CrossFire (Love & Lies #1) by Alex Strong Page A

. Was it just a moment of weakness for Reid? Did he regret it already? As she chewed on the bar that tasted more like cardboard at the moment, she started to wonder how she felt about last night. Maybe it had been a moment of weakness for Jillian as well, but she was sure she didn’t regret it.
    They sat in silence until the lights of the ferry bobbed across the water as it made its approach to the terminal.
    As though reading her thoughts, Reid looked at her and said, “I’m glad last night happened, Jillian.”
    She stared back at him.
    “Just in case you were wondering,” he explained. “Last night was amazing, and right now all I want to do is take you home and do it all over again. But I need to focus on keeping you safe until Casimir is dealt with.”
    “What do you mean?” she asked.
    “Before I came for you, I sent your father to a cabin I own outside of Lake Stevens. You’re going to drop me off in Everett where I can take the train back to Seattle and then I want you to meet him at the cabin and wait until it’s safe.
    “You’re not coming with me?”
    “I can’t,” Reid said, shaking his head. “It might look suspicious if I don’t show up today.”
    “Why would it look suspicious? Were you not supposed to help me?”
    Reid shook his head.
    “I wasn’t important enough for them to go after the bastard,” she said somberly.
    “We’re going after him, but I couldn’t risk you getting hurt in the crossfire.”
    Jillian watched the cars in front of them start to move forward and then they too were preparing to board the ferry. She may not have been important enough for whoever Reid worked for, but she was to him.
    “It’s a couple hours until we’re in Everett,” he told her as they drove onto the ship and a ferry worker directed them to a lane. “With a little luck, they’ll have him by the time I get in.”
    “And what if they don’t?”
    Reid killed the engine and took her hand. “Then at least I know you’re somewhere safe, somewhere he would never think to look for you.” He kissed the hand he was holding. “Now do you want to go upstairs and see if they are serving food yet, or should we stay here and you can take a nap?”
    Jillian looked at the half-eaten bar sitting in her lap. Maybe there was something more appetizing upstairs.
    “Let’s go,” she said.
     
    Reid pulled up to the train station and left the engine running.
    “How long until we can go home?” Jillian asked.
    “If everything goes well, you’ll be sleeping in your own bed by tomorrow. Worst case, a couple of days. I just need to know that you’re safe until we have him in custody.”
    She nodded.
    “And then what happens?” she asked.
    He leaned across the seat and cupped her face. “Then I think I take you on a date that finally ends the way we want.”
    “I’d like that a lot,” she said with a smile.
    They both climbed out and Reid kissed her before letting her slip behind the wheel.
    “I’ll call you as soon as I have word,” he said, handing her his cell phone.
    “Be safe,” she said.
    “I will.” He gave her one last kiss before closing the car door and watched her drive off.
     
    Reid walked into the agency and found Aaron standing at his desk talking to fellow agent Gavin Maxwell, both looking defeated.
    “What’s going on?” asked Reid.
    “We received intel that Casimir was on a boat off Friday Harbor,” said Aaron, not quite meeting Reid’s eye.
    “Really? That’s great,” said Reid, pretending he didn’t already know this.
    “Unfortunately,” said Gavin, “by the time we raided it, he was gone.”
    Reid’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean? Are you telling me he wasn’t on it?”
    Gavin shook his head. “He could still be in the state, or he may have crossed the border into Canada. Relax, Jackson,” he said, putting a hand on Reid’s shoulder, “Casimir was stupid enough to show up in our own backyard. He’ll mess up again, and this time we’ll be