“We have a good list of suspects and a lot of evidence piling up. If we can get these drugs and money, then it adds to the list of crimes against Cornero. He’s a main operator and the government wants these soldiers locked up for their crimes. They’re using their military abilities to do this shit. They have other retired and active soldiers bringing in guns, ammo, and drugs from out of the country. They’re dealing on our streets and it’s uncovering operations across the United States.
We’re putting the pressure on Cornero. Let’s see what happens. If need be we have people who know some individuals in that town Lois and her sister reside in. We could always contact them and have them bring her in for questioning. We’ve got bigger fish to catch. Those drugs and guns are minimal right now,” the federal agent said to them.
Danny nodded his head in agreement for them to move on to more information they had discovered more recently, including identifying Ganor and Spitz, who somehow had a connection to Cornero and to Caden and Don. The thought was that they were working for Cornero, too, and were heavy operators. They weren’t captured in part of the small raid the feds just did a week ago. They were laying low and Danny wondered why. He also had this feeling in his gut that those missing drugs and guns still had a connection to their operation. The serial numbers on them would confirm they came from the military bases and that Cornero’s operation was bigger than they suspected. If their inside snitches were right, Ganor, Spitz, and Cornero were trying to find that stash for a reason.
“Danny, we just got a call. A homicide at a warehouse by the docks. Two of the dead are wearing dog tags,” Investigator Yorkin told him.
“Let’s move,” Danny said.
* * * *
Evan knocked on the back door of Lois’s cottage. After seeing the kids leave for school and Valentina head over to the farm with Grace, he knew that Lois was alone. He and his brothers thought it was a good idea to see her one at a time so she could handle the initial reaction of them knowing what she’d gone through in New York. He felt anxious to see her and hold her.
She came to the door and she didn’t seem surprised as she wiped her hands on a dish towel.
“Morning, Evan,” she said and unlocked the screen door and let him in. He looked her over. She looked pretty, as usual, and today she wore a pair of shorts and a T-shirt along with that light sweater she was always holding tightly to her body. His gut clenched thinking she was scared to show her body, even, because she felt ashamed about what happened.
“Morning, Lois. You look pretty today. What are you up to?” he asked her.
“Just cleaning up the dishes from breakfast. Want a cup of coffee or some water?” she asked him as he followed her inside.
She stopped by the counter and put the dish towel down and then stood there looking nervous. He couldn’t hold back or try this small talk that he’d promised he would try. He stepped closer, reached up, cupped her cheek, and then placed his other hand on her waist. She was barefoot and looked so feminine and small. He held her gaze and she looked up at him with glossy eyes.
“I missed you.”
“You did?” she whispered, voice cracking.
“Ghost told us about the time you spent together. He told us everything, baby.”
She went to lower her eyes and her head, but he reached up and cupped her face between his hands, making her look at him. She covered his wrists with her hands and her lips parted.
“I’m so sorry that you and Kenny went through that. I want you to know that I care about you, both of you, so much and that I’m here for you, and willing to take my time, so we can be together one day soon.” She just stared at him.
“You’re so special to us. Do you know that? Do you know how much you’ve helped Ghost?” he asked her and she shook her head.
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her softly. When he felt her hands loosen up on his wrists, he lowered his hands and pulled her into his embrace and hugged her tightly. Their lips parted and she wrapped her dainty arms around his midsection and his heart soared with desire and love for her. It was instant, and he knew life was never going to be the same, that he’d found the woman of his dreams and he would do anything for her.
As they pulled back, he gave her a smile.
“Want to sit and talk?” he asked her and she nodded her head. He took her hand and led her to the living room, where they sat side by side on the couch.
“So, do you have any plans for today?”
“I’m just going to ride my bike up to the farm and see if I got any more orders for cookies or if the jelly ones sold.”
“Oh, they sold out real fast. I think my mom was going to call you to see about you making more,” he said and smiled.
“Sold out? Really?” she asked, looking so happy. He reached over and caressed her jaw. Their gazes locked and he drew her in for another kiss. He just couldn’t resist. When she ran her hand along his chest and turned on the couch so she could kiss him back, he felt relieved.
That kiss grew deeper and soon he was lying over her on the couch and staring down into her eyes.
“You okay? Not too much too fast?” She nodded her head and then cupped his cheek and traced his jaw with her finger. He was careful not to place too much weight on her as he held her gaze and let her touch him. Her gentle fingers singed his skin and made his cock harden and his heart race. He stroked his thumb under her shirt against her skin and she gasped but held his gaze and didn’t look away.
“You feel good in my arms, Lois, and underneath me like this. I can protect you and keep you safe. You know that, don’t you?” he asked her.
“Yes. I feel that you can.”
“This doesn’t scare you, for me to be over you like this and touching you?”