Page 66 of Bad Situation

I turn when I hear my name growled from across the room. Fuck me. It’s my asshole of a supervisor who likes his cock sucked by his subordinates. Who knows, he might be helping Bree set Jen up, too.

What I do know is my acquaintance with Jensen Montgomery is out of the bag as of two hours ago. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I’d have to answer to someone.

As I watch him stalk across the room toward me, I must admit, I’m looking forward to this.

“I need a word,” he seethes and turns, heading for the empty interrogation room next to where they put Jen.

I gladly follow and slam the door behind me. I can’t wait to see how this goes.

He turns and pokes a finger in my chest and his tone is as angry as the lines creasing his face. He might bust a vein. “I don’t know what the fuck it could be, but tell me there’s a good reason you’re consorting with a federal target. And don’t give me any shit that you were working her case. I’ve talked to three detectives who told me they walked up on that scene and you had that fucking woman in your lap with a murder victim lying dead as a damn doornail next to you. Bree was called because her target was involved and, when she got there, she said you refused to speak to her and wouldn’t leave Montgomery’s side.”

He's right. I don’t answer to Bree fucking Newman and I never will. I also don’t give him the satisfaction of reacting to him by blowing up. I cross my arms, hold my ground, and don’t move despite him being in my face and my not wanting to be anywhere close to him.

I knew he wasn’t done. He proves me right and lowers his voice, leveling his eyes on me while he thinks he’s laying down the law. “This is not New York and you are not undercover. I heard they let you get away with all kinds of shit you shouldn’t have. You crossed lines that should’ve gotten you pulled from the MacLachlan case so fast, it would’ve given you whiplash. But since you’re someone’s golden boy up at headquarters, they let you do what you want.”

I finally break into his rant. “I’m no one’s golden boy. You ask anyone in New York, the only people I consulted with while I was under were in the Attorney General’s office. I’d appreciate it if you get your facts right before you start spewing shit.”

He works his jaw so tight, it’s sure to give him TMJ. “That doesn’t negate the fact you’ve had contact with one of our federal targets. Just you wait, Pettit. First thing tomorrow morning, I’m filing a report with OPR. You’d better get ready to either answer some questions or hang up your fucking badge.”

I’ve had enough and drop my arms, taking a step, making him take two back. His shoulders tense and his eyes flare. He thinks I’m going to come after him and he’s right. “You’d be doing me a favor by filing that report. While you’re on the phone with the Office of Professional Responsibility, tell them I want to talk to them, too. I can’t wait to tell them all about Bree Newman—how she finds creative ways to find evidence when she can’t make a damn case go her way and how she planted bogus reports in trash bins.”

The man must’ve never worked undercover, or played poker for that matter, because he’s shit at hiding his emotions. His face reddens and now I’m really worried about that vein.

I take another step and he shifts back accordingly. I lean in and lower my voice. “Yeah. It’s been a while since I went through professional responsibility classes at the academy, but I’m pretty sure they frown upon special agents giving their group supervisors blow jobs. Especially in public places.” All that color that made him flush like a schoolgirl in sex-ed class drains from his face. He goes from looking like a tomato to a snowman. I smile and shake my head. “Do me a favor and have them give me a shout—I’ve got a lot to say.”

I sidestep him and reach for the door.

“Pettit—” he calls.

I stop and turn but not to let him finish. I need to check on Jen and talk to a few of the detectives about the PI’s murder, so I interrupt. “And if I were you, I’d talk to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and explain to them that your agent got some things wrong and that your case on Montgomery is weak. If you have to go so far to say fraudulent, do it. If you don’t do it soon, I will.” I shake my head and reach for the door one more time. “Talk to Bree. You seem to have a lot of influence with her.”

I slam the door, leaving him in the room alone. Maybe he’ll use the time to mull over his options.

Choices. Some are hard, some are easy, and some are just flat-out wrong. If he makes the wrong decision again, I’ve got him by the balls. Unfortunately for him, I’ve seen it with my own two eyes and have the photographic evidence, too.

Some things you just can’t unsee. And, for Jen, today, nothing is truer.

*****

Jen

“Have you eaten at all today? There’s a ton of food left from the wedding and breakfast this morning. Let me make you a plate.”

I look out the window at the jumbled mess from the wedding last night. “I’m not hungry.”

When the police were done questioning me, Ellie was there with Donny. The second I laid eyes on my sister and she wrapped me in her arms, I broke down again. Donny ushered us out and explained that my parents were with Patrick’s family, but my dad wanted me at the ranch. I didn’t have the energy to argue.

I also didn’t see Eli anywhere.

Until I was pulled into an interrogation room with my attorneys from Lehmans, he never left my side. Even when that bitch of an agent who has it out for me showed up. He told her to back off and took me to the police station right after EMS checked the bump on my head, dressed the scrape on my face, and cleaned me up as best they could.

But I couldn’t really ask where my now not-so-secret special agent was even though I wanted nothing but him. I left the prepaid cell he gave me in his truck. I threw all caution to the wind and typed in his cell number that I memorized from what seems like forever ago and told him I’d be at the ranch.

I haven’t heard back from him.

I did fess up to my attorneys about Eli. I told them everything—or everything besides the personal stuff and left it vague as to how we met. Besides that, I told them everything. They weren’t happy with me, but right now, I couldn’t care less.

I’ve been here for hours and Ellie hasn’t left my side. She took me straight to my old room and made me take a shower.

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