Page 72 of Recovering Ivy

“So help me God, you better get your little ass back upstairs right now.”

“That would be great. I’ll let the detective know someone will be right down.”

“Ivy!”

It was too late; she’d disconnected the call.

“Sweet Jesus, finally, someone else got the last word.” Jasmin laughed. “The vein on your neck is working overtime.”

“I’m gonna paddle her ass,” I muttered. “Declan, go meet with Amy and tell her now is a good time to get outta dodge. She’ll be free to leave with her daughter. Jaxon, you go meet with Miller and Goodall; give them the heads up. Leo, you’re with me. Linc, take your wife home and get her situated. If you’re back in time, you’ll be with me and Leo. Garrett, keep trying to find Sarah. I want that bitch brought in ASAP. I need a word with her before I send her ass back to Florida.”

“Home?” Jasmin asked.

“Yep. You’re on leave until you pop those babies out.”

“I have another few weeks until…”

“Non-negotiable. You’re done. Go home, relax.”

“What the fuck?” she complained. “When the hell did you go soft and start treating me with kid gloves? I’m an asset to this team, you goddamn well know it. This is jacked.”

“You are an asset, a damn good operator. We all know it, Jas. This has nothing to do with your ability and everything to do with me wanting you to be healthy and strong for my nieces and nephews or whatever combination you’re growing in there.”

“I am…”

“Goddamn it, Jasmin. You’ve busted your ass your whole life. You’ve worked hard, struggled, and fought like hell to get where you are today. You’ve fucking earned some time to sit back and enjoy the last of your pregnancy. Go home and nest or whatever girly shit pregnant women do. I don’t much care as long as you’re not thinking about cases.”

“Geeze. Okay. Cool your tits. I’m going.” Jasmin lowered her head before she looked back up and leveled me with her piercing gaze. “Thank you, Zane. For everything. For always having my back.”

With a nod of acknowledgment, I looked to Leo, uncomfortable with her appreciation. There was no need to thank me. I’d almost gotten her killed, more than once. We were both lucky to make it out of Russia alive. Then I’d spent the next two years after that lying to her about what had really happened. I kept Lincoln’s secret until he could get back from his operation and claim his wife. I almost fucked that up, too.

“You ready?”

Leo stood, tagging his tablet and phone off the table and following me to the door.

I stopped at the door and turned back. “Garrett, you’re in charge of Ivy. She’s not to leave the building. If she so much as tries, tie her up in my office.”

“Right. Apparently, you’ve never met your woman. She’d have my balls before she allowed that to happen.”

Yeah, she would, part of what made her the perfect woman.

* * *

Three hours later, Detective Goldsborough and his chief were up to speed on the latest developments. They’d also brought in a DA to discuss charges, including reopening the case against Forester for Joanna Long’s death.

“It’s a long shot,” the DA informed me. “If the tox screen comes back with fentanyl and the nexus can be made between the heroin Forester is selling now and what came up in autopsy, I can push for murder. However, drug-induced homicide is still hard to convict. It is a matter of proving the dealer put the user in harm’s way by adding the fentanyl.”

“Harm’s way? He’s motherfucker is a drug dealer. He puts everyone in harm’s way. These assholes are public enemy number one,” I spit out.

I hated the justice system. My way of doling out retribution and punishment was more effective – time-saving, too.

“While that may be, Mr. Lewis, opinion does not matter in a court of law. It boils down to what I can prove. If the toxicology comes back in our favor, I will be seeking murder charges in the death of Joanna Long.”

I nearly rolled my eyes at the asshole. Some days it was hard to remember I was stateside; there were rules and laws to be followed. The good guys claimed to have civility while the criminals were protected by due process. It was a bunch of bullshit and I regretted having law enforcement involved. However, my hands were tied; they were smack dab in the middle, leaving me no choice but to play the game.

“Fine. Let’s go pick this asshole up. I have a man on him; he’s at the country club. Barbara is with him as well. It should be an easy takedown. Two birds, one stone.”

I moved to the door and waited as the other men gathered their belongings before we made our way through the office and down to the public area of the office. I was happy to see Rena was now stationed at the reception desk.