“I didn’t really know who I was chasing when I started this case. All those hours of investigating left me with the knowledge of all their atrocities and a far better understanding of what kind of people they are.” She ran her hands up and down Abigail’s back. “I know all that now, and I might eventually be able to gather enough evidence to bring them to court.”

“I know that’s what you were working toward.”

“I was, but I have all the evidence I need to know I want to handle it a different way. Your ex and her family are bad people, but they’ll pale in comparison to Cain when her family is threatened. Her sense of justice is harsh and swift, but that’s the way it should be when it’s family. You’re my family now, and you have to understand that makes you her family.”

“I know that she’ll protect us like you will. Like I said, all Nicola and her parents wanted were the kids. This was never about me.” Abigail let out a sharp laugh. “That’s what’s so screwed up about all this. She didn’t want the kids when she was married to me and living in the same house. Now they’re willing to kill me to get them back. It’s a joke.”

“I realize you’re not wild about me working for Cain, but it puts us in the best position for what has to happen. It’s also going to give us a better future in the long run when I’m at home every night. I’m tired of living in all that darkness and skulking around in vans all the time. It’s not a way to raise a family.” She sat Abigail on the bed and stood up to take her shirt off. “I should say every night except tonight, for a little while. Neil and I have a thing.”

“What kind of thing?”

“It’s a fishing expedition,” she said, then recapped what happened with Hannah. “Nicola is someone Cain knows how to bring down, and I have to help her load the weapon it’ll take to do that. I got her into this by asking for her help with the Eaton family, but rogue agents are a different animal. We need to know if this is what someone put in place.”

“Promise you’ll be careful,” Abigail said, lifting her shirt over her head.

“I’ll do that if you promise me something.” She lay down and covered Abigail’s body with hers.

“What?” The question seemed hard to ask as Abigail ran her fingernails up her back.

“That you think about talking to Muriel,” she said, squeezing her hand between them. “Jesus, I love when you get this wet.”

“Concentrate, honey. Talk to Muriel about what?” Abigail sucked in a breath when Fin stroked her fingers over her clit.