Chapter 16

Hank Andrews walked around the prison yard, trying his best to take in the one thirty-minute break he would get today. The air was sweet—but he was in Hawai'i, so that was a given.

From the moment he'd recovered from his wounds, they'd kept him out of the general population. He had no idea why. The one man who wanted to kill him—or at least, the one he thought might want to kill him since he failed at his mission—didn't have ties to this prison. He frowned. At least, he didn't think so.

Ever since the death of Alana, things had been fucked. He should have just taken what money he had and disappeared, but no. He had to believe that asshole. Also, Michael Brewer had been such a dumbass. Giving them half a million a year with no proof of life? Stupid. It was why Hank had always thought Brewer knew his son had been dead. He didn't want to deal with it or the monster he had raised. Or, Hank thought, hadn't raised. Kids needed a firm hand, and leaving the raising to strangers was never a good idea.

He heard steps behind him and knew his time was ending. Back in the dark hole. He sighed. He told his attorney that he would deal with TFH if they could get him a deal with Witness Protection.

"Five more minutes, guys, please."

He expected them to agree. Most of the guards here were decent, but he didn't get an answer. Instead, a hand clamped onto his shoulder, and he knew who it was. The one person he feared more than anything else in the world. His breath was hot against Hank's ear as he leaned into him.

"You should have never told them you would talk. Joseph sends his regards."

Hank closed his eyes and waited. He expected pain, but he didn't get it. Not right away. Instead, gloved fingers slipped over his flesh. A tingle over his skin hit first, followed by a rage of fires. He was convinced he could hear his skin sizzling.

His stomach roiled, and it felt like spiders crawled over his skin. He fell to the hard ground as his throat filled with frothy phlegm. His eyes rolled back into his head, his brain stuck on one thought…on a meeting. That meeting had led him down that dirty path, but he knew, in that one moment, he had no one to blame but himself.

* * *

Adam stared out the window and tried to concentrate on something…anything. He wasn't good at sitting around, and he'd been stuck here for long enough. He wanted updates on the case, and he wanted to go home.

Granted, it had been less than seventy-two hours since he'd been shot, but he was fine. He'd walked since that first day, and seriously, he was ready to tear the face off the next person who told him he needed to rest.

Jin had left earlier today to go home for a shower and a change of clothes. He wondered when she would return. She had done the same thing yesterday, but Tripler had been excellent about letting his "fiancé" stay with him.

He didn't tell her, but he liked the sound of that. He was pretty sure she would freak the fuck out, but every time he heard someone call her that, his heart did a little dance. He had to keep reminding himself to take it slowly.

The door swung open, his heart jumping at the idea that it could be Jin. Excitement fizzled the moment he saw Del. His boss chuckled.

"Damn, nothing like being a disappointment."

"Sorry. I thought the doctors were going to let me out."

"First, that's not even a good lie. Second, I'd let you out in a second because you're like me. Sitting around isn't good for us."

He threw his arms up, then winced at the pain in his shoulder. "Right? I thought they always wanted to immediately kick people out of the hospital."

Del nodded and took the seat beside Adam's bed. "First, you're in Tripler. Military hospitals are different. Second, your sister has been all up in your business."

He frowned. "Kailani?"

Del nodded, and that confused Adam. "She's my most levelheaded sister."

"Yeah, well, she knows what went on during your surgery, so maybe that's why she freaked. Also, there was talk that you would go home tomorrow since she had a few days off."

Adam made a face. His sisters and mother were going to drive him bonkers. He just knew it. He loved them, but he didn't need them hovering. His sisters tended to ignore him, but they treated him like a baby whenever they visited.

Del laughed, then he sobered. "So, the case. Ready to talk about it?"

"Yeah. I heard Andrews was ready to cut a deal?"

Del frowned. "We have a problem with that."

"Don't tell me they won't deal. Andrews killed a billionaire. An asshole, but I thought rich men garnered more attention."

Del sighed, the sound of it heavy with regret. "Andrews is dead."

Adam blinked. "Suicide?"

Del shook his head. "Poisoned."

"Fuck."

"Yeah, it's a problem. They're investigating, but it's going to be hard. There were a lot of people who wanted him dead. From locals who see him as part of the reason Alana Kim is dead to Russians."

"Russians?"

"Yeah, he owed a few oligarchs some money."

Adam rolled his eyes. "How did they get away with all that crap when they seem so stupid?"

"Not seem, bra. They're dumb as shit, or the drugs made them that way. They're still trying to figure out what drugs they were on."

"Smelled like heroin to me."

Del nodded. "It's some kind of designer drug. There were things added to it. The lab is still trying to figure it out."

Adam sighed. "We'll never know exactly what went on."

"Oh, we do. Charity found a whole report written up in the search of Andrews' digital files. Like I said, dumb as shit. Dylan did kill Alana, so to save Joseph trouble, he ordered Andrews to have him killed."

"And the idiot wrote it down?"

"Well, typed it. I guess when you're the right-hand man of a vicious cult leader, you think that there might be a day when he turns on you."

Adam shook his head. "Insane to live like that."

Del nodded. "Hank ordered Reynolds to kill Dylan."

"And we think he killed Reynolds?"

"He did, or the person who killed Andrews did. And I'm sure you'll appreciate that Autumn is handling the paperwork on this one. She still feels guilty about Jin being abducted."

He had yet to meet Sam. She'd apparently made herself scarce just before Ian had appeared, but something told him Jin knew where she was.

"Damn, I will have to owe her. I don't blame her at all." Paperwork was every cop's hated necessity. This one would be a headache.

"You are not allowed back to work until the first of the month."

He blinked. "That's in two weeks."

"The doctors wanted you to take six weeks off. I convinced them you could return to work, desk duty only. Also, you'll have all that PT."

Yeah, his shoulder would need work. He already knew that.

"At least, that's something."

"Just so you know, you're all over the news here."

"Yeah. Mom said the calls had gotten really bad."

He nodded. "I tried to get her to move to a safe house for a few days, but apparently, a bunch of your aunties are out in full force. She said she didn't need a safe house."

Adam chuckled. "Yeah, they'll definitely keep an eye on Mom."

The door opened, and it was Jin. His heart jumped at the sight of her. The fact that she was safe and that nothing had happened to her at all made everything worth it. He could have gone to a very dark place if she had been traumatized again. He still wanted to have a long chat with Sam, but she had disappeared. Jin claimed she didn't know where the woman was.

She wore a red blouse that brought out the gold in her eyes and a pair of skinny jeans. Damn, she was pretty.

"Hey, Del," she said as she walked around his bed. Her gaze settled on Adam. "What would you say about getting out of here?"

"Yes."

She chuckled. "You didn't hear the caveats. You have to have someone take care of you."

"Yes."

"And you have to rest."

"Yes."

"I guess you've made up your mind then? I'll go tell your doctor."

She didn't touch him. She had held his hand, but other than that hug when he woke, she had kept her distance.

"Wait, did you know about Andrews?"

She nodded. "I just got a text from Elle. I'll be right back."

As soon as she left, Adam looked over at Del.

"Give her a little bit of time."

Frustration left him almost breathless. He had protected her and solved the case, but it felt like he was still at fault for losing Jin.

"Listen, I can see the look in your eyes, and you want to scream at the situation. But you didn't see how freaked out Jin was when we got the call. It almost pushed her over the edge. Believe me, that woman cares. You know how tough this life is on our families. Just make sure you give her time."

He would do anything to keep her in his life. He would wait forever, but he would do it by her side.

* * *

Jin parked her car and looked over at Adam. His color was good, but there were dark circles beneath his eyes. She knew that getting deep sleep in a hospital is sometimes impossible. It was why she had fought to get him released. If she had not gotten him to agree to rest for the next couple of weeks, she was sure they would have kept him at Tripler longer.

She picked up her phone to text his mother that they had arrived at her house. Adam had assumed he was going to his mother's house for rest, but she knew what that place was like. She had been there only once, but the activity left her dizzy. While she knew his sisters loved him, they had lives too. The comings and goings might wear him out.

She smiled at the response and at the woman there to help her.

Sam was getting ready to return to hiding, but she had been hanging out at Jin's. Elle had texted Jin about Andrews' murder, but she had already known about it. Sam had gotten notice of his poisoning about an hour before Elle had texted. Apparently, it was all over the Dark Web.

"Hey, Adam."

His eyes flickered. He was smiling before his gaze connected with hers. "Hey, yourself."

"Ready to go in?"

He nodded, then looked around. "This isn't my house."

"I told your mother that I would take care of you."

"And she let you?"

"Yes." When Jin told her she was taking Adam to her house, Merri practically clapped.

With careful movements, she undid his seatbelt. His door opened, and he squinted at Sam.

"Sam?"

"At your service. Well, Jin's. I told her I would help get you settled, then be on my way."

"Is that a fact?" His voice was measured. Jin knew he was still pissed that Sam had abducted her, but it was hard to care. She hurried to his side and slipped his hand arm over her shoulder.

"I can walk by myself."

She sighed. "I know you can, but if you fall, then it's back into the hospital for you. I have a feeling you wouldn't like that."

He grumbled but allowed her to help him into the house. Sam followed them, ready to back her up if needed.

Once Jin got him into bed, she sighed. Everything inside of her seemed to settle. He was here and safe from all the bad guys. He looked even more tired now, and she wondered if she had pushed to get him out of the hospital too soon. She moved to leave him, and he encircled her wrist with his fingers.

"Where are you going?

"I need to lock up, then I'll be right back."

He sighed but nodded. His breathing had evened out before Jin reached the doorway, telling her Adam was already resting easier than he had in the hospital.

"I take it he's okay?" Sam asked as she slipped on her backpack.

Jin nodded. "You don't have to go."

"I do. Mr. MI-6 will find me, and on top of that, I have people who want me dead."

"Better to stay here and be safe."

She offered Jin a sad smile. "I could bring bad things to your doorstep, and I won't do that."

Another person showing her compassion and protecting her. "I hate to think you'll be out on your own."

The other woman shrugged. The action almost made Jin cry. When they were at TFH, she might have been surrounded by team members, but Sam seemed so solitary as if she were not part of this world.

"I'm used to it."

That made her even sadder. She wanted to insist that Sam stay with her and that TFH would keep her safe. Sam's expression told Jin she would never agree to it.

"Keep in contact."

Sam cocked her head. "Are you firing me?"

"Absolutely not."

"Good. I'll contact you when I find a place to land."

Sam hesitated, then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Jin. Then she pulled away and left Jin. It happened so fast that Jin thought she might have imagined it.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out.

Sam: Stay safe, or I'll blame your hunky cop.

Jin: You stay safe, too.

With a smile, she walked back to the bedroom. Adam was sleeping soundly, so she got undressed, pulled on a sleep shirt, and slipped into bed beside him.

"You know, we're going to have to have a talk about Sam."

"Shut it, Lee, and get some rest."

He chuckled as he pulled her against him. Content and finally at peace, she drifted off into sleep.

* * *

She woke some hours later with his hands on her. She knew those callused fingers. They were easing down her panties. He was behind her, his breath on her ear, the feel of his muscular chest against her back.

"Shouldn't you rest? I thought Dr. Faulks said you shouldn't do anything strenuous."

"Hmm," was all he said. Sleep deepened his voice, sending a rush of shivers over her flesh and across her nerve endings.

"Adam, I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"Don't worry, ku'u lei. I'll go slow." He teased her earlobe.

Once he tossed her panties somewhere, he slid his fingers to her sex, teasing her.

"Hmm, already soaking wet. What a naughty woman. Is this all for me?"

God. "Always," she moaned.

He slipped two fingers inside of her, pressing a thumb against her clit. She jerked, the intensity leaving her breathless. He had hardly touched her, and she was ready to come.

Before she could come, though, he removed his fingers.

"Roll forward," he said, positioning one leg up so he could enter her from behind. He eased in, but once he was inside of her, he started to thrust. Her eyes crossed at the deep penetration, thanks to their position.

"Touch yourself."

She didn't hesitate. Deeper and deeper, he thrust, the bed smacked hard against the wall. Soon, she was coming, her entire body convulsing as pleasure rolled through her.

"Yeah, like that," he said. Soon, he groaned her name and poured himself inside of her.

He collapsed a few moments later on the bed beside her. She looked over her shoulder at him. They were both breathing heavily.

"I don't think that's taking it easy," she said.

He looked at her. "If you had any idea what I wanted to do to you, you would think it was taking it easy."

She smiled, then it faded when she looked at his bandage.

"Hey," he said, waiting for her to look at him, then urged her to turn to face him. "I'm okay."

"Sam said you didn't date much these last few years."

He was quiet as he studied her. "Yeah, well, every time I tried to date, I was thinking of you. I didn't think it was fair to the other women or you."

A lump rose in her throat. "Adam, you didn't have to wait."

"No. I didn't. But I wanted to. Believe me, there were many times I wanted to give up, but I couldn't." He took her hand and laid it on his chest above his heart. She could feel it beating. "You've owned me since I first heard you laugh. I do not regret waiting. I'll admit I was angry too."

"Angry?"

"You made me feel vulnerable when you were abducted. I…I didn't like that."

She knew he wasn't talking about when Sam took her. This was about what happened to her before.

"I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "No. It isn't either of our faults. While lying around in bed doing nothing, I had a lot of time to think. I was angry with myself, which morphed into being mad at you, too. Once I accepted that things were out of our hands, I could let it go."

"Really?" Her tone was definitely skeptical. Adam was a proud man, a protector.

He nodded. "I will still have moments, just like you, but letting that go tells me I completely trust you."

"I trust you too."

The smile he gave her sent her heart soaring. She didn't deserve this man, but she would hold onto him as tight as possible.

"And now I'm famished. How about we order something to eat in bed?" he asked.

It sounded decadent and the perfect ending to the day.

"That sounds wonderful."

She grabbed her phone, and they snuggled in together to decide about dinner. It was simple, easy, and perfect. This man would always be there for her, and she could now say she would be there for him. Together, they complimented each other, and she knew that he would wait until she was ready for more. He had been waiting for years.

A woman couldn't ask for more than that.