Page 69 of No Merciful Corruption

I take a steadying breath. “It won’t be so simple.”

“Who cares, that’s a problem for another time.” He kisses me gently. “Now, about that date.”

The moment is interrupted when the bell rings. I have half a mind to leave the front door unanswered when I remember Special Agent Morales was supposed to stop by today.

I kiss him quickly; once, twice, and a third time just because he lets me. “Hold that thought.”

“Wait,” his arm tightens around my waist. “Let someone else get it.”

“It’s probably Morales. Five minutes, promise!” I kiss him one last time and slip out of his embrace. “Do something useful while I’m gone. Like getting undressed!”

The sound of his laughter follows me out of the room.

I make it to the foyer just in time for Morales to start pounding like a maniac.

I swing the front door open. “Morales, do you mind?”

He waltzes inside without so much as a hello. “I always forget how nice your place is inside.”

I try not to roll my eyes. “I assume you’re here for Li’s gun?”

“Yes and the sooner the better. I have to jump on a flight to DC in an hour.”

I bring him upstairs to the study and Alejandro is on the phone again. He excuses himself quietly and heads down to the hall, presumably to my bedroom to take the call in private. I retrieve the box from the safe and hand it over. When he reaches for it, I retreat just an inch.

“We had a deal. The investigation in New York goes away once I hand this over. It’s the gun Li used to kill your former partner Amy Walsh. Now you have it and can finally close her case in peace.”

Morales isn’t exactly what I’d categorize as a dirty fed. More like an enlightened one. His determination to avenge Walsh’s death steered him into morally gray territory. On the other end of his years’ long mission, he’s discovering sacrifices must often be made in the name of the greater good and that it pays to have friends in both low and high places. This part of the job is just a necessary evil.

Morales was determined to avenge his former partner’s death and taking down Li was part of it. Now Li’s dead and the only thing left to do is close the case. I’m not sure why the weapon itself is necessary for that but I can only assume it’s more symbolic than practical. Find the murder weapon, tie all the loose ends, and finally put the memory of Amy Walsh to rest. I’ll say one thing about him—he’s as loyal as he is determined.

He acquiesces with a firm nod and I extend the box to him. He takes it without preamble.

“I have to go.” Morales says. “I can’t miss my flight.”

“Is this it?” I say as I walk him out. “Don’t you need anything else?”

Morales pauses at the threshold.

“What else is there?” He asks. “It’s over now. Li’s gone.”

Realization hits me like a bolt of lightning.

Li is dead.

With everything that’s happened in the last few weeks, I hadn’t taken into consideration what Li’s death actually meant. Rian was able to save his company and Alejandro sold his shares to Sasha, thus severing any ties between them. Business ties that Li initially intended on using to frame Alejandro and Rian for money laundering and drug distribution. Now that Li is dead all of those complications, those threats and fears, have simply vanished. The danger is gone and even if Li was still around, Morales already has enough evidence to put him behind bars.

It really is over.

Morales manages a smile. “It’s been real, Rosario.”

Is it strange to think we may never see each other again? After spending so long working side by side?

“Don’t be a stranger, Morales.”

He salutes me and I close the door on him and this chapter of my life forever.

I have a first date to get ready for.