8. Chapter 8

When I finally emerge from the bedroom, I feel like a whole new person. It also helps that I look like a whole new person.

I watch Kacey's eyes widen as I walk toward him, the click of my heels drawing his attention from where he is sitting at the dining table.

"Fuck, I'm not sure if I like this look since it looks nothing like you… or if I want to act out some very depraved secretary or teacher fantasies," he says as he stands.

I laugh as I reach up to adjust the thick frames of the glasses I'm wearing, the move making the strands of the shoulder length brown wig sway. I could mentally picture the image in my head with only a minor disappointment that he wouldn't be able to pull my hair.

The tailored black pants suit and crisp white shirt complete the look and I eye the outfit he is currently wearing.

He"s wearing jeans and a casual shirt, but with decent black shoes. I hum and ask him, "Do you have your identification on you?"

He frowns slightly. "Yes," he responds hesitantly.

I nod, satisfied with his answer, but then wave my fingers at his outfit and remark, "We are going to need to do something about this."

Kacey scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Well, it"s not like I came prepared when I first drove to meet Colt."

I walk over to a wall panel and pop it open, revealing a set of keys. "It"s fine, we will pick something up on the way," I assure him, grabbing the keys.

As I turn to move past him and back toward the front door, his hand wraps around my arm, stopping me. "On the way where, Ash?" he growls in frustration.

I grin at him mischievously. "On our way to pick up the guys," I reply.

With a smirk, I slip out of his grasp and head out the door, eager to get this mission underway. Kacey grumbles but ultimately follows me as I make my way out of the apartment and over to the elevator that will only ever get to this floor with the card in my hand. I swipe the card on the reader and we wait for it to arrive.

"How exactly are we going to pick them up? They"re in FBI custody," he asks, his brow furrowing in concern.

I smile as I step into the elevator through the open doors. "Don"t you remember, Marshal? They are assisting us on an ongoing investigation, and we wouldn"t want the FBI to blow their cover now, would we?" I tease him.

He scrubs a hand down his face, clearly torn between admiration and exasperation. "I don"t know if I should think you"re insane or brilliant. That"s why you asked about my identification? What about you, though?"

I pull the small leather wallet from my pants pocket and hand it over to him. Opening it, his eyes widen as he brings it closer to his face to study it. "Angelica Fallaen? Where did you get this? I"ve never seen anything that looks this accurate."

I just smile in response, not giving away any secrets as I pluck the wallet back out of his hands. The elevator opens again, and we exit into a parking garage. I lead us over to another blacked-out SUV, anticipation thrumming through my veins.

When we both slide into the front seats of the vehicle and I start it, maneuvering it out of the parking garage, I make another call. Kacey listens as I speak to an assistant at a local boutique, ordering a shirt and jacket. He responds when prompted for his sizes, and after hanging up again, I shoot him a side-eye as I tease, "Do you need a hat? I can almost picture you with that Raylan Givens swagger."

He huffs out a laugh and shakes his head at me. I"m not sure if it"s in exasperation or frustration, but then he snarks, "That fucking show. There were so many people who just wanted to be cowboy marshals and disregard all the rules and call their actions justified."

I chuckle at his response, enjoying our banter as we navigate through the city streets. Soon enough, I"m parking the car outside the boutique. We quickly hop out, and it only takes a short time for us to return to the car, Kacey now sporting a form-fitting shirt and jacket stretched across his chest that has me biting my lip in appreciation.

He sees the humor on my face and warns, "I swear to God, if you say something else about Raylan Givens, I"m going to lay you across my knees and take my frustration out on your ass."

My eyes widen, heat rising to my cheeks hoping it can"t be seen with the makeup I have on. "You say that like I wouldn"t enjoy it," I retort playfully.

He leans closer, his breath hot against my ear as he whispers, "I didn"t say I was going to let you cum."

A shiver runs down my spine at his words, and I groan softly, feeling a rush of desire coursing through me. Quickly regaining my composure, I shake my head and take a deep breath. "Focus, we need to focus," I remind myself, regretting all my teasing.

He leans back into his seat, his expression serious as he instructs me, "Follow my lead when we get there. If they question anything, it will be me, and I have the real credentials."

I nod, acknowledging his logic. It doesn't take long before we are parking at another plain uniform building. As we step out of the car and approach the entrance of the building, I can feel the tension mounting. Despite the calm exterior I try to maintain, my heart is pounding.

Elsa had given us a quick rundown of the building as we approached, letting us know exactly where in the building they were being held.

We bypass the front desk, much to the dismay of the woman behind it who looks torn between staying in her seat and chasing after us. Ignoring her, we make it unhindered to the bank of elevators and manage to slip into one without being stopped.

As the doors close behind us, I pull a small device from my pocket and send a text to Elsa. Moments later, the red light on the elevator panel turns green, and the elevator jerks as it starts its descent toward the basement levels. Kacey raises an eyebrow at me as I tuck the device and phone back away, and I can"t help but smile somewhat smugly.

The elevator ride is tense but uneventful. When we reach our destination, we step out into a dimly lit corridor, the air heavy with anticipation. I glance at Kacey, silently communicating with him as he steps in front of me to take the lead as discussed.

Following Elsa"s instructions, we navigate through the labyrinthine corridors of the building, thankfully avoiding any unnecessary encounters. Eventually, we reach our destination, a nondescript door among a wall of other nondescript doors.

Kacey doesn't hesitate to open the door and walk straight in, my feet carrying me after him. I instantly see Nix through the glass window, handcuffed to a table. Glancing at the window in the opposite wall I see Beck in a similar position.

"These interviews are over," Kacey snarls in a tone that I have never heard from him before, but it automatically makes my spine straighten. I stand back, not looking at anyone directly, letting Kacey take charge of the situation as he shows his identification to the man and two women there. His authoritative presence fills the room, commanding attention and respect.

The agents in the room look taken aback by Kacey"s sudden assertiveness, but he wastes no time in asserting our authority.

"You"re interfering with an ongoing investigation," he begins, his voice firm and unwavering. "The men you"re holding are assisting the government, and the FBI is risking blowing their covers by taking them the way they did."

The agents start to protest, but Kacey raises his hand, silencing them as he puts his badge away. "Release them now," he commands, jabbing a finger toward both rooms. "Where is the other one?" he demands.

I turn and proceed to lead them all out of the room, stepping into the hallway as the agents reluctantly comply. I stand there, watching as one by one, they move to the doors and open them. I hear several disgruntled voices as the agents inform the guys they are free to go and I hear the clang of handcuffs being unlocked.

As Nix exits his room and sees Kacey and me standing there, I catch the subtle change in his demeanor, the barely perceptible flex of his fingers as though he wants to reach out to me. But he restrains himself, and I silently motion for them to follow us as we make our way out of the building.

I see Beck and Rick exiting the rooms they were held in out of the corner of my eye, but looking at Nix was already testing my composure. Turning away and walking ahead of them down the hall, I can hear their footsteps behind me, reassuring me that they are following. Behind them, I can hear the murmurs of the agents, who are also staying close behind us.

When we reach the elevator, I press the button, and it opens promptly. Gesturing for the guys to enter first, I discreetly take the device from my pocket once again, sending a message to Elsa as I step in with them.

As the doors close, my attention is drawn to two female agents standing nearby, their eyes locked onto us. Instant recognition floods me.

Jessica"s eyes widen in recognition as she gets a better look at me, and I feel a sinking feeling in my stomach. Before she can react further, the doors close and I slam the device against the reader. Mentally I'm screaming at Elsa to hurry the fuck up.

Almost instantly, we start moving, the elevator ascending back up to the ground floor rapidly.

No one says a word as we travel, tension thick in the air. When the doors open on the ground floor, we exit as calmly and orderly as possible, making our way back out the front door.

My steps quicken as we make our way to the SUV, my body tense as I keep all my senses on overdrive, waiting for the inevitable alarms. It never comes, and it takes only seconds for us to get into the vehicle before I'm throwing it into reverse and trying not to draw attention as I drive us out of there.

As we speed away from the building, my sigh of relief is loud in the quiet and tense car. I focus on taking as many turns on side streets as I can, trying to lose any potential pursuit.

After a few more minutes of driving, Nix suddenly growls, "Pull over."

I start to protest, my eyes meeting his briefly in the mirror, but he just growls louder, "Pull the fuck over."

I quickly comply, pulling into another side street. Before I can even park the car properly, Nix is already out of his seat, tearing open my door, and pulling me from my seat. Within seconds, my back hits his door, my body closing it behind me, trapping me between it and his body.

His lips crash against mine aggressively, his hands pressing against the sides of my neck, holding my head in place as he deepens the kiss. His thumbs pressing against where my pulse beats against my skin.

The kiss is brief but savage before he finally pulls away, his breath ragged. We stare at each other for a moment, the tension thick between us, before he steps back, his expression unreadable.

I straighten my clothes, trying to regain my composure, as Nix opens his mouth to speak. But before he can say anything, Kacey interrupts from the front seat, "We need to keep moving. We can"t risk staying here in the open."

Nix"s jaw tightens, but he nods in agreement. Without another word, he takes my spot in the driver"s seat and I'm forced to open the back door. I don't say anything at the sight of Rick curled into Beck, his hands fisting Beck's shirt, I just slide into the seat Nix vacated. The atmosphere in the car is heavy with everything left unsaid.