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Out of the corner of my eye, I see the rest of the Slade brothers, standing a few feet away in their suits, heads bent in conversation. Simone calls out to them, and they all glance over, wearing identical expressions of relief and weariness.
I can’t blame them.
I can’t wait for it to be over.
None of us can.
Although Matthew and I haven’t spoken about his nonexistent relationship with the Slades, or how close I am to them, I knew that as soon as this was over, we were going to have to.
“How do you think it went?” Simone asks.
“I honestly can’t tell,” I whisper, my eyes darting around the empty carpeted hallway before I look back at my friend. “But it helps that Matthew and his team caught them during that deal.”
“Because of your intel,” Simone adds with a grin. “None of this would have been possible without you.”
“I just hope everything I’ve done is enough.”
Otherwise, I’ll have to go on the run again. Which meant no Slades, no Simone and definitely no Matthew. Just the thought of it makes my stomach turn.
Simone is watching me intently as she draws me in for another hug, and we hold each other tightly.
“I thought I was the last witness.” I glance over at Matthew. He tugs on the tie around his neck and twists to face me. “Shouldn’t they be done by now?”
“These things do take time, remember?”
I sigh and stand up, my hands wringing once more. “I can’t sit here and do nothing.”
Matthew pulls me to him and kisses the top of my head. “You can’t go barging in there.”
“Who says you get to have all the fun?”
Matthew gives me a pointed look. “You had plenty of fun yourself.”
“Yeah, I almost wish Travis knew it was me.”
I look up at Matthew and feel like I want to grab him by the hand and just leave. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do now. Without the case, whatarewe to each other?
But he seems lost in his own world, staring straight ahead, a focused look on his face. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just thinking about all the paperwork I’m going to have to do,” Matthew replies with a grimace. He swats a lock of hair out of his eyes and exhales. “I also need a haircut.”
“I can give you a haircut if you want,” I offer. Matthew is still standing near me, and I don’t want him to move. “I’m terrible at it, but I could use the practice.”
Matthew tilts his head in my direction. “So, you want me to be your guinea pig?”
“I wouldn’t call it that.”
Matthew raises an eyebrow, and his lips twitch. “What would you call it?”
I pause and give him a sweet smile. “Practice?”
He chuckles. “That doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.”
“It should. I’m a total badass, you know.”
Matthew smiles. “I’ve heard, but I think the stories are exaggerated.”
I make a face at him. “You’re just jealous.”
