Page 79 of Playing for Keeps

Before I could continue, the front door to my apartment clicked shut and I heard footsteps in my living room. Brendan popped his head out in the hall, then came back with Mitch on his heels.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said, whisking across the room to Jen’s side. He pulled her into a hug, peeking over her head at me. “Dropped Viv off at your dad’s. Wanted to make sure she felt safe.”

“Thanks,” I told him, extending a hand to shake his.

“What’d I miss?”

I gestured toward the screen. “This is Kelly O’Connor, Jen’s roommate. She hasn’t seen her since Friday afternoon. Looks like she might have been caught by a human trafficking ring.”

“You can tell that by this video?” Brendan questioned, and Lee shook his head.

“Man’s got more than a video,” he assured him. “He says it’s a ring, it’s a fuckin’ ring.” Lee turned to me, raising a fist, one finger pointing at the ceiling. “Your men up there?”

With a nod, I said, “Levi gave us the location he was at when he took the video. They’re already searching. I’ll contact them when we get to your office.”

“His office?” Levi barked. “We’ve been waiting here for them to show up and now we have to go to his office?”

Lee turned from the screen to the bed where Levi sat, and the kid cowered in his spot. “We are going to my office. You are staying here.”

The kid turned pleading eyes on me. “Arthur, what’s he talking about?”

“I’m sorry, Levi. You and Jen are staying here with Brendan. The security office is no place for you.”

“But I can help!”

“You have helped,” I told him as I shut down my computer before turning toward him. “And I thank you for that. But I didn’t go to all the trouble of protecting you years ago just for something to happen to you now. I need you and Jen here, where I know you’ll be safe.”

“That’s not fair!”

“Levi.” Jen sat on the bed next to him, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I know you want to help. I understand that, I do. Kelly is my best friend, and it’s killing me that she’s not here. But you and I, we have to stay out of the way and let Lee and his team do their jobs. It’s the best chance of bringing Kelly home safe. And I...” She threw a glance toward Brendan before returning her gaze to his. “It’d mean a lot to me if you’d stay here with me. Please?”

A war played out across Levi’s face, but all I could see was Jen. The way she cared. The way she gave with all her heart. She’d put aside her life to help take care of Corey after he was shot, and I had no doubt she’d do the same with anyone she cared about.

For a moment, all I could think of was holding her in my arms. And even though we’d never talked about it, having her stomach swell with our child. Watching her care for our baby the way she did her brother, the way she cared for Levi, a boy she’d only just met. And in that moment, that’s all I wanted. A chance for a life with her by my side, the two of us parents of children we’d never abandon and would love with all our hearts.

“Fine.” Levi’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “If you don’t want me with you, I might as well stay here where I’m wanted.”

His scathing tone garnered no guilt inside of me. I was doing this for him. To keep him safe and out of our hair so we could bring Kelly home.

“Let’s go,” Lee grumbled. He shook Stone’s hand, then clapped Mitch on the shoulder before pushing out of the room. Before following them out, I went to Jen.

“Vinny.” She cupped my cheeks in her palms, her thumb grazing the scrape before she pressed a kiss to my skin. “Be safe.”

“I will,” I promised. “And I’ll do everything I can to bring Kelly home.”

Our lips met, mouths opened, tongues caressed. I tasted whiskey and sweetness, and I prayed my promise wouldn’t leave a bitter taste in her mouth. I wanted to deliver almost as much as I wanted to stay here, wrapped in her arms.

Behind me, a throat was cleared. Jen jerked away from me, her head popping over my shoulder before she ducked her chin, burying her face in my chest.

“You two lovebirds ‘bout done? Lee’s getting antsy as fuck.”

“Be right there,” I called over my shoulder at Mitch as I tilted Jen’s chin back up so she’d face me. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“I’ll be home soon.”

With a final kiss goodbye, I grabbed my leather jacket out of my coat closet, tossed a stern look at Levi, and rushed downstairs to my car.