Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
There are so many things I want to change in the system, and while I know it’s probably a pipe dream, I’m not going to give up trying.
Even if Trav keeps reminding me I can join Mike Bravo at any time. It’s tempting, but I have work to do inside the DEA, and he understands that.
“Move in,” my new SAC says in our ears. Our comms have nothing on the shit Trav can get his hands on. The earpiece is bulky, and the coiled wire hanging down my neck is anything but covert. Not that I can bring that up with my superiors, though, considering Trav gets his from some weapons developer guy I refuse to ask questions about.
Courtsen takes the lead, and I follow him through the gate and into the side of the run-down single-story home. Courtsen and I take the side of the house while the others close in on the back and front.
We enter through the laundry, which has counters on each side, the one closest to the internal door shaped like an L. Our weapons are drawn, and as we call out to identify ourselves as DEA, we hear the telltale sound of gunshots from the other room.
We’ve barely got our feet in the door.
Courtsen and I duck behind the laundry counter, but the glass door behind us shatters from flying bullets.
I don’t even know which direction they came from.
“Do they realize shooting up a meth lab is a dumb idea?” I ask.
“Clearly not.” Courtsen moves to the corner of the L-shape counter and lifts his head. “I’ll cover you. Do what you need to do to incapacitate them so we don’t explode. Oh, and try not to shoot the equipment.”
I chuckle. “Trav would be pissed if I came home dead today of all days.”
“What’s today?”
“We’re meeting the parents.” I shudder. “We held off as long as we could, but now it’s a free-for-all. His family and my family meeting for the first time. It’s going to be a disaster.”
“In that case, just shoot up the place. Come on, dying is an awesome excuse to get out of that.”
That’s true, but the thing is, even though today is going to be awkward, I want to take this step.
“Okay, I’m going for it,” I say.
I enter the hallway and flatten myself against the wall.
A piece of drywall gets hit with a bullet right next to my head.
Jesus.
I turn the corner and take my shot at any movement I can see. And the minute I do, I gasp and lower my weapon. The man standing next to my boyfriend raises his, aiming it right at me.
“Ah, fuck,” Trav mumbles and kicks the perp’s gun out of his hands. “Don’t kill a cop, dumbass. Do you know what they do to cop killers in prison? You wouldn’t last a day. Not to mention if you miss and hit anything in here, you’ll blow us to kingdom come. The place is surrounded. Give it up.”
“Hands up,” I order. “Both of you.”
They do as I say, and I quickly glance around the rest of the room and the way it’s kitted out to look like a damn science lab.
The boss’s voice echoes in my ear. “We got the perps who ran out the back. Status of the other teams?”
I hit the mic on my vest. “Have two yet to be cuffed, sir.”
“Front is clear,” Krakowski says.
Courtsen comes up behind me. “Get down on the ground. Both of you.” He takes the other guy, mainly because I beeline for Trav.
“Hi, Agent Rogue-riguez,” he taunts.
“You two know each other?” Courtsen asks while he cuffs the other guy. Once he’s securely done that, I holster my gun and slap cuffs on Trav.
“I’m his personal hell. He’s tried to arrest me countless times, but this is the closest he’s gotten in a while.”
Once. I tried to arrest him once.
“Get him out of here.” I nod toward Courtsen’s perp.
Courtsen radios for someone to come get him and hands him off while I stand Trav upright.
“You’re so cute with your badass bossy voice,” Trav says.
I shove him against the table, pinning his hips in place by covering his body with mine. “So this is what you meant when you got out of bed at stupid o’clock this morning to ‘go to work’?”
“Wait …” Courtsen says. “This is the famous Trav?”
“Aww, baby, you do talk about me at work. I feel so validated now.”
“I hate you,” I mutter.
“No, you don’t. Though I will be telling everyone you shot at me. With bullets! I may never love again.” Trav dramatically sniffs.
“Courtsen, this is the love of my life and the biggest pain in my ass.” I turn to Trav. “You did this to get out of our family thing today, didn’t you?”
“Me? I would never. It’s not like I knew you’d be raiding this place today. You didn’t tell me.”