Page 112 of Inside the Wicked

We’re headlining across news outlets, and it’s pretty fucking bad. A problem I can’t even focus any effort on right now, when we’re close to taking down Alistair.

“You have a fan club online,” Rix says. I turn to him, still wrapped in Ana’s arms. He’s sitting by his desk, and so is Adam, both of them scrolling their phones.

Adam smirks at his. “Lexi_cat92 tweeted, ‘He could tie me up and stomp on my back and I’d thank him.’”

Rix reads, “thatintrovertedkate tweeted, ‘Rhett Kaiser is the type of psycho boyfriend we all dream of really.’”

“Always the quiet ones,” Ana says in amusement. She pushes up on her toes so her lips hover over the hollow spot of my ear. “She’s not wrong.”

I squeeze her waist, and she giggles. “Enough of that,” I tell them.

I didn’t expect the president to blast this publicly when he’s been trying to keep a cap on Ana’s behavior. I’m now the con-artist boyfriend from hell who faked his death just to kidnap Ana later. It’s an outlandish stretch, but the world is going crazy for the story.

Despite how much shit we’re in, Ana has been in a particularly light and playful mood, as if nothing exists but us. I’m concerned, but I don’t want to burst her bubble just yet when she’s smiling more than I’ve seen her do since I got her back.

“Are you okay?Reallyokay?” I ask her, lowering my voice and leaning into her ear.

Her grin up at me stops time. “Yes. Really yes.”

“I don’t know how we’re going to fix this particular mess.”

“One mess at a time. I’m happy, Rhett. I won’t let it be delusional. I feel surrounded by family right here,” she says, glancing around at everyone at work, laughing and chatting together because it’s how we survive the pain. “More than I think I have before. And at home with you no matter where we stay, but I hope we can keep the warehouse apartment. It might be my favorite.”

She’s so resilient and bright, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop finding her remarkable. I capture her mouth in one long, deep kiss.

“You’re always home with me, baby.”

“I know.”

“I have something,” a woman calls from across the Den.

It grabs all our attention and I’m moving on instinct, knowing the station she’s at is tracking new trafficking set ups.

Scanning the monitor, dread and rage pools in my stomach.

“Forthson is targeting the summer carnival?” Rix concludes as I do.

The setup is obvious as we’ve been tracking some of his men, anticipating they were getting ready for something. With the losshe sustained from those we saved last summer from his gala, he’ll been needing to compensate and the carnival is exactly the place for many opportunities to lure women and children away.

“We have to stop him,” Ana says. My arm curves around her, so glad she’s right with me with the thought of who could be already taken by Forthson and what targets they’ll gain tonight. The carnival has been here for two days already.

“You think you’re ready for your first mission, Red?” Rix says.

“No way in hell,” I growl.

“I want to help,” she protests. Her frown is adorable, but everything in me is objecting to her want to put herself in the line of danger for this.

“I only just got you back.” I try not to sound pitiful but what can I say, this woman puts me on my knees.

“You’ll be close by and the rest of Xoid will have eyes on us. They’re looking for vulnerable young women and I’m perfect prey to trap and end their sick trafficking ring at this carnival.” She pulls me by my jacket. “I’m in this. I’m with you. And I’m not afraid.”

I am. I’m absolutely terrified but at the same time my pride quells some of it.

“We’re front-page news, baby. We can’t risk being seen out there,” I say apprehensively, but she’s so excited I know I’ll risk anything to keep her like that even for one night.

“That makes it all the more thrilling,” she says daringly.

Before I can try to argue how terrible of an idea it is, Rix has the whole room buzzing to go. Though we’ll be on a job, he’s brought a light to the dark ongoings with chat about what rides and games they’ll play to enjoy the night after we succeed.

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