Page 75 of Built of Illusions

“For what? Being human? Being so good at your job, you created more emotion in one room than I’ve ever seen in my life?”

Her eyes widened and her mouth opened but she didn’t say anything. Nico handed her the water and she straightened enough to drink. “Thanks. That was so unexpected, it nearly knocked me out.”

Nico pulled another chair over and sat facing her. He held out the plate. “Ang feels bad. I think they thought it would be a good surprise.”

“I’ll have to explain it to them.” She tilted her head and studied him. “But I don’t have to explain it to you. You get it.”

He nodded. “I wish they’d told me. Then I could have warned you and given you time to put up some shields. But you were wide open to all the emotion of the setup and then the people came in. Grief and gratitude in equal measure.”

Her smile was soft as she reached for his hand. “That’s exactly it. I just need a few minutes to regroup before the open house.”

“Do you want to be alone? I can go if you need that.”

“No. It’s better with you here.”

After a few minutes of quiet, his phone buzzed and he pulled it out. He chuckled at the message. “It’s Tansy. Apparently she’s here. They’re all here. And they heard you got ambushed by the first group. She doesn’t want to ambush you again. So, she wants you to know they’re here.”

Their arrival didn’t surprise Nico, but it appeared to floor Josie. “They’re here? From Midnight Lake? They came for this?”

His heart ached for her. She’d never had anyone in her corner before. Now she had a whole team and she didn’t quite know what to do about it.

He’d better confess his own surprise. “And on that note, I should tell you I’ve arranged for Mrs. Chaga to be here for a little bit as well.”

Josie’s eyes widened further.

He swore softly. “I should have thought that one through. I’ll do better next time. Do you want me to send them all away?”

“Not a chance. I’m just floored. It’s going to take me some time to adjust to having people around me. People who give a damn.”

Josie popped out of the chair with a huge, genuine smile on her face. She sat on his lap and looped her arms around his neck. Then she pressed a big, smacking kiss to his lips. “Thank you. I can’t believe you even remembered Mrs. Chaga’s name, never mind that you found her and got her here.”

He studied her face but found only happiness. “You’re really okay? I can change things up if you need it.”

“I don’t need you to change anything, but I love that you would if I did. Thank you. Now, let’s take a few minutes for just us before we go back out there.”

She lowered her lips to his and he thought that was the best way ever to spend a few minutes.

Bonus Scene

Joe Cheveyo didn’t know if he’d ever been so affected by the emotions of others. This Sacramento art gallery was practically pulsing with them.

Josie had created something magical here and anyone who walked into the room had to feel it. He wanted to somehow capture the mix of emotions and send them to the bastard rotting in jail. Show him that the families that he’d hurt had managed to find pieces of joy anyway. Pieces of love that would keep them moving forward while he was stuck in a miserable cell for the rest of his life.

Unfortunately there were plenty more assholes in the world ready and willing to take his place and destroy another family.

Joe looked around at his friends and former colleagues. With Nico officially done with the FBI, Joe was the last man working for the agency. He, Nico, and Sam had bonded when they’d been growing up in Nico’s home.

Together, they’d made plans to make sure the prick who’d killed Joe and Tansy’s parents was caught. After that successful mission, they’d set their eyes on becoming FBI agents.

Now his buddies were leading the charge at Midnight Security, where they were teaching people to protect themselves and their clients instead of tracking down the worst of the worst.

Was it time for him to do the same?

He didn’t think he was ready for that. He’d spent years honing his skills and working to get people out of hostage situations. Thankfully, he’d been successful more often than not.

But living in one place surrounded by your family definitely had some advantages. Except they were all cozied up and he’d be the fifth wheel. Well, the eleventh wheel, with the five couples already living there.

Something to think about for the future. Not for now.