill snaked up her spine, and she felt as if she were sinking in quicksand with no way out. In minutes, she’d be a confidential informant, nothing more than a number. This was unbelievable. Her life was turning into a living breathing episode of Law and Order. Dun dun.

She tossed the form back onto the desk where it landed next to a thick folder. On the folder’s tab, written in black magic marker, was a name: SAMPSON, Joshua C.

She glanced over her shoulder to verify no one was nearby. Satisfied there wasn’t, she opened the folder, and the bottom of her stomach sank to the floor.

The top page was an arrest sheet. Clipped to it was a photo of Josh. His eyes looked tired, his hair was askew, and his normally pressed shirt was completely rumpled.

Was this what he’d looked like on the last day of his life?

Beneath the photo was his physical description. Six-foot-one, brown hair, green eyes. After that came a list of charges, Title 18 codes for several crimes, including money laundering, and beneath that—

Laia gasped. Right below the list of charges was the name of the arresting officer.

Kade Sampson.

For a moment, she stopped breathing. It had to be a mistake.

After Josh had been arrested, she’d received word from his attorney that Josh wanted her to come to the prison. By the time she’d arrived, he was already dead. The more she thought about it now, the more cryptic DHS officials had been regarding the circumstances of his arrest. The only thing they’d told her was that he’d been discovered during a raid at Fernando Colon’s compound in South Jersey.

Had Kade really arrested his own brother? Was that what Josh had wanted to tell her? Or had he wanted to divulge the location of the ledger? She stared, still not believing it could possibly be true.

Manny returned, holding a mug. His lips pursed as he took in the open folder.

“Is it true?” she asked.

Kade now stood behind Manny, holding a mug of coffee in each hand and wearing a murderous expression as he glared at the other man. Surely he’d confirm that this was a mistake.

He didn’t.

Instead, taking a deep breath, Kade momentarily shut his eyes. When he opened them, they were filled with abject misery.

“No,” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. “You were the one who arrested Josh?”

Kade’s jaw clenched, and a muscle ticked furiously in his jaw.

Abruptly, she stood, sending the chair rolling backward and whacking into the desk.

Smoke lifted his head from the floor.