Moth(73)

I’m halfway out the door when he finally answers. “What about a desk job? I’m looking for a new assistant director. No field work. You’ll still report to me and work alongside your team, but no more traveling. I’d be making the position for you. You deserve it, Moth.”

“Can I have some time to consider it?”

He shoves my badge and weapon back in my direction. “Take as long as you need. There is always a position here for you, Agent Douglas.” He uses my real name. It’s his way of making the offer more professional.

“Thanks, Agent Sully. I’ll be in touch.”

My final decision is made within the next week when I get word that a joint task force has been created to take down all of the pharmaceutical companies affiliated with Alizar’s operation. I don’t take the lead on account of promising to stay by Nina’s side, but work from my office doing everything in my power to see that everything is done right.

The first person taken into custody by the FBI is the man Nina identified as the person who killed my brother. He’s being charged on so many felony counts he’ll never see the light of day. As much as I wish I could end his existence, I know this is better than giving him a quick exit off this earth.

The call to my father is something I’ll probably never forget. I know he was smiling when I told him the news. He might not be my favorite person, but it brings me peace knowing Jamie’s death didn’t go unsolved. We got the guy, and he’ll never hurt another innocent victim again.

It’ll never bring my brother back, albeit justice has been served.

Alizar may have taken something important from me, but it also led my team to finally bring down the cartel. My brother is dead. People are hurt, without jobs even, but at the end of the day the streets are a better place. It has to be enough.





Chapter 24


Six months later


My hands are covering Nina’s eyes as we make our way inside of the home I’ve purchased on the outskirts of Miami. It’s a small waterfront bungalow with a kidney shaped pool centered overlooking a large lake. Off the rear of the home is a two story deck with matching Adirondack chairs to relax in. The master bedroom is located on the first floor, just like she told me she wanted. I’ve waited for what feels like forever to bring her home. She’s had a horrendous road of recovery with rehab, and I’ve done everything in my power to make her transition home an easy one.

There wasn’t much talk about us living together. If I wasn’t sure about the way I felt when we were first thrown into this, I’m positive what I feel now. I’ve spent six months being everything she needed, six months promising she’ll never be alone again.

I took it upon myself to travel to D.C. and get all of her belongings so she’d have her life back when she was finally able to leave.

Bringing her home has my stomach in knots. I open my hands and wait for her to respond when she looks around at the open floor plan of where we’ll be living from now on. Since accepting the desk job, my hours are minimal. The office is close, and if I need to be home I can come and go as I please. I’ve taken two weeks off in order to make sure she’s settled before leaving her home alone. I know she’s doing fine, but a part of me still worries.

It’s weird. I know she’s the same person I fell in love with, but her voice is different due to the damage she incurred, and she seems more fragile. She speaks with a raspy undertone, though it’s quite sexy. I’m still leery about her raising her voice, but the speech therapist says she’s able to do everything she did before, even yell at me when necessary.

When she turns around she’s full of tears. While I have her in an emotional state I get down on one knee and pull the box from my pocket. “Nina, you and I do everything backwards. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I know I love you. I’ve watched you die and come back to life. I’ve been by your side through the worst possible scenarios. All I know is that I can’t be away from you. You stole my heart and I want you to keep it. Say you’ll stay with me. Say you want to start this new journey with me. Tell me we’ll raise a family in this house together. We don’t have to start right now. Consider this a promise. Please make me the happiest man in this world.”

She’s nodding, then finally replies. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you. Now, or whenever you want. I love you, Timothy Douglas. Do you have any idea how happy you’ve made me? I couldn’t have gotten through these past months without you by my side.”

It took me a long time to be able to kiss her again. I was terrified of hurting her. This kiss is powerful, and I remember how long it’s been since we were able to have sex. I’m hungry but cautious as we proceed. When I know I can’t stop I pick her up and carry her into our new bedroom. She’s on the mattress before she’s able to look back and approve. Her arms reach for me to join her, and I don’t waste a single second. There are no obstacles keeping us from being together. I’m in love with Nina and she’s in love with me, Tim. Sure, she still calls me Moth. She can call me anything she wants, as long as her last name changes to mine. “We’ll have to invite the team to the wedding, and my dad.”

“It’s fine,” she says in between kisses.

Some people might say we were fools rushing into this. I’d tell them to shove their opinions up their asses. I didn’t know what I was missing until she came into my life, and then I soon discovered I could never let her go.