“Anything you need to know about the SSI team?” I asked, more to gauge his response than to hear his reply.
“That won’t be necessary. I wouldn’t be here if we’d found a single thing in their backgrounds that made us nervous.”
Which was what I’d expected to hear. Gibson said Shepherd Security didn’t fuck around, and their research on SSI would’ve been as deep, if not deeper than mine.
I’d kept my snooping to a minimum.Because they’re family.
The familial relationship wasn’t a shock, but my newfound emotional attachment to it was.
I’d bonded more with the Sheppard side of my family in the last week than I had in decades. And I wanted more.
“Told you they were solid,” Gibson clapped Rogers on the shoulder. “I’ll walk you out.”
I texted the team to let them know Rogers was leaving.
“You should switch to comms,” Rogers advised.
I agreed. “We’ll have them tomorrow,” I answered. “Any chance you can meet us at the office and get looped in?”
He smiled. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll have Sharpe connect me.” He name dropped Doug like they were old friends.
“Thanks again, and no offense, but I hope we won’t have to see you again,” I said.
“None taken. No one ever really wants to see us.”
True. If you needed Shepherd Security, you were having a really bad, life-threatening day.
After I locked the door behind Rogers, I returned to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.
“What time do you think Nina will wake up?”
“If she’s not up by seven, I’ll wake her.” I wanted to let her sleep in longer, but we had to be at the SSI office by eight.
“Two and a half hours should be more than enough time for the drug to wear off.”
“Let’s just hope her grandmother sleeps in, too.”
Ah hour later, Mrs. Novak supported herself with her walker as she made her slow trip down the hall. She seemed oblivious to our presence as she clicked the bathroom door closed.
“Let’s hope she doesn’t need help,” G said with a quiet chuckle.
“Show some respect.”
“Sorry, just thinking Rogers would be better at helping her than we would be.”
“He probably would be, but there’s no need to be crass,” my growl spoke volumes, as if I hadn’t been obvious enough about my feelings for Nina.
“Overreact much?” G glared. “Dude, you need to figure out your shit. Like now. Whatever your feelings for Nina, you need to sort them out before you get us killed.”
“I—”
“You’re not ready to admit it, that’s fine, but I need to know your head’s in the game.”
It will be. “It is.”
The toilet flushed. G turned on the kitchen light, so we didn't look like creeps lingering in the shadows.
He raised an eyebrow.
