She'd spent every minute traveling to Nashville planning to give all of them a piece of her mindincluding Nathanfor keeping her in the dark. Now all she wanted to do was hug Nathan and convince him to fight the system once more.
Joe walked in from the connecting office that belonged to Tee, who followed right behind him. Like Nathan, Joe had long dark hair in a ponytail. His eyes were a steel blue that took in every detail the instant he looked at something. He was dressed in a white buttondown shirt, with a red tie and navy blue slacks, and he was all business.
Tee was so tiny, most would dismiss her as powerless. But she had an aura of danger about her only matched by Joe's quiet threat. Her white suit and light blue blouse set off her Vietnamese coloring to perfection. She was a beautiful woman, with shoulder-length black hair.
Joe narrowed a menacing grimace to Carlos. "I wasn't ready for Nathan. I haven't had a chance to talk to Terri first, so Nathan, would you wait outside?"
Terri fisted her hands but held her composure. "If it's all right, I'd like for him to hear everything said."
Nathan didn't even look at her. He stood with his hands in his pockets waiting for a final verdict.
Joe debated for a few seconds before he nodded. "Have a seat, Nathan." Then he introduced himself and Tee.
Tee cocked her head at Terri. "Patience is a virtue."
Joe snorted. "Excuse me, pot, could you not pick on the kettle?"
Tee passed him a look that promised Joe would regret that comment later.
He disregarded the life-threatening stare. Joe's eyes bored into Terri. "I thought you'd like to know the DEA has determined you were in no way at fault for Conroy's death,"
Terri wasn't quite ready to be relieved. "Are you sure?"
Joe walked over to his desk and leaned a hip against it. "Positive. Looks like Brady set you both up." Joe dropped a folder in front of her. "When I spoke to an associate in the DEA about Brady's deal with Jamiewho Brady believed was Nathanthe DEA was unaware of the arrangement. One of the reasons I waited to meet with you was to give him time to get back to me. The DEA now believes Brady was the leak to Marseaux and tipped them to the ambush. After a deeper look into his background, they found out his ancestors changed the family name when they migrated to this country. His great-great-grandfather's name was Vestavio Braido, an Italian family suspected of harboring and training assassins for a couple decades."
"I'd like to kill that bastard," Terri muttered with a death-threat edge.
Nathan had been sitting quiet as a statue, but turned to her and lifted an eyebrow at that.
She shot a look of "what of it?" right back at him. Shouting that instead might get a rise. She hated the blank mask of acceptance he wore. Fight to stay free, dammit.
Joe ignored the silent interaction and continued. "They have to find him first. Brady's disappeared and he's listed as a top-ten fugitive. Marseaux's body was found riddled with bullet holes at the south end of the docks, outlined with spray paint. That means he's gone, but we don't know who is taking his place."
"What about Duff?" She could envision a painful death for him, too.
"Duff was found dead five days ago. He'd been given the virus. Not a pretty sight."
That topped her worst plan. Terri glanced at Nathan. "Are you angry you didn't get a chance to deal with Duff yourself?"
He shook his head and swallowed, but wouldn't look at her when he answered. "No. I'm done with going after revenge. I've had plenty of time to think about it and based on what I've just heard, Jamie's death has been avenged. All I want to do now is get to prison so I can start doing my time. I want it over and done with."
She fisted her hands, wanting to scream at him. He'd already written off any future for the two of them.
As if he heard her thoughts, Nathan turned his face to her with a sad smile. "Shit happens, Terri. And I'm really sorry it happened to us." He stopped, his mouth set in a grim line.
Joe cleared his throat. "You stepped outside BAD parameters while on this case, Terri," he said, pulling her attention. "Learn anything?"
He meant her working without a partner, but she was in no mood to be agreeable. She thought on his question a minute before answering.
"Yes, I did. I learned that the bad guys are not always bad, the good guys are not always good, and to quote the pirate Captain Barbossa, the parameters are like rules, mostly guidelines. And that it takes a little bit of bad boy to fight the evil in the world."
Tee inclined her head respectfully. "They can be taught. Who knew?"
"I also figured out that I no longer want to do field work," Terri added.
Nathan sat up. "Really? You'd leave field work?"
"Really." She smiled at him. "You and Grandma need me. Neither one of you can stay out of trouble without me."
He shook his head, the excitement disappearing from his eyes. "Going to be a while before I'll have any chance to get into trouble. I plan to ask Warden McLaughlin to put in a word for me, but I meant what I said about moving on with your life."
Terri reached for his hand. She knew how hard it was for Nathan to consider asking anyone for help. Now if she could just get him to realize she was not giving up on him.
She was not leaving him like everyone else had.
Joe scratched his chin. "By the way, that little prison issue of yours... gone."
Nathan swung his gaze to Joe. "What are you talking about?"
Joe shrugged. "Your brother made a deal with what was at the time a bona fide representative of the DEA. He kept his part. DEA owed you a clean record. One thing in life I hate is a lying asshole, so I made sure they did what they were supposed to. Including an honorable discharge from the military."
Tee gave Nathan an almost warm half smile. "You're a free man, Drake, regardless of which identity you choose. And while you're at it, how about another one. We've looked over your files and with your training and courage"
"we'd like to have you join BAD," Joe said, finishing her sentence.
Terri took Nathan's hand in hers. He gazed into her eyes and said, "Let me think about it and get back to you."
"Yeah, like maybe in two weeks, since I'm still technically on medical leave," Terri added.
Tee tapped her nails against the table. "You got twenty-four hours to decide and you really want to say yes. We don't want civilians walking around who know about us. Got it?"
Nathan gave her a cocky grin. "Wow, you're like a ferocious bunny, aren't you?"
Joe laughed. "Worse. A bunny can be fluffy sometimes. Tee always goes for the throat. Trust me. I'm her partner and she's shot me three times now."
Tee rolled her eyes. "You're such a crybaby."
"Let me almost shoot off one of your testicles and see how you cope."
"You shouldn't have moved, Joe. It was your fault."
"Yeah, everything's my fault."
Tee winked at him. "Good, then we agree."
Joe rubbed his forehead, then pushed a hard stare at Nathan.
Nathan inclined his head a short nod Joe must have taken as a firm answer. One warrior giving his silent word to another. "Good. See you in two weeks."
"Thanks, Joe and Tee. Since this is the only vacation we'll get for a while, let's go." Terri grabbed Nathan's hand and hurried out.
Stoner was waiting in the hallway. He shook Nathan's hand. "I signed on with this bunch as a contractor. If they didn't talk you into staying, I'll need that voodoo coin of yours."
"I'm keeping it for now," Nathan said.
Carlos came up behind Terri and hugged her. "Glad you're better."
Nathan hooked Terri's arm and snatched her away, then tucked her next to him.
Carlos lifted his hands. "Dude, relax." He sauntered off.
Nathan muttered something Terri barely caught about how they might have to talk about her working here.
She laughed as she led him outside to Commerce Street. The local Nashville traffic was humming as tourists drifted along the shops and restaurants s
oaking in the home of country music.
Terri looked up at Nathan. "What do you want to do?"
"Something I thought would never happen again," he said, taking her hand and leading her toward the small garden to the side of the building. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her.
She stopped and stared into his eyes. "You thought you'd never get to kiss me again?"
"That, and I thought I'd never get to ask you to marry me. You deserve more than a man with my history, but I found you and I want to keep you forever."
"Okay, deal." Her soul beamed with happiness. "I want you forever, too. You're going to have to find me a ring soon."
"I plan to have one on that finger today."
"Good, because I already have your engagement gift."
His eyebrows lifted at that. "Does it involve a soft bed, cool sheets, and all night long?"
"Well, that will be part of the benefit plan." She winked. He kissed her and she wondered how long it would take to find the soft bed and cool sheets so they could start on all night long. The sooner the better.
She broke the kiss and took his hand. "Come with me." Terri led him to the street and raised her hand as if flagging a cab. In thirty seconds, a shining black car that screamed speed and looked nothing like a taxi pulled alongside the curb.
A long-legged brunette with a short, no-nonsense haircut, boots, jeans, and red sweater hugging her slender curves got out of the car. "Sweet ride. Here's the keys, luv." She tossed them to Nathan, who snagged the key ring.
"Thanks, Rae," Terri said. "I'll be back in two weeks."
"Rockin' news." Rae gave Nathan an admiring onceover, then looked at Terri. "Bloody nice bloke you've got there. Try not to hurt yourself with two weeks off." She strode away.
"How did" Nathan just stared at the Javelin, then he looked at Terri with wonder pooling in his eyes.
"I called the NOPD as soon as Stoner told me about losing Black Death. Philborn appreciated what I did to help them break this case and asked what he could do. I told him where the car had been left so he retrieved it. No one had touched the car."
"Thanks." He swallowed, staring his future in the face. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life finding ways to show you how much you mean to me."
"If you'll fire this baby up and head for a hotel, I'm up for your first effort."
Sherrilyn Kenyon, Phantom in the Night
(Series: B.A.D. Agency # 2)
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