Page 77 of Night Prey
Malone thought about what it meant to have Snipes behind bars and Olivo dead. “So, will you wrap up Junior’s investigation now?”
“Pretty much. Londyn is at the cabin where Carlo had been held in case there’s any evidence that could help us prosecute Snipes, but I would assume Olivo had the place cleaned of anything incriminating.”
“That makes sense.”
“Now that Olivo is dead, we’ll lean on Snipes to see if he admits Olivo’s involvement for the record. We’re still searching his computer, so that might tell us more about his organization. We came up empty on searching Olivo’s house and business both. Forensics is still looking at his home and work computer, too, but he had to be hiding things elsewhere. Maybe a central storage area that they all used. We might never find the location.”
“But if Snipes talks,” Malone said, “it might help to further dismantle Olivo’s organization.”
“One thing is for sure.” Ian locked gazes. “If Olivo sent the photo to your house, you and your family should be safe now.”
“Right. I didn’t think of that.” She mulled it over in her brain. “I wonder if it’ll be enough for Reed to let me go home alone.”
“It’s not enough for me. Not yet.” He took her hand and held it tightly. “We should give it some time to see if you receive another threat. I don’t think you need an entire Nighthawk team detail, but someone should be with you at all times.”
“Do you really think someone other than Olivo is trying to warn me off? I mean, Snipes could’ve done it, but I doubt he did from behind bars.”
“Agreed. But you mean too much to me to let you go home without knowing for sure that Olivo was behind the threat.” He continued to hold her gaze.
“Then I guess it’s easiest for all if I stay here with Reed and Sierra.”
Asher’s cries rang out from his bedroom, and Malone stood to get him, as Sierra was in the lab and Reed was working in the other room, but Ian held tight to her hand. He looked up at her. “Promise me you’ll still be careful and not go out on your own.”
“I promise.”
“Good.” He lurched to his feet and took her shoulders. He kissed her hard on the mouth then abruptly let go. “Because I can’t lose you.”
She didn’t know what to say. She was overcome with emotions she couldn’t even put her finger on, so she bolted down the hallway to Asher’s room. She opened the door to find he’d rolled over on his tummy and was beaming a big smile up at her, looking proud of his accomplishment.
“Hi, precious.” She scooped him up and cradled him against her shoulder, savoring the feel of his soft cheek against hers.
If life were only as simple as the tasks Asher was learning. She remembered her childhood, wanting time to fly by so she could get older and achieve new skills. When did things change? When had she started to want life to slow down? To take each moment and savor it? Like picking Asher up and smelling his delicious baby scent. She wanted to cling to him, but he was squirming to get going. To master those new skills.
She took him to the changing table and unsnapped his romper. As much as she loved being with Reed, Sierra, and this new precious nephew, their family only reminded her of all she didn’t have. Tears stung her eyes. She was alone. No child to cuddle. No man to hug in a long-term relationship. Alone. Except for her family. She could come over here anytime, but it wasn’t the same as having her own family. Her own husband.
She took off Asher’s wet diaper and put on a fresh one.
Loud voices sounded outside the door. Peggy and Russ. They were bringing dinner tonight, and all the siblings were coming over too. Not to celebrate Olivo’s death but to celebrate that the immediate threat to their family had been eliminated.
Asher cooed and smiled up at her, drool dribbling from his mouth. “You’ll soon have a tooth. Then what?”
He babbled at her, shoving his fist into his mouth, and her heart melted.
She wanted a family for herself. Her feelings for Ian had brought the longing to the forefront. And she didn’t want the family with just anyone. She wanted it with Ian.
But that wasn’t going to happen.
She sighed and shook her head. What was with this sudden sentimentality? She needed to nip it in the bud right now or Peggy would pick up on it, and Malone would have a lot of explaining to do.
She turned her full attention to Asher and cooed at him until he laughed. That bolt of longing sharpened, but she ignored the emotion and finished snapping his romper then left the room.
Peggy was in the kitchen with Sierra, who had returned from her lab, and Russ was sitting on the couch with Ian. It looked like they were in a deep discussion, but when Malone entered the room, their talk stopped, and Russ stood.
“There’s my little man.” He held out his hands for the baby, and Asher went willingly to him.
Ian kept a solid eye on Asher, perhaps wondering what it took to be a dad. Dare she hope, with the way he’d just kissed her, that he was considering such a thing?
Nah, he wasn’t even ready for a relationship. The thought of fatherhood would likely send him running.
