Page 27 of Never Without You
“Berenikoff,” she whispers into my neck.“Russians.”
“Yeah,” I whisper back into the hair at hertemple. This is killing me. “I don’t know how long this is going totake, babe.”
“Lots to look forward to.”
“Hell yeah.”
I jiggle her and she releases her legs, andslowly slides down my body.
“Not that I think there’s any reason for youto be concerned, but if you see or hear anything that’s suspiciousor even gives you pause, you call nine-one-one. Then you callRashad Silverton, our assistant special agent in charge, or SkipVandenberg, our supervisory special agent. I’ll give you theirnumbers before you leave, and I’ll let both of them know who youare so they’ll take the call.”
She nods. “Okay.”
I bend down and touch my lips to hers.
“Stay safe,” she whispers.
“Got to, babe. I have a greenhouse tobuild.”
She smiles, twines her fingers through mine,and we leave the storeroom.
***
After I add Rashad and Skip’s numbers intoher phone, Adam and I say our good-byes to Gio and Natalia, and Igive Theresa one last hug. I don’t want to let go. She reaches downand squeezes my hand, then she walks out, threading her arm throughNatalia’s.
Adam and I watch them leave, and we wait forfive minutes before we go.
Once in the car, Adam says, “Seems like thatwas the first time you met in person.”
“Yeah. We’ve been getting to know eachother…long distance.”
“She’s way into you.”
I grin. “That works since I’m way intoher.”
“Happy for you, man.”
“Be happier once we put these motherfuckersdown so I can get on with my life.”
Gio’s Car – Heading Back to Dutchford
Theresa
Refraction
Physics isn’t my specialty, but I enjoyedstudying it in college. One thing that has stuck with me over theyears is, when there’s a change in direction of a wave passing fromone medium to another caused by its change in speed, that’s calledrefraction.
Everything I am, and everything I will be,has changed. It feels as if for years I’ve been driving in mud andsuddenly I hit clean road, and my trajectory alters irrevocably.I’m moving faster. Steadier. With more purpose, and a cleardirection.
Although physically I can’t be refracted, theconcept applies.
Prior to getting shot in the chest, I had agreat life. A full calendar of patients. Respect in my professionalcommunity. Friends. The occasional lover. I went out. I dated. Ihad fun. I knew someday I’d find someone who I’d want to spend mylife with, and we’d get married and have a family. I like thetradition, and want that for myself.
I didn’t “find” someone. Simultaneously, webecame attached to each other in a way I know, we’ll never getunstuck.
Ethan Berenikoff didn’t slowly work his wayinto my life. He crash-landed into it. True, we’ve been writing fora while and over time I went from looking forward to his letters tocraving them. And sure, I’ve fantasized what it would be like tomeet him. Spend time with him. Fuck his brains out. But actuallymeeting him, laughing with him, touching him, kissing him, feelinghis massive erection pressing against my body not only changed mydirection, it changed my speed.
Now, patience has flown out the window, and Ican’t wait for him to get those bastards who hurt those girls, andbe done with his undercover assignment so we can get busy doinge-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Slowly.
