Page 27 of Wounded Fox
"It's not like it's nothing I haven't seen a thousand times before."
"Owen!" Annalee hissed, and I had to laugh at the smirk on his face.
"How about this," Owen started. "I take you to the appointment and I stand outside the exam room? That way, you can holler if you need me."
That sounded like a fair compromise but what did I know? I was a guy.
"Fine," Annalee huffed, and I let out the breath I didn't even realize I was holding while I waited to see the outcome of this situation.
"Glad that's taken care of. Have either of you seen Maverick?"
"He's at Easton's place with Lyla and Lucien," Annalee quickly told me.
Well, damn. I never thought he wouldn't actually be in the office. The man practically lived here.
"What do you need from him?"
I glanced at my friend. "Valerie just made a good point. These two recent attacks don't line up with what we know about the people behind the data breach."
"We don't know who’s behind the data breach."
I waved Owen off. "You know what I mean. The group we took down on our last op, this isn't their MO."
"Shit, you're right," Owen grumbled. "So, then, who do you think is behind your mother's attack and the almost abduction of Lucien?"
"I don't have the slightest idea," I answered honestly. That was the million-dollar question.
Maverick didn't makeit back that day but I texted him what I thought and he agreed that the incidents were probably not connected with the breach. Which begged the question, who was trying to attack the team and why? It wasn't like we made a ton of enemies when we moved to town. In fact, most people in Willow Creek loved us.
"What's got you thinking so hard?" Valerie sat across from me at the kitchen table while I picked at my chicken parmesan.
"Just trying to figure out who could be after the team."
"Did Maverick have any suggestions?"
I shook my head. "He never showed back up at the office. He was at Easton's place with Lucien as they worked through the sketch of his attempted abductor."
Valerie was also picking at her meal and I felt bad that my solemn demeanor was rubbing off on her. Chicken parmesan was normally her second favorite meal that I made. She should be enjoying it and yet she was mostly pushing it around her plate.
"Hey." I stopped her motion by placing my hand over hers. "It's going to be okay."
She looked up between her lashes and gave me a tight smile. "I know. I'm just worried about who is going to be next."
That had me closing my eyes. I didn't even want to think about who could be next but the possibility was there.
"Hopefully no one," I whispered.
We finished dinner in silence and even cleaned up with minimal talking. I was starting to get worried that Valerie was stuck in her head when she turned to me and surprised the hell out of me with her words.
"Let's forget about it. Just for tonight, let's take something for ourselves." Grabbing my hand, she pulled me up the stairs.
When we got to the top of the landing, I guided her toward my bedroom.
"Are you sure?" I asked once we were standing next to my bed. The last thing I wanted to do was rush her, or for her to make a rash decision.
"I'm sure. This is three decades overdue."
I couldn't agree more.
