Epilogue

 

 

Katie woke up at four o’clock the next morning as she always did, to take Bruce out for his walk. She felt really bad that she’d all but abandoned and ignored him the night before in her quest to make love to Levi and solidify their relationship. But Bruce was such a good dog, so understanding, that she hadn’t even heard him bark or whimper the whole night. Even with all the screaming Levi had her doing.

She blushed as she remembered all of the wicked things he’d done to her body before and after they’d fallen asleep. She lifted his arm from around her and wiggled out from beneath his tight grasp. The entire night Levi had held her tightly in his arms, preventing her from laying too far away from him. Katie had never felt as safe as she had while laying with him, and if she didn’t love her dog as much as she did, there’s nothing that would make her get out of bed and away from that sexy man.

“Where you going?” Levi’s voice was rough and sleep-filled behind her, and Katie turned with a soft smile on her lips. She leaned down and kissed Levi lovingly.

“I’m just going to go and take Bruce outside for a walk. Go back to sleep,” she told him.

Levi shook his head, his blond hair sliding against the pale pink fabric of her pillowcases. “Nope. I told you, you’re mine. We’re together now,” he sat up and pulled her close to him, sinking his fingers into her sleep-tousled hair. He kissed her possessively for a long minute. When he lifted his head after, Katie was dazed and forgot what she’d gotten up to do. As a matter of fact, going back to bed sounded like a great idea.

Levi wagged his finger at her as if he knew her thoughts and shook his head. “Nope. We have to go and take care of young Master Bruce, then you and I can come back and play Batman and Catwoman,” he waggled his eyebrows at her and Katie giggled.

“Weren’t they enemies?” She asked as she copied his movements and got out of bed to get dressed in comfortable clothing.

“They had a complicated relationship. They were in love with each other, but their differing career paths made it hard for them to be together in public, that’s all,” Levi explained.

Katie glanced up from tying her shoes and smiled at him. She finished with her shoes and rose to stand in front of him. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him softly.

“What was that for?” Levi asked with a gentle smile.

Katie shrugged. “I love you.”

Levi nodded as if he understood her behavior entirely. “I love you too.”

Hand-in-hand they walked into Katie’s living room, calling out for Bruce. Katie was starting to grow worried until she heard his paws scratching at the door… to the balcony.

She frowned and walked over to open the door. Bruce was trembling, and Katie wrapped her arms around him. She was so glad she’d gotten the space heaters for her balcony as Kevin had suggested, or who knew what she would have found.

“Bruce? How’d you wind up outside?” she asked the dog, nodding her thanks to Levi when he handed her a blanket. “You didn’t let him out before we left last night, did you?” she questioned her boyfriend… wow, her boyfriend was Levi, and when she saw said boyfriend frowning at her balcony doors, she felt the icy finger of fear trail down her spine.

“No.”

Katie lifted Bruce and walked him over the fireplace, laying him back down in his dog bed. She was just about to turn away when she noticed a framed picture on her mantle that didn’t belong.

Lifting it she frowned at the image. It was of her and Levi. From the Christmas party the night before. Her hand trembled when she saw the small piece of paper protruding from the back. She was distantly aware of Levi walking up behind her, but she ignored him for the moment. Instead, she opened the back of the frame and lifted out the small sheet of paper, noting the photo paper the picture of her and Levi had been printed on. It looked… familiar.

That was something she’d worry about later. Now, she turned her eyes to the letter left for her. In her home. When she wasn’t there. By someone she didn’t know obviously because they’d left Bruce out on the balcony and that was something no one who truly knew her would do.

 

Good evening Counselor (or is it morning when you’re reading this, I wonder? You and the agent seemed to be quite busy when I came by to visit):

 

My associates and I have a proposition for you. And it’s one I do believe you’ll want to think about and carefully consider before making a decision on.

We were quite impressed with the way you handled Gabriella’s case. We have need of your services. You see the FBI is trying to pin a number of bogus charges on me and I need someone on my legal team. Someone in my employ who knows the law and is not afraid of anyone, much less the FBI. And with the way I heard you shouting earlier this evening I know you can… bend… the FBI to your will.

Before you say no, Miss Faulk, I want you to think about how easily I entered your home and left your dog outside. No one who would have reported me, noticed, and those who did see me won’t say a word. Tonight, it was simply an introduction, but the next time we meet it will be for me to receive your answer.

You will determine if it’s the last appointment you ever have.

I will let you know the time and place.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ricky

P.S. If you don’t want anything to happen to your little FBI agent, I suggest you get rid of him. For good. Before I do it… permanently.

 

Fear pulsed through Katie and she covered her mouth. She turned to Levi to break things off with him, for his safety. To break both their hearts. However, Levi was already shaking his head.

“Don’t you even think about it, Katie. I’m not a coward and neither are you. I will protect you and I don’t care who I have to fight, who I have to kill… I’ve waited too long to have you, Katie. There’s no way I’m letting you go.”

As Katie looked into his eyes, she knew he was serious. And by the clenching of his jaw, she knew that the very man she’d wanted for Christmas, was already planning to make New York City run red with the blood of the man who dared to threaten her.

Merry fucking Christmas to me.

 

 

To be continued in Longing, 2: A Memorable Vacation (Levi & Katie)

 

Coming Spring 2019