“You saved your own life. And Larry played his part, distracting Esposito after Malcolm was down.”
She hugged the dog again. “And to think I didn’t even know I needed a dog! But Larry, I promise you the best treats forever and ever.”
She saw Chase smiling slightly and turned to him. “Do I get the best treats forever, too?” he asked.
“Yeah. This time, forever—and ever!” she promised.
Chapter Eleven
The night was long.
“Worst part of the job,” Chase teased as they sat at headquarters. He had to speak lightly. He was afraid that if he didn’t, if he thought of the way it might have all ended, he’d cease being rational.
He thought about Sky, about meeting as kids...friends. Friends who came together again when they were of age, friends who fell in love then, and...
Maybe there were such things as soulmates. He hadn’t lived like a monk, but in the years between he’d just never fallen in love. He’d had relationships, but...
Nothing right.
Then, when it seemed that pretend might turn to reality—or might have been real all along whether that had been admitted or not—he might have lost her.
Forever.
“Hey!”
Sky touched his arm. It was morning; there really hadn’t been a night. But despite her worry that they bring Larry back home and give him the assurances he needed, she’d insisted that they get to the hospital.
Miraculously, while several agents had been injured, none had been killed.
And Chris Wiley was going to be fine.
When they arrived at the hospital, Chase told Sky, “We’re going to have to see Hank quickly before anyone else. He won’t believe that you are okay if he doesn’t see you himself. We’ll be brief because I know—”
“I’m happy to see Hank and then Chris,” she replied.
“And we’ll check in on Bobby Sacks, too. Bobby was a hell of a help in this.”
“Oh, did they find out anything about the woman—”
“Alina Gomez. She’s fine. Wellington is going to help get her asylum status. Esposito’s goons killed her father for refusing to distribute his goods at a school. Then, he just swept up Alina as his personal property. She’s going to be fine,” he reiterated.
She smiled. “Okay, onward to Hank and then Chris!”
Chase’s grandfather was awake when they entered the room.
“About time!” he boomed. “Thankfully, I didn’t know about most of this until it was over. You two...you know, you did good. You did really good. But don’t do it again! You scared the bejesus out of me!”
Chase and Sky both gave him hugs, and Hank told them that he’d be transferring into rehab the next day, and that by the end of the month...
“I’ll be drumming my heart out again! And you!” he said, wagging a finger at Chase.
“Gramps, I—”
“I’m not suggesting that you quit anything. You don’t have to worry. The news is filled with the whole event, but a lot is focused on you—not as an agent, Chase, but just as the drummer who went after his beloved. The word is out there that supposedly law enforcement brought down a major drug ring and just that you...you’re a hot drummer and lover. And you, Miss Ferguson! Like a new age Disney princess, kicking ass!”
“Um, thanks,” Sky murmured.
“Your dad...well, you know what I believe? I believe he was looking out for you from the clouds, and that... My God, girl, he would be so proud. No, I believe we’ll meet again. He is proud. And your mother—”
Sky let out a squeak. “Oh, my God! I haven’t called my mother, and she’ll see the news!”
“Maybe you should do that,” Hank said.
The look Sky gave Chase was a little panicked. He smiled and told her, “Step out, give her a ring. Make sure she knows that you didn’t get so much as a bruise from the whole thing.”
Sky nodded and went out into the hall.
Hank watched her leave and turned to Chase.
“Don’t let her get away this time,” he said.
“Well, I didn’t mean to let her get away last time.”
“Make it permanent, then,” Hank said.
“Gramps, I can’t force her into something. These have been the most intense days of my life, but we’ve just gotten together again—”
“I don’t think that either of you were ever really apart. You know, I remember when Jake fell in love with Mandy. There had never been anyone he loved like her before in his life, and he knew that there never would be again.”
