Was there anything better than waking up in the arms of a man you loved? I didn’t think so. At least, I hadn’t found a fuller meaning of love until I opened my eyes and saw him lying sideways, beside me, with a rose between his teeth.

“Good morning,” I grinned.

He removed the stem and tapped the flower to my nose.

“Indeed it is. For you.” He handed me the thorn-less bloom and lowered his mouth to mine for a kiss.

“I have morning breath,” I said, after he pulled away.

“I don’t care.” He kissed me again. “I made breakfast.”

“Ahh, and he cooks too. I think I should play the lottery.”

“Baby, I’m the one who feels like he’s won the lottery.”

“How long does this lovey-dovey stage last? Because it feels weird.”

“Fuck if I know.” He shrugged.

“Swearing doesn’t suit you.”

“So I’ve been told. I’m sorry. Believe it or not, there’s a jar full of five-dollar bills for swearing.”

“What?”

“It’s an agreement I have with my niece, and I can’t cheat either. She’s saving money for a horse.”

“I didn’t know you have a niece. Wish you could have told me.”

“I was too busy pretending to be a priest who fantasized about making love to you.”

Swoon.

I hoped whatever the phase was called, that it lasted a long while, because I was having too good of a time of it. In addition to being smitten and head over heels in love with Cameron, I finally felt a level of safety and comfort. I finally felt Cameron’s love completely, because he knew who I was.

“So, a horse?” I asked.

“She’s Brook’s, and she’s very special.” He smiled with pride.

I couldn’t wait to meet her, and I couldn’t wait to see his family again.

“Do you think your parents would like to see my mother?” I asked.

“I think so. I heard my father mentioning to Brook last night to look for Xavier, your father.”

“Well, I have a case full of papers at work if he needs any help. I’ll be honest with you – after so many years of searching, even I lost hope. He’s been gone so long.”

“What? Don’t ever lose hope. Promise me that.”

“All right. I promise.”

“According to Lola, she may have a lead on him.”

Was it really possible that my father was still alive? Even though he wasn’t my birth father, I couldn’t think of him as otherwise.

“That’s great!”

Cameron’s phone buzzed on the night table, and he twisted to check it. “I have to step out for a while, but wait for me? If all goes well, then we may have a new clue about Cortez too.”

“That’s great.”

I hoped he’d tell me what it was, but when he saw my puppy eyes, he frowned.

“Hey, you’re not being fair. I’m not saying anything until I know for sure. It will give you something to hope for.” He winked. “I also got you a cell phone. I figured you might want to keep in touch with your priest who likes to listen to your confessions.”

“You really want to bring that up right now?” I said, in a playfully warning tone.

“Hey, if it makes you think about me masturbating, then yeah, I do.”

“I never thought of you as an exhibitionist.”

“For your eyes only, baby.”

How was it possible that we got along so well? Last night I could have sworn that it was all over.

He kissed me again, handing me the phone. “I pre-programmed my number, Lola’s, and Brook’s. I didn’t know who else you’d like on here. Well, your mother perhaps, but I don’t know where she is.”

“Thank you. That’s sweet of you. When did you manage to get that?”

“I have people.” He chuckled, and I felt my forehead scrunch into a row of lines.

“All right, if you really must know, this is an old phone I had, and I just went to get a new SIM card downstairs.”

I let go of the frown and smiled. “Thank you. I must say that you having people sounded much more exciting.”

He rolled out of bed and, buck-naked, paced to the closet where he removed what looked like sweats. I couldn’t stop staring at his tight behind. Cameron turned around and came back to the bed. He was still hard, and I wondered how long he’d be gone today.

“My family’s my people. They’re the only ones I trust, Kate, and they’re the only ones you should trust too. Do you understand that?”

“Yeah, I do. I’ll be careful. I promise. So, maybe I can go with you to check out whatever Brook texted you about? You know, just to lend a pair of fresh eyes.”

“How did you know it was Brook?”

“You just told me.”

“Sneaky.”

“I know.”

“God, how much I love you.”

For the fourth time in four minutes, his lowered his lips to mine. It was like he couldn’t get enough of me — not that I minded, because truthfully, my ideal day would be spent bickering with him in my bed. Then we could make up for whatever we bickered about and start the process all over again.

“Nope, I work solo.”

Was he planning to work solo on Aaron Cortez? I wished I could forget that name, and I wished I didn’t have that feeling of worry in my chest. I also knew that Cameron wouldn’t let me join him in searching for Cortez until he was sure we were safe.

“Please be careful,” I said.

“I will. And don’t lose hope,” he repeated. Then he kissed me on my lips again and left. Cameron was ready in under a minute. In true military style, he jumped into a quick shower, got dressed in a pair of sweats, and left with his hair wet. For the first time since meeting him, I wondered about his background and experience as a bounty hunter. I wondered about his past and relationships with other women, and found it odd that he was single.

As soon as I heard the front door close, I dialed the number of the clinic my mom was staying at.

“Hi, Mom. How are you?” I said, heard her sigh a reply, and I continued. “I’m doing well, and I think I found your Jack.”

“Jack?” she asked.

“Yes, I went to Pace, the way you told me to. Father John told me about you. Mom, I have so many questions. I’m back in New York, and I’ll come get you soon.”

“Jack Pace,” she replied.

“I wish you’d told me about the Maddens, Mom. They’re a wonderful family.”

“Jack,” she repeated.

“Yes, Jack is here as well. Both he and Mary have been asking about you. You gave Cameron your kidney. I can’t believe I’ve never heard about this, Mom. Cameron is… Mom, I’m in love.” I couldn’t stop grinning. Though I knew I wouldn’t get a reply from my mother, she’d be happy hearing me happy.

“It won’t be long now, I promise.”

And then she said a new name. I hadn’t heard her mention my little brother in years, and when she called out this time, her voice was filled with raw emotion mixed with shock, happiness, and fear.

“Mikey.”

“Mikey’s gone, Mom. Remember?” Though from what Cameron said, it was possible that my brother was still alive. But there was no point in telling her our suspicions until we confirmed the adoption. It was possible that my brother was somewhere out there, waiting to be found, and I wondered why she mentioned him.

I finished our short conversation with a quick promise to come get her soon, and I wandered around Cameron’s condo. It didn’t take me long to realize that I was useless here, so I checked my watch, grabbed a handful of cash I saw in a jar labeled Don’t swear, promising to pay back every last dollar I spent, and headed out the door. As soon as it automatically locked behind me, I knew there was no turning back. I’d promised Cameron I’d give him two days, and that’s what I’d do, but in the meantime I could at least bring back the box full of papers about my father’s disappearance from work. If Brook and Lola were going to find him, they’d need all the help they could get.

While there, maybe I could have a coffee with a co-worker and catch up on the latest gossip. If there was any word about Cortez or his family, our team would know. That wouldn’t count as breaking a promise, would it? After all, what harm could there be in asking a few questions?

I took a cab to my precinct and twenty minutes later pulled up to what looked like my old workplace with a contemporary addition to the side.

Did we finally get a new lab?

I quickly signed in with Kim at the front.

“Are you coming back early?” she asked.

“Nope, just wanted to catch up. I’m unarmed.”

“Got it.” She flew through a bunch of checkmarks on the sheet. “It’s odd to see you here.”

“Why?

“Well, it’s like you heard your name called out. Mike’s been asking about you. He’s been wanting to get in touch with you for the past week or so.”

Really?

“I’ll make sure to stop by and check with him. Anything else interesting around here? Any news on that warehouse fire earlier in the year?”

“No one was linked to the scene. The case was closed within a week.”

What?

“Oh, that sounds quick, doesn’t it? Didn’t anyone question it?”

“Yup, everyone. But Mike signed off on it, and… the case was closed.”

I felt my stomach rumble. It hasn’t done so in a few months, at least not this way. I forgot how urgent that feeling of insecurity became as it tightened and then released. It was like it was trying to jump right out of my throat to slap me across the face so that I’d clue in on whatever it sensed.

“Thanks, Kim. I’ll check in with Mike, then.” First of course I’d stop by the lunchroom, where I knew I’d find someone gossiping. As tight-lipped as we normally were, behind those lunchroom doors waited information.

“Nice to see you again, Hope.”

My name must have echoed down the hall because Mike stuck his head out his office door.

“Hope? Hey, what are you doing back?”

“Just checking in. I was hoping to grab a cup of our disgusting office coffee because I think I actually miss it.”

“Oh, well, let me be the one to pour you a cup, then.”

He gestured down the hall toward the lunchroom, and I went ahead. Somehow spending time in his office would have felt awkward, and I was happy he opted for a common area.

“You look tanned,” he said from behind me, and for the first time while ever in his presence, I felt chills.

“I took a little vacation.”

“Alone?”

“Nope, with my mom.”

“How is she feeling? Last time we spoke she was having heart trouble.”

“She’s doing well, actually. She’s been taking it easy, you know. That’s why the long vacation.” When I entered the empty lunchroom, I stopped, and Mike lightly bumped into me from behind.

“Sorry.”

“It’s all right. Where is everyone?” I asked.

“They’re probably in the new addition. I should have known the team would appreciate a big screen television set and couple of foosball tables.” Mike reached for the pot and a cup, and I heard the coffee pour. The delicious aroma intensified. I hoped he used the larger paper cup because I needed a good dose of caffeine to deal with everything today.

“Wow, when did this happen?” I asked.

“Just after you went on your leave.”

Otherwise known as a nice distraction in order to quickly close a big case.

He turned around and handed me the largest cup there was. I took a sip of my coffee and let out an internal sigh of pleasure. It tasted a little more bitter than I remembered. Part of me was grateful that he’d closed the case because I was involved and didn’t want to lose my job. Another part couldn’t help but wonder why he’d closed it so quickly, though. That night, I’d started a ball rolling. Once that truck blew up and I was forced to change my plan, the game was on. Except now I felt like I was about to hit a goal post instead of the goal. Something told me that tonight, I was going to lose.

“So what’s new at the office?” I asked.

“As you can see, we’ve been busy with renovations. Crime is down, morale is up. I call that a win.”

If there was one thing that Chief was proud of, it was his statistics. It made me happy for him. He was a good boss and we saw eye to eye on many issues. I wrapped my fingers around the cup of coffee, thinking how the old hot plate under the pot must have been giving up again because it was cooler than usual.

“Sounds like you’re doing a great job,” I said.

“Thanks. It’s not easy when you’re trying to earn fifty million dollars in a short time.”

What?

“It should start kicking in right about now,” he added, his gaze lowering to the cup in my hands.

My stomach contracted with a warning, and I dropped the cup. It spilled on the floor at the same time as my knees gave way, but Mike caught me. He sat me on a chair.

“You’ll find it difficult to speak in a moment. I gave you a sedative. It’s a strong one.”

What the fuck?

Why was everyone so keen on sedating me? I made a mental note to carry my own sedative from now on, if I remembered any of it after today, because my mind was becoming fuzzier every minute. Why would Mike sedate me?

“Now, Kate. You’ve had enough time in Pace. Where’s the money?

Money? Fifty million? It all sounded familiar, but my head hurt. The room faded in and out of focus while spinning. Colors turned black and white and everything in between.

“Myh.. khe? Doh… lsohn? What’s gohing ooo?”

My words were slurred. I could barely say anything. I tried, but my tongue felt numb and I lost sight right after I heard his next words.

“The name is Mike Cortez.”