Red Handed (22 page)

A year later, I found myself—at long freaking last—in bed with Ryan. We'd just spent the most amazing hour doing things we'd only been able to dream about for twelve months. I was sweaty, panting, and grinning. I was more satisfied than I'd ever been in my life.

And yeah, he'd been able to give me an orgasm.

“Happy graduation,” he said, snuggling me close.

“That was, without a doubt, the best present. Ever.”

He uttered a warm chuckle. “I'll probably congratulate you a few more times today.”

“I'd be pissed if you didn't. I mean, Mia asked me and the girls to join the New Chicago A.I.R. That deserves another congratulation for sure.”

“Yes, it does.” His fingers traced over my arm, reminding me of the time I'd seen Erik cuddling Cara, and he kissed my temple. “Your mom okay with that? The job, I mean.”

“Yeah.” I'd finally told her about the camp, what I'd learned and what I planned to do with my life. She'd been upset at first, but had slowly come to realize that having a purpose was what kept me clean.

“I've been asked to join A.I.R. every year, but remained at the school instead,” Ryan said. “Maybe I'll finally take them up on the offer.”

“Then
I
can congratulate
you
.”

“God, I hope you do.”

I rolled to my stomach, peering down at his rumpled hair and satisfied expression. “Think Kitten and Bradley are as happy as we are right now?”

“Who knows?” He tweaked my nose. “They've broken up and gotten back together so many times I can't keep up.”

“That's better than Cara and Erik.” They'd broken up for good. Erik had graduated a few months before me, and a few months into his time with A.I.R., he'd been caught with Onadyn, found guilty of selling it, and had been arrested, not to mention kicked off the force.

He'd disappeared before anyone had been able to get answers from him, like who his supplier was and how he'd gotten them on the street undetected. Which was why Mia had asked me to hunt him down.

He was to be my first case.

I knew him, and I knew how dealers and users operated. I was the best choice for this mission, she'd told me. I wouldn't let her down.

I was going to find him using all the skills I'd acquired. We were hunter and prey now, no longer friends. We couldn't be. I'd do my job.
And when I catch him, Ryan can congratulate me again
, I thought with a grin.

Let the games begin.