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Ross didn’t reply for a moment.
“What are you thinking?” Will asked his boss.
“If our friends at the FBI happen to arrest Strickland at the same time the story breaks, it would give Hannah a safety net. No one would take out the reporter who broke that story because it would bring more heat on themselves, right?”
Will considered the option. “I’d rather just let someone else break the story.”
The corner of Ross’s lip twitched. “Are you sure that’s what she wants?”
Will ran a hand over his face in frustration. Hannah would probably go along with whatever he recommended, but Ross was right—she had done the work and she deserved to be the one who got the credit for the story.
“A freaking reporter, Ross. What am I thinking?”
This time, Ross didn’t restrain his laughter. “You’re thinking with your heart, Gilbert. It doesn’t have to make sense. I happen to think it’s meant to be. Someone needed to help you get past your grudge. Just because Davis betrayed your trust doesn’t mean the entire profession is like him.”
“Hannah’s not,” Will agreed. “How did you know Andy was the one for you?”
The smile on Ross’s face grew at the mention of his wife. “Andy… she’s very different from your Hannah,” he said. “But when I couldn’t picture a future without her in it, I knew. Well, I could picture it. I just no longer wanted a future without her. She made it—and me—better.”
Ross was right that Andy and Hannah were different, but the rest of what he said hit strangely close to home.
He’d known Hannah for a week, but the thought of sending her back to Florida filled him with dread.
“Thanks, Ross. Can you get things rolling from the FBI and WBC—trusted contacts only?”
“I’m on it. We’ll coordinate everything and we’ll keep her safe.”
Will went to find Joey, but she wasn’t in her office. The happy sound of Hannah’s laughter drew him back to the apartment wing, where he found Joey and Hannah sitting close with wide smiles.
“Hey,” he said. “Am I interrupting?”
“I was just getting to know our guest,” Joey said with a smile.
Will took the seat next to Hannah. “That’s great. I was hoping you’d do a favor for me?”
“Anything,” Joey said without hesitation.
“I want you to make sure that Hannah isn’t on the radar of any of our Syndicate friends. Phone calls, emails, anything.”
“On it,” she said.
“Second thing: in any of your digging, have you ever found anyone they call Saltykova?”
Joey frowned. “No, I don’t think so. What is that?”
Will shook his head. “I’m not sure. But Yuri was terrified of her and convinced that she wouldn’t let him live.”
Joey let out a low whistle. “Darkshade was one of the most skilled assassins in the world. Who was he scared of?”
“That’s what we need to find out.”
Joey stood up. “It was nice to officially meet you, Hannah.” She gestured to Will. “He’s one of the good ones,” she said.
Will felt his ears turn pink.
“I know,” said Hannah with a smile.
Joey left and Will took her vacated spot next to Hannah, pulling her hand between his.
