It would have been so much fun.
Unfortunately, they had servers watching each table, and the opportunity had not presented itself. Someone was always there, making conversation and stuffing their faces.
Bernie did not want to be remembered hanging around the food and drink areas if people started to get sick, so the idea was abandoned.
Security had been too tight to risk bringing in a gun.
Dominic and the bitch and some other guy had gone off to the library but then the president had arrived and there was only so much ass-licking Bernie could watch without vomiting. Leaving seemed like the smart thing to do. Losing Robin had been a blow. Smashing Sheridan’s windows had eased the sharpness of the anger but slicing that bitch, inch by perfect inch, would go a lot further to evening out the score.
But now wasn’t the time. Instead, it was time to retreat and regroup, leave the area until they dropped their guards again. There was a rush in the thought of that. A sweet, hot rush in the thought of slowly sending Sheridan over the edge into madness to where Bernie lived with only grief as a companion.
Chapter Thirty-One
Ava was surprised that Dominic kissed her in public, in front of his father even, but as usual when he touched her, her knees dissolved and she sank against him.
This didn’t seem like make-believe or temporary. It felt a lot like how she expected love to feel.
Then he stiffened and straightened away from her so fast she almost stumbled. She blinked in confusion and saw the problem. The FBI Director stood with his glare burning a hole right through her.
Shoot.
The director nodded toward Dominic’s father. “Governor. Ms. Fitzgerald.” Then he stepped closer to Ava and Dominic and lowered his voice. “Let’s go somewhere private, shall we?”
Dominic’s expression closed down. He nodded. “Come with me.”
He let go of her hand for what felt like the first time in hours. Of course, he let go. Their boss had seen them snogging in public, and they were both about to get their asses reamed.
Crap. This could look very bad for Dominic as he was her superior, and she knew how important his reputation was to him.
Dominic led them out of the ballroom through a nearby doorway, down a short corridor and then around into a room that was an actual library. There was a big, open fireplace and wingback chairs. Ava could only imagine how magical this looked at Christmastime.
She waited for Dominic to close the door behind their boss.
“I can explain, sir,” she jumped in. “We were pretending to be personally involved so that the UNSUB would not realize we’re onto them. Hoping to draw them out.”
Dominic’s expression flickered as if she’d said the wrong thing. Eyes narrowed. Lips pinched.
“I thought the UNSUB was dead. Killed by you two in a New York State forest yesterday.” The director wore an almost bored expression as if killing people didn’t bear a personal cost for the agents involved.
“We won’t know exactly how many people are mixed up in this plot until we get the DNA back and some other evidentiary data,” Ava explained.
“Pity you killed the only living witness then.”
Ava straightened in shock.
“The man, Robin Elgin, shot at us repeatedly.” Dominic spoke, his voice a low, hard rumble. “He had his weapon aimed at Agent Kanas, and if I hadn’t shot him, he’d have murdered Agent Kanas in cold blood.”
“And I’m sure she’s been very grateful.”
Fury crashed through Ava and stole her breath. “What the hell does that mean?” Her voice vibrated.
Dominic’s eyes widened as if he wanted her to stop talking, but she was done being insulted.
“What does it mean?” The director laughed. “I come to the society event of the year and discover two of my personnel exchanging saliva in a crowded room in front of the Governor of Vermont. The FBI has a reputation to uphold and that doesn’t involve agents making spectacles of themselves.”
Ava knew she was gaping like a fish, but the director had twisted the situation into something tawdry and ugly. It felt as if he’d slapped her.
“I am the one who kissed Agent Kanas. She simply played along in case there is another UNSUB involved in the multiple murders and serious attempts on my life, and if they happened to have eyes inside this event then she wouldn’t give away the fact she’s been assigned to watch my back.”
“She wasn’t guarding your back when I walked in.” The director sounded equally furious. “She was goddamned scratching her nails down it.”
“That is not true.” Dominic defended her.
“Tell me you two haven’t been physically involved.”
Dominic’s eyes were dark with resentment, and his fingers clenched and unclenched, but he didn’t deny it.
Was he regretting getting involved with her now? Of course, he was. His career was everything to him, and she was dragging him down into the gutter with her.
Ava dropped her gaze to the carpet.
“At least you aren’t stupid enough to lie about it further.”
Ava glanced up, anger scalding the back of her eyes.
“You were given another chance after being put on suspension, but you’ve proven repeatedly you’re a hothead who has no place in the Bureau. Worse,” the director raked her with a censorious gaze. “You are a bad influence on others. Give me your credentials and service weapon. I will see to it that your belongings are shipped to the address on file. You will not be allowed back onto FBI property.” His tone was off-hand and derogatory. “SSA Sheridan, report to OPR first thing tomorrow.”
“What?” Ava took a step forward. “I get fired and SSA Sheridan gets reported to OPR? In what universe was that fair?” She saw the answer reflected in the director’s eyes. The wealth, the power of the Sheridan family, versus the blue-collar impotence of hers.
Ava stared at the director as silence reverberated around the room.