About you

Chapter 20

Theo Elliot Garrison II

We were in the middle of a small bust and all I can think of is how she desires my company. She threw a vase at my head out of fear, but I've had worse things done to me. I'm mostly impressed with the arm she has on her.

I was dressed up but undercover. I attended a restaurant with Nellie as if we were on a date. It actually might've been decent if my mind wasn't constantly on Melody. I watch as the ruffians plot to follow the oblivious group of teenage girls. It was risky, but one of the teens were in on our bust. The others were unaware, they simply just attending a study group. Time pass and the girls leave. Three leave in a vehicle safe, while the subject group walks home.

I am reminded of my kiss with Melody. I couldn't help it. She was going on and on and kept calling me by my first name. She didn't even notice, she was just talking. I hated being called Theo. It reminded me of my father, who has disowned me over the most inconvenient situation. It's been years since I've been home, but that's another story. She's the only one who can call me that and I not destroy the room. She makes me love hearing it, love the sound of it roll of her tongue. I recall the moments of our kiss. I allowed my hand to slowly and softly grace her jawline. I watch her eyes, waiting for a reaction. Waiting to see if she would signal that she didn't want it, if she would move away. I pull her in for a kiss. When she kisses me back, I couldn't hold it on anymore. I've yearned for another ever since the night of our first. I easily pick her up and sit her on the nearest counter. She lets her fingers dance in my hair and I fucking love it. It had been a minute since I actually felt something for someone. I realized I was in the middle of something and had to end our kiss. I'll be mad at myself the second I end it. I smile at her, then my mind goes to the joke she was with.

Focus.

Nellie places a hand on mine, gently stroking my arm up and down as she pretends to laugh at something. She stands up and grabs her purse and holds my hand as we walk out of the place. She wraps her long arms around my neck as the men look back in our direction. I swing my arms around her waist and pull her to me.

We need to look like a couple. We have to pull it off or they'll notice.

I smile down at her. I never intended for it to go any farther than this sweet romantic gesture of the fake couple were pretending to me. When the men turn around, my focus is back on them. Yet hers is not, it's strictly on me. She has longing in her eyes and want. As I remove my hands from around her waist and get ready to give the other guys the go. She crashes her lips onto mine. This was not the time or place for us to test out the waters with us. I'll hate myself later for doing this. But I kiss her back.

It was nothing like the kiss shared with Melody. It was blank. No emotions, no excitement, no testosterone bouncing off the walls with her. Nothing. I don't take time to see her reaction to our kiss, but she was happy, satisfied. Like we had completed the bust already.

My men inform us that they have the teens and I let them know we're on it. We follow them to their hideout building and watch as they rush the girls inside.

They give me the signal and we rush into the building. We had men surrounding the building with snipers as needed and all. It was a smaller bust than the others but, what was happening wasn't insignificant at all. As soon as the men constructing the sex trafficking notice us, they draw their weapons. The teens along with the many other women scream and rush to cover. They begin fire as do we. The two snipers we have set up take out majority of the men, as the other 5 I have in the building with me take out the rest. It was about forty enemies to our seven. Some surrender and were arrested, while others would rather die. I realize I was shot, as I notice the hole through my suit.

Always wear a bullet proof vest.

We get the women, who were already taken victims in the basement, to a safe place. Where their injuries and needs can be aided to, they can receive clothing, get them back to where they need to be. As for the other two teens who were uncontrollably crying and unaware. Two other CIAs on the force take them home personally and inform their guardians of what occurred tonight.

The police and investigators arrive and do their duties. I stay and inform them of any needed questions. It was late, but I still had to go back to the office and fill out some paperwork.

I was almost done writing up my last documents when I hear a knock on the door. Nellie was standing there, in the same black dress from tonight, still in heels, but with her hair down now. I give her a soft smile. She invites herself in and sits on my desk beside me.

My eyes have a mind of their own as the trail up her legs, to her dress, then up to eyes. She knew exactly what she was doing, but she was no Melody.

"So do you wanna talk about earlier?" She tucks her hair behind her ear.

"What about it? The kiss? It was strictly business." I look back down at the document and sign my name.

I get up to file it and she stops me. She places a hand on my chest and looks up.

"Elliot, we both know it was more than just a kiss." Her response turns more into a whisper as I can sense her about to go in for another kiss.

"Nellie, you know I don't like mixing my business with pleasure. You're beautiful and very sexy. You have a lot going for yourself. We work well as a team, really good, but I would like to keep it that way. Nothing more." I let her down slowly.

She backs away. "You're gonna miss a perfect opportunity right in front of you." She huffs and shakes her head. "You'll regret it. Night Elliot, good work tonight."

She leaves and I head out behind her going the opposite way. When I get home, I toss the single bullet holed, vest to the side. I jump in the shower and before I know it I'm asleep.

• • •

I just up faster than lightning as I hear police sirens nearby. She wouldn't. Please don't tell me she did.

I peak through the window and see the tables have turned as they arrive at her house. Worry begins to sprout over me.

"What the hell happened?" I say to myself as I open the door and stand out on the porch.

I watch as she comes to the door barely cracking it. She looked terrified. Like she was scared for her life. Her eyes glide past the officers and connects with mine for a split second. The officers go inside her house and I stand there until I know it's okay.

A few minutes pass and I watch a man I've never seen before close the door. That's not the same guy from the bar and I doubt that's her publicist. I head over to make sure everything's alright and to find out why this man is in the house with my love.