Page 98 of Nails
“Everything okay?”Duke asked casually.
“Yeah,” she said, tucking her phone into her back pocket.“That was Russell.After scolding me, he said he would contact the nearest field office to have a team prepared and ready to move in quickly once we have solid evidence.They don’t want anyone slipping through the cracks.”
“Good call,” Joker said.
“We’re ready too,” Bear said.
Riley gave a tight nod, then turned and headed into the kitchen.
Joker looked at Nails and nodded his head in Riley’s direction as if saying,“Get off your ass and go apologize.”
Nails took a deep breath and then stood up.Every muscle in his body was tense with uncertainty.
He followed her into the kitchen, where she was at the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water.Her hair had fallen slightly over her shoulder, and she looked tired, but still so damn strong.
“Hey,” he said softly.
She looked at him, uncertain for half a second.
“You ready to go on that date?”he asked, voice steady.
Her eyes searched his for a long moment before she asked, “Are you sure you still want to go with me?”
And damn if that didn’t hit him like a punch to the gut.
He took a step closer, voice dropping.“Of course I do.I know we need to talk.And we can, on the way.”
Her expression shifted a little.She still looked a bit guarded and still hurt, but her smile was genuine.
“Okay,” she whispered.
They walked back toward the living room together.
“We’ll be back later,” Nails told the team.
Joker, with perfect timing, raised a brow.“Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.Which basically gives you no limits.”
“Try not to start an international incident before curfew,” Aussie added with a laugh.
“Shut up,” Nails muttered, but the slight grin on his face gave him away.
As they stepped outside and the door clicked shut behind them, Nails glanced sideways and said under his breath, “You realize we’re basically the kids and they’re the overprotective parents, right?”
Riley smirked.“That’s great.For not having a father figure most of my life, now I have seven who have boundary issues.”
Nails laughed.“I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them put a tracker on you.”
Riley smirked.“They are too late.I already have one.”
Nails swung his head in her direction.“What?What do you mean?”
She just smiled.“Russell knows about it.Ever since that last undercover assignment in New York, I have always kept an AirTag on me.”
Nails watched as she slipped her hand inside her shirt and pulled out a freaking AirTag.
His eyes widened in surprise.“You keep that on you?”he asked.
She grinned and nodded.“Sure do.I made a small alteration to my bras.I just slip it in there.Unless I’m at home, I always have one on me.”
