Chapter Eight

Cassidy

Opening my eyes, I smile. Content. It’s just what I was feeling last night when I fell asleep. My hand feels behind me.

“It’s on the night table.” He’s been awake for a while. I don’t hear sleep in his voice.

“Morning and thank you. I usually wake up to my laptop dead and paper everywhere. Did you finish your work?” I really want to know when he came to bed but that seems rude since I was sleeping anyway.

He sits putting me on his lap. I like it here, so I lean against his chest getting comfortable. “I did. What time is this dinner?”

“Seven, but we should get there around six. They do drinks and it may not be a bad idea to have one before everyone shows up.” I really should say a few, but I don’t want to scare him.

“Am I dressing for this dinner?” The way he keeps saying this dinner is starting to worry me.

“We usually go straight from work, but the family is casual.” I watch waiting for the next this dinner question.

He nods. “Okay. I’ll just change my shirt and shave. I can pick you up at six.”

He’s just planning his day. I smile and kiss his lips. “That will work. We don’t bring gifts either.”

His face falls. “I sent flowers last night. I’ll need to cancel that.” He moves to get up.

“No, it’s okay. Stella stopped everyone from bringing food over to help with the meal. Flowers will be fine. We take turns bringing wine. It’s Donna’s turn, so that’s covered.” He’s so cute, he sent her flowers, I can’t wait to tell Donna. Oh, my God, I climb off his lap. I have a ton to tell Donna before tonight. I can catch her before court.

“Where are you going?”

My feet skid across the throw rug and I ride the slide turning as I stop. “To work?”

He laughs watching me catch my balance. “Nice move. I’ll take you in.”

No, no, no. I need to talk to Donna. “I have to be there earlier today.” Will he buy that without me explaining?He nods standing up. I run into the bathroom and hope he’s quick about getting ready.

Twenty minutes later I’m brushing my hair when he walks in. “Ten minutes,” I tell him putting the brush down and grab my eyeliner.He slides a cup across the counter and walks out. I stop and watch him pull a polo on walking through the bedroom. “Thank you!” I yell, but he doesn’t stop. How sweet is that?I take a sip and moan, then get my ass moving and finish my makeup. I’ll be ready in record time.

He’s at the coffee maker when I walk in. Dropping my briefcase on the counter, I put my cup in the sink and my arms around his waist laying my head on his back. “You’re the best, GI Joe man. Thank you for the coffee and making the bed but I left time for it.”

He turns smiling down at me. “Making the bed is important to me. The start of the day being complete means the rest will be good, or at least when I get home the bed is made.”

He’s too funny. “A good conciliation to a bad day?” I ask knowing the answer by his smile.

“Something like that, yeah.”

“I love it and you, Rafael Saber, with the ingrained set of rules. I always make my bed too. Just so I don’t have to do it after work.”

He hugs me tight. “Love you too, Bella.”

He so does I realize when he hands me a to-go cup. “I love how you show that.” I take my briefcase and put the cup on the side holding my hand out to him.

“Me too.” He smiles taking my pump out of his pocket. “Put this in your bag.”

* * *

Rafael

The team is just taking a breath in Lakeville after neutralizing a bomb at the federal courthouse. Agent Owens used a robot called an ROV to carry the Pigstick. It shot water and a propellant charge at the firing mechanism and disarmed it in seconds. The mechanism was set with enough charge to do minimum damage to the bag it was in, but the chemical sitting in the jar below it was enough to blow a decent sized hole in the building. The Lakeville FBI Office will investigate, but they don’t seem to be interested in the two-part system Owens is telling them about.

“Commander Saber, are you watching this?” Ford asks sounding like he’s heard enough.

“Tell Owens to stand down. I’ll have Marks put the concerns in the report and have our investigators look for other instances of the two-phase device.” I watch the jar be moved while Ford rogers me and talks to Owens.Perez walks out, I assume to add it to the list of jobs and Marks tells me he has it.

Ford looks at the FBI tech. “If air hits that white phosphorus you won’t make lunch, like ever again. That’s enough to blow a full courtroom.”

The tech nods and turns slowly. “You want to take it with you?” The look on his face is begging them to take the box with the chemical.

“Sorry, dude, I packed it in there good. We gotta bounce,” Owens says unhooking the Pigstick from the remote vehicle. The team helps him get his gear off, packed, then into the box truck.

Ford is laughing on the side. The tech is securing the box in a van and he’s sweating like a pig. Jesus, this is almost like work. Perez appears on the side of me. “Waite has a search going now. Sir, Worcester has a gang war and needs assistance. The Sheriff just called it in.”

I look at him. Gang war? “I need an M79, make it two. M4A1 variants per man in case this goes on for a while. Lighter is better and get riot gear on the chopper.”

He nods. “Being loaded now. I have Brooks on stand-by.”

“That was my next order. Sprague, get me back on with Ford. Perez, get me the information.” It pops on my right screen. “Forget it.” Ford is on from a computer camera. “Worcester just called in with a gang war. The information is on your desktop. I have two choppers being loaded with M79s, M4A1 variants and riot gear. I’ll get a contact up while you’re reading.”

He smiles. “You picked them for me didn’t you, Commander?”

I almost roll my eyes at him. “I picked them because they are light, your team has experience with them and you have practical experience and training on them.”

He shakes his head. “It’s because they’re my favorite and I get the grenade launcher because I’m your favorite. You can admit it, it’s just us right now. I won’t tell Wheeler.”

The room is laughing. I think even Perez joined in. “Read the fucking information and be ready for liftoff when the choppers land.” I look at Perez. “Sniper and SWAT gear set?” He nods so I swing back to Ford. “Your rides are completely loaded.”

He salutes me. “Roger, Commander.”

“Get the fuck off my screen. Now I get professional?” I start to scan the information we have so far. He laughs shutting the feed down.

“I didn’t know that the M4 was his favorite,” Perez says like I’m keeping secrets from him.

“The M4A1 is the preferred assault rifle of the SEALs, it’s fitted with full auto for Special Forces and ours has a light and sights added. That’s the variant. We don’t have the grenade launcher on ours which is why I wanted the M79s. How did you get the choppers loaded?”

He looks at the screen. “I called Waters.”

Marks laughs. I think it was smart. “Nothing gets by her.” Is all I say.

“Your contact is the Worcester County Sheriff. The request came from the SAC at the Worcester Office. The Sheriff isn’t happy about a team of FBI agents. He was considering using corrections officers just to have more bodies. Local law enforcement is spread thin sending very few his way.” It sounds like he’s reading it, but I’m not seeing it anywhere on the screens. When I look to my side, he’s gone. The fucking guy is like Houdini.

I read through and talk to the Sheriff. Benavides comes in to run the video feeds and Ford joins us from the chopper. We plan a straight strike and recover mission that keeps the Sheriff happy. Ford is ready and I’d say almost excited. I leave him to plan locations with his team and check on the Investigators that are out in the field.

Lecompte has two agents working forensics at Cassidy’s house. Six agents are looking for leads in the neighborhood. Waite is scanning video feeds from the area and two agents are working the computers looking for anything that can tie this to an assassin’s known MO. Right now, we have nothing. Throwing more men at it when we have jobs to run and the off-cycle team working seems a little overkill.

Perez shows at my side. “We’ll get him.”

I swear he knows what I’m thinking. “The...”

“Commander, Cambridge just picked up Marks’ serial!” The room gets loud and the screen shows a PD dash cam with a man in a black trench coat being led by two officers toward the car. A cheer goes up around the room and I watch. They’re slapping backs telling each other they did a good job. This one wasn’t easy, but they did it again .

I’m smiling when Agent Mareno walks up to us.“Commander, Perez, the arsonist in Weymouth is the investigator.”

I look and he hands me a tablet. Holding it where Perez can read it, I scan down the report. Jesus, he started as a fireman and moved into investigations as a lieutenant. Perez hits the screen to scroll and we read the complaint for better healthcare, the next is more gear. I look up. “Bottom line.” This could take all day of scrolling, but I have Ford transporting to a gang war.

“The guy’s got grievances for everything in there. Eight years and he’s got at least twenty in his file. He was a good investigator. Commendations up the ass. Last year fires started to get more technically advanced. Two and three phase fires, elaborate backdrafts but no two fires were alike. Nothing to connect the fires and no suspects. They have two arson investigators, but every one of these went to the whiner. Woods Hole sent Agents to his house and found a ton of shit that would implicate him. They feel he’s an arson investigator and you’d expect that he’d have shit in his garage that has to do with work. He told them he recreates the origin on the tough cases. They didn’t have the agents to sit on surveillance, so they stationed cameras on his road but aren’t manning them. We have him leaving just before the last fire. Something went wrong. He’s got an alibi from a bar with PD and Fire collaboration, but his hand is burned to hell. His car was at the bar lot just before the fire for twenty minutes but never returned. He didn’t pull into his driveway until four the next morning. On interview less than an hour ago, he puts himself at the bar then home at eleven. Woods Hole spent ten minutes asking for whereabouts. They have no one working this one.”

Perez runs his hand across his head. “I’ll call Weymouth and get a contact for you to send everything. I’m glad you followed through. It sounds like this one got dropped.”

Mareno nods. “They believed his story. That’s why they’re not following it. It’s a dead case until the arson investigator is finished with the last fire he set. ”

I shake my head. That’s what the other offices are supposed to be doing, physically investigating. “Why not Woods Hole Field Office?” I ask Perez.

He gives me one of his rare smiles. “It shows we’ll work with other agencies and they had the chance. They asked for assistance and didn’t look at our findings. If Mareno told them he’s the guy, they should have done more than ask whereabouts. From the beginning, the agents resented the request for help. We’ll take it to someone that will appreciate that help.”

Fuck, this is going to cause a shit storm, but we need the agents on the ground taking the assistance seriously. “The SAC that requested will need to be informed.”

I get the smile again. “I’ll call him as soon as the suspect is picked up.”

Jesus. Mareno is smiling away. The agents must have pissed him off. “Good job, Agent Mareno.” He salutes me and walks away.He was waiting for that? Turning I ask Perez,“Anything I need before Ops?”

“Not at the moment. I’ll get with you about the SAC. He’ll come down on his office but won’t hold it against us.” He’s confident about that.

I hope to fuck he’s right. “Okay, good job, Perez.” I walk away to another smile. It must be a woman.

* * *

“Commander, chopper incoming, identified as MC-Baxter.”

Jesus Christ. “Ford, do you have bikes I’m missing?”

He turns fast facing the camera. “No, Commander. The three bikes that we took are already transported by the Sheriff. They’re all I had. Do we have more coming our way?”That doesn’t look like it thrills him.

“Nothing is showing but a chopper.” I look at the information scrolling as I’m telling him.

“Roger. Maybe he’s lost.” He turns back talking to his team .

I look at Benavides. “Find out why he’s closing in and if the Club has a stake here.” That’s all we fucking need. Helping or fighting the MC is explicitly stated in my orders. As in not to.

“Commander, they want to connect you to Air Ops. He said they can’t get through.” He’s smiling like that’s funny.

I give him a look and the smile falls. Of course, they can’t get through. The fucking techs they have will run through our files and Operations daily if they could. “Get me a name and number.”

Perez shows on my side. Perfect. “I need a phone and someone to record outside the building.”

I watch his eyes move to Benavides. “He’s on the radio now.”

“My orders are clear. We do not engage with or in MC-Baxter Ops. Now, Perez, get me a phone.”Questioning my orders pisses me off, but he’s FBI. I keep it in mind. The Director’s orders were given to me alone with his reasoning. My men didn’t get that.

He moves fast. Swinging around I hold Benavides' eyes. “Do not engage with the pilot again. I need five minutes. Keep Ford clear anyway you can. Marks, watch perimeter.”

I get my rogers with a piece of paper and jog down the hall. Perez and Springer are waiting. Grabbing the phone, I don’t stop until I’m on the side lot away from the road. “I’ll keep it on speaker. You record everything,” I say as I’m hitting numbers.She nods and watches her screen.

“Knight.”Fuck, of all the people I have to get the crazy fucking Security human hybrid.

“This is Commander Saber from the FBI Resident Office in Providence.”

He laughs. “You missed names in there. We got Enhanced Special shit with that.”He sounds reasonable.

I’ll try for that. “We have a strike and recovery operation in progress. You have a chopper headed into that airspace. If MC-Baxter is engaging, my men will stand down and return. If not, I need that chopper to be redirected away from the operation.”

“That’s goin’ to cost you. Strike team ain’t FBI. Not goin’ to want to leave the job unfinished.” They know too much already.

I’ll go for broke. “Knight, you know who we are and what we’re doing. My orders are clear. This office, my unit, is not to engage in any way with MC-Baxters or Princes without orders to do so. My men will disengage and stand down to follow that order.”

“Choppers turnin’ back. We got a call askin’ for help. We’re fuckin’ busy. Sent the chopper. You got two up now. Pres is on with the Sheriff. Pussy don’t even know who he’s got workin’.Don’t need us, we’re out.”

I look at the phone. He’s gone.

Springer laughs. “That was easy.”

“Yeah. Too easy?” I ask.

She would know, she’s from here.We walk back at a fast clip. “They are reasonable, but they do things their own way. They respect respect. You gave that to them so they gave it back. They know about the program, Commander.”

I would be surprised if they didn’t. They’re known for collecting massive amounts of data. I think the Director set us up to mirror their operation. I see a lot of similarities. Except we’re legal. “Yeah. I’ll send that to the Director. Put it in a file for me.”

She nods and I jog back to the Ops situation room looking at my watch. Five minutes. “Marks?”

“Brooks flushed them out. It’s all over. Ford has the Deputies moving in to collect prisoners and process bodies.” He looks proud.

I give him a nod. “Ford?”

He stops, turning toward Decker. “Ten minutes and we’ll be ready to transport, Commander. The two fugitives have been recovered and handed over.”

“Roger, Ford.” I watch him turn back. Decker follows him to a truck sitting away from the Deputies and team switching custody of the gang members. When I see it’s the Sheriff I know Ford’s going to give him shit. “Commander Ford, stand down.”

He hesitates but takes another step. “Just a word, Commander.”

The Sheriff slides out of his truck looking a little shell-shocked. “Stand down, Ford.”

He stops and turns fast. “This fucking moron has a whole Special Forces team five minutes from mission complete and he calls for help from a civilian MC?” His voice raises and my eyebrow lifts.

The Sheriff’s shoulders drop. “Stand down, Ford. The MC had some words for the Sheriff that I think he understood.”

Ford spins and the Sheriff takes a step back. “Commander Saber says you got an earful from the MC. Don’t fucking call us when they show to collect for the time and money you wasted.” He turns and starts walking back. “Sorry, Commander. That chopper could have turned this into a massacre.”

“Return to base, Commander Ford. I want you in my office at sixteen hundred.” I’m fucking pissed that he isn’t following the first fucking order I gave him.

His head snaps up and he stops, standing at attention. He’s on Decker’s feed again and I see him pivot to be straight on for the camera. “Yes, sir, Commander Saber.” He starts barking orders at the men and I watch the rest of the video feeds. By the time the team is in the air, I’ve calmed some. Ford is funny, challenging and fucking good, but not following orders is a problem for me.

I get the reports handled and walk out. The team has a hunting job tonight, working with Hartford, they’re running a sweep for a RICO case. Wheeler is running Ops. Maybe.

* * *

I read through Perez’s report smiling. The SAC in Woods Hole is livid. Perez was right, he’s not holding it against us. Closing down the files, I move them from my desktop to the correct folders. Dropping the video into the MC file, I’m smiling. The Director thinks I did the right thing telling them that this program isn’t engaging with them until my orders change. I think it gives them a green light to push the envelope, but they are keeping it clean. Mostly. The guns running up the corridor is a concern, but luckily, it’s not mine.

“Yeah,” I answer the knock at the door. Closing down the hologram, I watch Ford. He’s in a clean uniform, well cargos and a polo, his boots are polished and he’s standing at attention. “At ease, Commander.”

He stands at ease and I want to hit him. “Sit the fuck down, Ford. You obviously know why you’re here. This isn’t the military, here you get a warning. It goes in your file. Without another within six months, it gets removed. If you get another warning, it’s a reprimand in your file.”

His body relaxes into the chair. “Thank you, Commander. It won’t happen again. Not being military but running military is my problem, I’ll deal with it. You won’t see it again, sir.”

I believe he’s right, but it’s a problem none the less. “You can speak freely. You’re having a problem as a civilian?”

He wipes imaginary lint off his shirt. “Yeah. The lines are gray everywhere I look. We were done with the Op. My head said done and I’m a civilian. He could have put my team at risk. It was just like a battle overseas with bullets flying and men all over the fucking place and he’s throwing unknowns into the mix.”

I see his point. “You are right, but I gave an order. I talked to the MC. I knew they were on with him and they weren’t happy.”

He leans forward putting his head in his hands. “Fuck.”

“From the minute your team is off premises for Ops, you are a militarized unit following orders.”

He sits straight. “Yes, sir. Wheeler is going to help me get those gray areas straight.”

That ought to be interesting. “Go, get it straight in your head. I don’t play baseball, Commander Ford, you won’t get three strikes.” He sees I’m serious and nods. “Go, maybe he’ll order pizza.”

He smiles and salutes me before leaving. I have a ton of shit to do before I pick up Cassidy. Perez comes in before the door closes. I wait for him to sit. “A warning for failure to follow an order is in his file. Flag it for six months.”

He nods but doesn’t comment. Anything in a SEALs file is not taken lightly. Not following orders is a big one. I shake my head, Ford isn’t a SEAL anymore. I need to define the gray too. The problem is that it’s all fucking gray. “What do you have?”

“The bomb at Ms. Warner’s. It’s not connected to the DA threats. The threats came from the son of the CEO. He was in New York being kept away from the trial and media for three days. He copped to the threats but won’t see time for them.” He’s got more but gives me time to process.

The threats weren’t worded professional at all, so it all makes a little sense. “What else?”

He looks at his tablet. “Lecompte found residue and evidence embedded in wood indicating old fashioned dynamite. She’s running tests now. It’s not something she’s seen and wants to be sure. There are pieces of an ignition device indicating remote transmission.”

I sit back trying to get that. Dynamite set off by remote isn’t anything I’ve seen either. Why not just use a million other fucking more easily obtained explosives? “This gives us a lead to follow. Dynamite?”

He nods. “I have the team looking at construction sites, demolition companies and PD evidence logs.”

I guess it’s a start. “Anything else?”

“Yeah, we cleared the identifications and started on the insurance claims for the museum. I’ll keep you updated, but Cyber is saying it’s an inside job.” I nod thinking he just threw that out. “Sir, Ford is scheduled tonight with Wheeler on Ops.”

“Yeah,” I answer knowing he’s got the balls to keep going here.

“If he’s not following your orders the team is...”

I stop him respecting his position but knowing he’s wrong. “The military is easy for people like me, Ford and Wheeler. We grew into men following orders and knowing when we could talk and when we couldn’t. Not following orders is never an option. In the FBI, or as a civilian I should say, the orders are clear, but there is a gray area that military find hard to navigate through. I almost called you back for not saluting me one day. You walk away without a word which is another equally gray area. We’re learning, but it will be with mistakes and it will take time. Ford was finished with his Op and pissed that the Sheriff, who we spent time planning with, called in a potential threat to our team. My order to stand down was to stop him from ripping the Sheriff a new asshole after the MC did. He executed and ran Ops according to procedure.”

He relaxes his shoulders. “I know you don’t have to explain to me, but I’ve never been military and thought the team was at risk. I’m glad it was after the Op.”

I nod. “If I thought they were at risk, he would be on a plane right now. Wheeler is working with him on that gray area. He’ll get it. I am. It’s not as easy as you think but it’s doable. The fact that it was after Ops is the gray area. He should have listened to my order because it was clear and given twice. If I’m shown a reason to doubt that my orders will be carried out, he is no longer a good or trusted On-Site Commander.” I smile at him. “The gray area needs to be defined, but he will define it.”

Standing he says, “Wow. I see where that is a problem, but I see his point too. I’ll stick with your view because it’s safer for everyone. I didn’t know this was an issue. Thanks for explaining it.” He walks out and I keep my eye on the door. Sure enough, he pops his head back in. “Do I say, sir, so you know we’re done? ”

I hold in the laugh. “I’m getting used to people just leaving, thanks, Perez.”

He looks unsure but closes the door. I’m glad I took the cameras out. Sitting at my desk laughing would not instill confidence in my ability. In my room, I change into a clean shirt and shave. The bomb was someone else. I need information from Cassidy and I need it right away. She’s still a public official being targeted. She’s going to love this. Fuck.

Before I leave, I check my men. Ford’s team is on site. Some Investigators and Wheeler’s team are scattered throughout the city. Lecompte is in the Lab. Jogging down, I check time. I’ve got less than fifteen minutes if I want to make my stop before picking up Cassidy. My hand opens the airlocks and she looks up.

“Commander, I’m just getting cleaned up. This was dynamite with a remote igniter. It’s not the norm, but it was effective. Perez has agents searching for similarities. Don’t count on it though. I would have seen this one before.”She worked straight out of the Quantico Lab so she would have seen something, in a report, if not the actual evidence.

“Anything on the reach of the remote?” With a reach we have an area to search video feeds.

Shaking her head, she points to small pieces of plastic. “I don’t have enough of the inside workings to give me that.”

I look closer and see a piece of a computer board but she’s right, it’s not enough. A fucking break here would have been nice. “This isn’t tied to the DA. Do you know of any other case she was worried about or if she’s had any threats from someone else?”

“She doesn’t talk to me about her cases unless she has questions about forensics. I can find out. Donna would know. I’ll ask on our way to dinner.”

“Thanks. I plan on asking when I pick her up. The clerk would have case information too, right?” I should have asked Perez.

Her nose wrinkles like Cassidy’s. “I would think. We can ask, Parker is Stella’s son, he’ll be there.”

That’s why anything happening there would be all over the office. “I’ll see you there. Thanks, Lecompte.” I jog out to my car and make the Hill in twelve minutes. I hope they have what I want.

* * *

Cassidy

Packing my briefcase, I think about the day. It went much smoother than yesterday, that’s for sure. I’m caught up on my cases and only have one from Evan this week. I’ve pushed every bit of gossip away from me and even have Parker running interference. If I have to testify, I can’t have hearsay without proof. At least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Perez says I’m not testifying, but I’m keeping that to myself.

When the elevator doors open, Rafael is walking toward me.

“You’re beautiful, Bella. Agent Macalister, I have your replacement waiting by the car.” When he gets in front of me, he kisses the side of my lips.

I need to ask him why he always does that. Not that I don’t like it, but why there? Why not just a peck on the lips? “You look very handsome in your button down, but you didn’t have to dress for dinner. Thank you for dressing for me.” I pull him down and kiss his lips.

His eyes change to intense so fast it surprises me. “You’re beautiful, cari?o, and not in sweats. I’m not standing beside you in a dirty T-shirt.”

I laugh letting him take my briefcase and walk beside him. “I appreciate the effort. How was your day?” I’m not sure he’d tell me exactly what he did, but I hope it was a good day.

“Busy, but I made it. The team has Ops tonight. Wheeler will run it.” He’s actually scanning as he walks.

I’ve seen him do it before, but with me leaving work and a new agent right by the car, it sets alarms off in my head. “You can tell me what’s got you on alert in the car.”

His head swings toward me and he smiles. “I will. I’m glad you picked up on that.”

Great, a new threat. Why the hell am I smiling? “You’re too handsome for my own good.”

He laughs opening my door. “You’re too smart for mine.” He puts his hand out and I get in then take my briefcase. Too sweet.

“I’ll follow you, Commander,” Macalister says just before the door is closed. I laugh at Rafael shaking his head as he walks around the car.

Sliding in, he doesn’t turn on the car or put on his seat belt. He looks at me.

“That smile is not a comfort to me, cari?o. I think I should have gotten more for this dinner.”

I smile bigger. “You really should have, but now you know I love you.”

“Then it’s worth the hell I’ll live through tonight just for that. The things men do for love, mi vida.”

I want to roll my eyes at him, but now he’s driving. “Tell me about the high alert.”

His jaw clenches. This won’t be good. “The CEO’s son was sending the threats. He was being held in New York to stay off the media’s radar. That means we have an unknown threat and need to look at your cases.”

Oh, my God, this is bad. “I can get you my threat file. Parker keeps us up to date when the defendants are released.”

He pulls over, parks and turns toward me. “You have a threat file? A whole file of threats that people make against you?” he’s shocked.

Why is that a surprise? “I’m a prosecutor. Yes, we’re threatened all the time. Everyone is always innocent. No matter what evidence we have.”

“Jesus fucking Christ. My family thought my job was dangerous.” He talks so fast in Spanish I have no idea what he’s saying.

I get the word crazy but don’t say anything. He’s done by the time we pull into Stella’s.

“You knew right where she lives. I’m glad GI Joe showed up. Rafael is into Spanish tonight and I can’t follow when he’s pissed.”

He smiles and I relax. I like smiling Rafael. “It’s all me, Bella. Sorry, I was saying there should be warnings for a job like yours.”

I’m sure that’s all he said. This time I do roll my eyes at him. “I thought Spanish people didn’t take the Lord’s name in vain?”

He leans closer and his arm pins me to the seat. “First, rolling your eyes indicates that you don’t see the danger you are in. Someone blew up your house minutes after you walked in. Second, I am of Spanish decent, but I’m American just as much as you are. Religion was not part of my upbringing as you are thinking. I am not Catholic and do not have a shrine or whatever you call it in my house, neither does my mother. I say his name when I have a need for strength not out of hate.” He kisses the side of my lips.

He’s too close, so I lean back and think. I guess that’s a good reason but swearing with it seems sacrilegious. Without being religious, he probably doesn’t know that.

I nod and he pops my seat belt then sits back. Egad, I’m breathing heavy and he was just unbuckling my seatbelt. “I get the threat to me. I can’t do anything but get you the file. I can actually do that when we get inside. If you need me to start crying over it, you’ll have to wait. I want to eat before I start coughing and everyone freaks out over every breath I take or miss.”

This man is making me crazy. Now he’s laughing. “Mi amor, mi vida. Let’s get you fed, then we can leave and I’ll be the only one focused on your heavy breathing.”

I get the look and turn trying to focus on the yard with the pretty flowers as my whole body shivers. Holy shit. I swear he does it on purpose. When from his belt to his thighs blocks my view, I clear my throat, paste a smile on, pull up my armor and wait for him to open the door. I’m never going to make it here tonight, I think, as I avoid looking at his crotch .

My mother and Harper are waiting on the porch. This ought to be fun. “Hi, Ma, sis. You didn’t have to wait out here for us.” I look at Harper wondering what the heck is up with Ma. She’s staring at Rafael with a weird look on her face.

“You gave her the look, didn’t you?” she yells shocking the hell out of me.

“Ma!”

Harper hits her arm. “You can’t yell at him! He’s not yours to yell at! If Cassidy wants to yell at him, she will. It’s none of your business.”

I look at Rafael hoping he wants to leave. He’s looking at his feet. Damn! “I think Rafael would feel better if I were inside.” I take his hand and pull him up the stairs. Oh shit, I stop short seeing her with the ever-present dishtowel in her hand. “Hi, Stella, thanks for having us over tonight.”

She ignores me completely. “I missed the look? Do it again!” she demands.

My hand is squeezed. I yell, “Parker!” and squish by her walking in. She can stay with my mother.

Parker comes running down the hall. “Are you okay?” He stops short. “No wonder my mother is acting crazy. I’m Parker, Rafael. It’s nice to meet you and I’m sorry for anything my mother says or does. She’s a great cook, that’s your only consolation here.” He’s wrong. He’s a great guy, friendly, smart and outgoing. Rafael will love him.

“I was promised drinks to help get me through dinner,” Rafael says with a straight face putting his hand out. Parker shakes making a face when he sees Stella coming up behind us.

“You send a woman flowers, you give her the look!” Stella yells like she’s talking to an unruly child.

Parker rolls his eyes and mouths a sorry to Rafael. “Ma, stop being rude to your guests. This was a celebration that you’re alive. Remember?”

I follow them into the kitchen feeling like I totally got off easy for making him be here. My hand is pulled just as I get to the doorway. “Loving me may not be enough for this one, Bella,” he says against my ear in that low-pitched voice and my lower half clenches.

“Showing you my new appreciation for chocolate just jumped into my head.” I jump when he moans still so close to my ear.

“Fucking killing me, mi vida,” he whispers and I move through the door fast.

My body is on fire. “I need a drink,” I say to anyone that might listen and sit trying to breathe slowly.

“Maybe you should be in the living room or on the porch. Is it too humid in here? She’s got pots boiling everywhere. Do you have your pump?” my mother asks everything at once giving me no time to answer.

Harper laughs. “She’s fine, Ma, she just needs a minute, leave her alone.”

Rafael hands me a glass of wine and I swallow half of it. “He was behind her. He didn’t give her the look again!” Stella yells from the other side of the island.

“Jesus,” Rafael says under his breath.

Harper plops down by me. “He doesn’t have to give her a look, by her reaction, I’d say he just needs to breathe on her.”

I kick her.

“Ow!”

“There’s a porch?” Rafael asks trying to escape, I bet.

Parker hands him a glass and I wonder what’s in it. There’s not enough of whatever it is. “Yeah, the women are crazy here. We need a place to recuperate.”

“You don’t say.” Rafael follows but turns back, “Me debes.” The smile sends a chill through me.

I owe him more than he knows, we just got here. I agree, “I so do.”

He laughs and walks out. “That man is fine!” Donna says walking into the kitchen.

“He gave her the look before she got out of the car. He couldn’t wait five minutes so we could see.” My mother is sick. She’s a sick, sick woman.

Donna sits across from me. “I’ve seen it. I needed a cigarette and drink and I wasn’t even that close.” She slides a paper to Harper. “The names that I could remember.” She’s given threat names? I’m glad I didn’t kick her.

Harper nods. “Parker has a file for the Commander. This will help.”

“What’s that?” My mother tries to take the paper.

Harper snatches it back and stands up. “It’s a work thing, Ma.”

She walks out and I want to follow then decide I don’t. Sitting here drinking wine without adding to Rafael’s stress level is probably best. I know if I go out there my mother will, then Stella will.

“Are these the flowers?” I look closer at the arrangement and think he’s perfect. It’s colorful, in a beautiful vase and mixed with exotic flowers I can’t identify.

“Oh, your man is a keeper. He sends beautiful flowers to celebrate my life. He should give me the panty dropping look before I die,” Stella says putting a plate of prosciutto, pancetta, and cheese on the table.

Donna laughs. “You had gas, Stella. You’re not dying tonight. You need to find a man that will give you your own look. Why do you want Cassidy’s look? I felt like a peeping Tom watching them and the room was packed.”

I want to kick her, but she’s trying to help. Stella sits with us. “I didn’t think of that. He is a handsome man but has eyes only for Cassidy.”

“Thank God! Now you’ll stop with the look thing?” I throw it out but don’t really believe she will.

My mother slaps my arm. Stella glares at me. “You already have him. I can still hope for the look before I die. Even half a look will drop my panties. I’m old. ”

Everyone is laughing and I just notice May, Ambrose and Connor against the wall. “The men are on the porch. May, come sit with us and have a drink while trying to convince them to leave Rafael alone,” I tell them.

May sits and the men walk out the back. Harper comes in with a serious look on her face. I stand knowing she’s got something to say. Stella jumps up. “I’m going too. I’m not missing it again.”

“Relax, I’m going to the bathroom.”

She looks around me. “Is he in there?”

There’s a thought. Damn. I shake my head. “You’ve been right here with me. Did he go by you?”

I walk away thinking I owe him big time. Harper follows and closes the bathroom door. “You have a fuckin’ threat file a mile long. You need a new fuckin’ job. When did being a lawyer come with parolee alerts? The Commander needs to cover you all the time. This is fuckin’ nuts, Cassidy. Why didn’t you tell me? What is up with that?” She’s yelling and I know my mother is on the other side of the door.

Harper doesn’t get upset easily when it’s work related. Throw a ball at the wrong base and she flips out, but not for work. She hasn’t said anything new, so I’m wondering how bad it is. “Just tell me.” I start coughing and she pushes me to sit on the toilet.

“Breathe, Cassidy. Tell you what? I don’t know anything, but my sister is being hunted by some lunatic that is just one in a list of lunatics that’s a fuckin’ mile long.”

Oh, I knew that. I close my eyes and breathe. People are talking outside the door and I push it away trying to focus on air filling my body in my favorite color blue. They get louder and I give up.

When I open my eyes Harper nods. “Just in time. The asylum is waiting.” It’s just out of her mouth when the knocking starts.

Shaking my head is all I can think of. It sounds like the cops are pounding while my mom and Stella are yelling. I hear Donna and Rafael out there too. How are they all fitting at the door? It’s like three feet wide.

Harper yanks the door open. “What the hell is wrong with you people?!” she yells. Everything stops. Little Harper with her cute little pixie cut stops the yelling all at once. Rafael is watching me. My mother starts yelling again about more bombs. Stella doesn’t want to leave now that Rafael is here and Donna is trying to pull them both down the hall, but Stella is holding the door jamb and my mom holds Stella.

Rafael doesn’t move, his eyes never leaving mine.“You’re okay, Bella?” He doesn’t yell, he’s not pissed, he asks in a normal voice and I hear every word through their arguing.

“Yes. I thought she had something more, but it’s what I already knew.” I have no idea why I’m not yelling, but he heard me.

“Do you need me to save you from this, mi vida?” He smiles and I realize they’re all watching and quiet now.

“No, go where it’s safe. I’ll think of chocolate if I can’t breathe.”

He winks at me with that sexy smile and my mom sighs, loud. When he turns, Stella pushes by Donna and tries to hug him. Everyone is laughing, Rafael’s head whips my way, so I move closer. “Stella! Get your hands off his ass!”

Donna pulls her back and I get another wink before he’s down the hall and out of sight. “What is wrong with you?” I ask her trying to keep my indignation face on.

“Was it as firm as it looks?” my mother asks Stella pulling her away and walking her out.

Harper looks at me totally grossed out. “They’re fuckin’ nuts, Cassidy.”

Donna nods. “The doughy lawyers never had to deal with this crap. ”

They’re both right, so I nod and walk by looking for my drink. A new glass is waiting by my other. He loves me. I smile sitting down. May is watching us with amusement in her eyes.

I shrug, “Go for it.”

She laughs. “I love you people! My family is so boring.”

Donna asks about her family and I’m thinking of the threat file. A couple of men scare me from it, but I go through all that I can remember. Stella calls for the table to be set and everyone moves. We get place settings on the island and breakfast bar. Her table is huge but she says there are more outside than usual today. My mom and Rhett help Stella get the food on the counters and sideboards and she calls the men in. I’m shocked to see so many agents mixed in with the regulars from the office and some of Stella’s family. Parker said the family already had a celebration dinner. Being alive is a good reason to celebrate, so I get the extra dinner parties. I bet the next will be for her church and bingo ladies.

My neck is kissed and I hold the arms wrapping around me. “Cassidy, I’m not sitting between your mom and Stella. I’m setting you to guard my ass and eating over here in peace.” His voice is sexy sending a shiver through me.

I hold on until it passes. “What do I get for guarding your ass? This is Stella we’re talking about here.”

He laughs standing straight and turns me. “What do you want?”

“Dance with me. We dance, then leave and I focus on chocolate the rest of the night.”

He swears in Spanish drawing attention. I hit his chest and he looks at me. His eyes are already smoldering with that almost liquid movement. It’s kind of mesmerizing. “Right now. We dance now.”

Donna cracks up on the side of us. I shake my head no. “Dancing is after we clean up.”

I watch his lids lower, then close. Egad, we really should leave now. He takes a deep breath and lets it out then opens his eyes. His chest heaving like that doesn’t help me one bit. I get a picture of when I’ve seen that before and he’s not covered in a shirt.

“Let’s go you two, fill your plates so I can leave tonight. I need to stop for batteries.” Donna jerks on my arm and my body follows.

“Slow down!” I whisper. Rafael has our plates right behind me. He’s not giving anyone a chance to get close. I stop and put food on both plates as we walk the counters. “Do you want...” I stop when I look in his eyes.Holy shit, they’re still smoldering like coffee swirling with cream.

“Yeah, I want, but I’m waiting. Put food on the plates, cari?o. I don’t care what it is.” How does he do that?I nod dropping a spoon of everything on the plates a little scatterbrained. He just wants to eat and dance so we can leave. “Cassidy.”

I shouldn’t, but my eyes go right to his. “What?”

He’s smiling with the dimple, but it’s an amused smile. “Enough food, Bella. You can’t eat all that.”

Looking at the plates, I laugh. My mother tries to take a plate from him. “Come sit down.”

“We’re eating with Donna on the side over there.” Rafael isn’t letting the plate go.

Stella tries for the other one. “We have your seats. The Commander doesn’t sit on the side.” The plate is moving back and forth as she’s pulling on it.

“Stop! I wouldn’t sit near either one of you. Just stop.” Donna takes the plate and walks away. My mother and Stella are stunned long enough for us to escape.

Rafael moves the place setting and sits me on the breakfast bar at the end. Donna is in the corner laughing. “Warn me when they get close.” He hands me a plate and fork then puts a napkin on my lap.

“This is a little much, isn’t it? ”

I get a look that says he isn’t kidding. “Your mother’s hands were on my ass this time. Warn me if they get close.” He’s really not kidding.

I look at Donna. “Euwww,” we say together.

The food is delicious as always. I’m amazed that such a small woman can do all this cooking for so many people. She has to have help lugging in all this food.

Agent Perez carries a plate over and leans against the wall by Donna. I watch hoping he’s one that’s safe. They talk softly, so I look for Harper. She’s at the table laughing with some of the men from her team and my sick mother. Rafael is talking to Macalister, so I watch the people around the room.

My plate is taken and he puts a wine glass in my hand. “Thank you. I can’t eat anymore.”

“I know. How was your day, Bella?” He’s cute. “I love when your eyes shine on me just like that.” And sweet, I add to the cute.

“It was a good day until I got here. Court was good, the office has calmed and you picked me up. Here it’s just been weird. The food is good, but it’s weird. I’m guarding your ass from the old women.”

He laughs like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I love that smile. “You’re doing a fine job too.”People start moving and he lifts me off the counter. “Clean up time,” he says kissing my head.

The team makes a line and starts handing bowls and casserole dishes down putting the empties by the sink and food on the island. Stella doesn’t know what to do. The women usually clean up while the men go to the porch. I help Donna re-bowl food for the men and the fridge. My mom and Stella help the men washing dishes.

When the men argue over bowls, Donna starts writing names on them. Rafael watches everything with a smile. He likes the activity. I hand him the next batch for the fridge and get a kiss on the side of my lips .

When everything is away and Stella thanks them all, we file out to the porch. It’s really a giant room with chairs and couches along the walls. A table usually sits in the middle but gets moved when the food is done unless people are playing cards. There are no cards tonight.

“Parker, put on the salsa music. Rafael can teach us tonight.” Stella says, then aims right for him.

“Oh shit.” I move my body in front of his. “No hands on him. We dance with no one’s hands on him but mine.”

She stops, but she’s giving me an evil look. “You were never so possessive with the wimpy lawyer losers.” She didn’t just say that. I’m mortified.

“ We’ll dance so your asthma doesn’t flare up,” My mother stands on Stella’s side with a smug smile.

Oh, my God! Harper spins them around. “What is wrong with you two?!”

“He’s like the Spanish Jimmy Smits.” My mother looks around Harper. “He doesn’t have hair all over him either. Not like the Italian gorillas we see.”

Stella smiles then looks at him. The gleam in her eyes is scary even to me.

I don’t even try to look at Rafael. Donna and Perez move closer. I need something else to focus on so they’ll do. Donna takes my hand. “Perez knows how to dance. Let’s get this over with so we can all leave the re-pubescent elderly psychos in a hormone-induced coma.”

I love her.

“Bella, dance with me?” He takes my hand moving us away from the conversation about his physical attributes while in a towel.

Perez moves Donna in front of him about a foot away. “I think no touching is best.” He starts moving and I almost moan. What is it about a man’s hips rolling in a figure eight motion that gets women so hot? It’s like visual foreplay.

Rafael moves so I’m on the side of Perez and he’s by Donna. I move automatically watching his hips. “Give me your eyes, cari?o. Where they are now will give them more to talk about.”

I look up guilty and know it. They all laugh at me. People line up with us, some know the dance, some try to keep up. It’s basically a box step with the sexy thrown in and dancing it alone makes it easier. Or sexier. I don’t know which. We’re having a good time until Stella moves behind Rafael.

Rhett takes her hand moving her with him over to the other side. “I want to learn the grind dance!”

“Stay the hell away, you crazy old bat!” Parker yells making us all laugh again.

I’m watching Rafael’s arms move close to his sides, like a boxer warming up, to the beat of the music and find the finger snapping hot as hell. He hits the beat every time with that shift in his hips. When he turns I watch his ass make that figure eight. He’s laughing when he makes it back around. “Eyes, Bella.”

Thankfully the song ends and he pulls me close. My head is in a fog through the next dance. I’m surprised when he kisses me. “Are you still with me, cari?o?”

I snap out of it. “Yes, but we’re not here.”

He laughs and starts walking me toward the side where Stella and my mom are sitting, watching us, of course. “Thank you, Myrna and Stella, for the interesting dinner,” Rafael says keeping me in front of him.

Stella tries to stand. “Don’t even think about it!” Harper moves in front of her like she’s guarding the two of them. I look at my mom. Harper is guarding them. My mom hasn’t even tried to get up.

Stella flips her towel at Harper. “I was just going to thank him for the flowers and dancing for me.”

Harper isn’t buying it. “You were trying to cop another feel. Sit!”

Rafael’s body is shaking behind me. He kisses my head and I know he’s trying to hide the laugh which makes hiding mine harder.

“Thank you, Stella, for having us. We won’t be back anytime soon, but I’ll see you at Christmas.” I take a step holding Rafael’s hand.

“What! What do you mean?” Stella jumps up and Harper holds her arm.

With my prim and proper society face on, I look her in the eyes. “You’ve humiliated me, embarrassed my soon to be husband and have my sister standing guard so I can relax enough to finish our evening here and walk out with some dignity. Reliving a night like this is not high on my to-do list.”

“Soon to be husband?” my mother says clearly shocked.

I’m watching Stella.She looks devastated. Her arms go up and Harper lets her go. “You are right, my sweet Cassidy. I am so happy to live, I acted childish. I’m sorry for embarrassing you and you, Rafael. It will not happen again.” She squeezes my cheeks. “I love you like my own and want you to come back for dinner. I will be on my best behavior.”

I nod seriously, but I’ve heard this before. “Hands to yourself?”

She nods and I pull Rafael away.

“What about the soon to be? When did this happen? We have a wedding to plan! Hey! I’m talking to you, young lady!”

I’m laughing when the door stops my mother’s comments.“Harper must be holding her back.”

He’s got the biggest smile on his face. “Thank you for doing that, mi vida. It felt good to see you protecting me from their talons.”

I laugh at him. “They won’t listen, but they’ll calm down a little. I threaten not to show again at least once a year.”

His body stops moving. I try to pull him down to the kiss that look promised. “You threaten them regularly?” Damn! He straightens not looking happy.

“Never like tonight. Threats are funny. What wasn’t said was understood. If they keep it up, they have no chance at planning a wedding. That’s a threat they might listen to. Me not showing was just a way to issue the bigger unspoken threat. If I don’t show, Stella is upset. If she can’t help plan a wedding, she’ll be devastated. They already have the menu planned. It will kill her if she can’t cook it.”

He laughs and I like the happy. “Women are diabolical with the understanding and use of human nature to their benefit. Thank you, Bella, for protecting my ass and announcing our soon to be wedding.” His mouth crashes down on mine and I’m lost.

* * *

Rafael

Driving is one of those activities that helps me think. Since she’s in her head, I drive. Parker says she has a few threats that he would take very seriously. The new office policy is to list all threats with a direct link to the bio and crimes. This ensures that it’s all current information in the threat file along with the attorneys and any witness statements. I sent the files right over to the office and Parker gave me a list that was almost identical to Donna’s. I forwarded that too. Perez seems interested in a few of the cases. While we went into dinner, he stayed a couple of minutes to finish reading the files.

“This is a nice road but the wrong way.”

I smile at my sweet Cassidy. She showed me she’s fighting for us again with the threat to that nut job Stella. “Driving helps me think.”

She nods and looks out the window. I point us home and think about the ring in my pocket. Now that she announced it, I need to give her the ability to show it. They have a menu for the wedding. I bet every minute is planned out. Without the two crazy women is a pipe dream, but the end result will be the same. Cassidy Saber rolls off my tongue very nicely. The picture of that hits me and I press down on the gas pedal.

“Mmmm, now you’re understanding my appreciation of chocolate.” She’s smiling, I don’t even have to look at her to know it.

“Killing me, Bella. ”

She laughs and I pull in waiting for the door to go up. “You started it at Stella’s before I even got out of the car.”

I drive forward smiling. “I did nothing but be myself, cari?o. Nothing different happened tonight except you teasing me with how you appreciate chocolate.”

She laughs opening her door. “There was that. Oh no! My briefcase.”

She didn’t see Perez appear just as we were walking out? “I have it. Come, you have some appreciation to show me. My imagination is running wild with this one, Bella.”

She moans as I hit the door button. Keys sits at the small desk smiling. Jesus, they hear everything. I take her right into the bedroom and put the briefcase by her night table.

“Do I need to get you chocolate to see this new appreciation?” I’m already hard. My words come back to me wondering how that played out, ‘Think of me when you eat your brownie, Bella. Smooth and thick, sliding down your throat. Just enough sweet to make it addictive.’ The picture that forms in my head shatters when she falls to her knees.

“Nope, my new appreciation is all natural.”

I’m ready to shoot off now but lift her up so she’s standing. “Don’t pout, baby. My dick is ready to explode now. You need to be undressed because there will be no waiting for clothes once we start.”

Her eyes are wide and her clothes start falling to the floor. I undress just as quickly needing more than what’s in my imagination. As soon as my boots are off, she’s pulling on my pants. “Your determination to get my dick in your mouth is a bigger turn on than you know, cari?o.”

She smiles falling to her knees again. “Thinking about chocolate does that for me too. My brain scatters and need is all I see and feel.” Her hand strokes me gripping hard all the way down.Jesus, she’s good at this.

“Now you can pout, Bella.” I moan when she fucking does. Watching my dick slide in and out while she’s making those sounds is going to have me coming in no time. “You’re making the most erotic meal out of me and it's killing me, cari?o. I need dessert too.” I hold my breath while she sucks hard moving slowly and her tongue hits every bit of me the whole way up. She rims my head and I’m moaning trying to hold it back. “Fuck, that’s so much better than good.” I step back and she releases me with a pop. That pop sound and the o shape of her lips have me moving faster. Sitting I lift her in the air and spin her laying back.She’s on top of me in seconds with a surprised yelp. “Thick with just enough sweet to be addictive, Bella. I want mine too.”

She moans when I pull her pussy to my lips. “Oh, my god, yes.” She goes right back to her chocolate appreciation. Nothing is getting through but me keeping her right here tasting everything she’s willing to give me. My hands on her ass keep her moving in the sexiest dance with my tongue that I’ve ever felt. When I shake her ass like a belly dancer and hold my tongue still close to her clit, her body freezes, she moans vibrating against my dick as it hits her throat and I’m off. Holy fuck, am I off! My hands rub her ass and back, and I love my Bella’s pussy slow and gentle this time showing my own appreciation for chocolate.