“No, Becca. We’ve been there, done that, and you got hurt,” he said. The fierce protectiveness in his gaze made her love him even more.
“I know, but the last time, we also caught Woodson and got information out of him that saved Charlie’s life. So it worked,” she said. Tension hung so thick in the room you could cut it with a knife. “The alternative is that we cancel the wedding, stay shut up inside the building, and wait it out, right?”
Chen nodded. “We will get him. It’s a matter of when, not if.”
“I believe you,” Becca said. “But when kinda matters a lot right now. The wedding can be rescheduled if we need to, of course, but none of us wants this hanging over our heads. If we can end it tonight, let’s end it.”
“I agree,” Kat said, looking at Nick with sympathy in her eyes.
“So do I,” Beckett said. “We’ll all be there. We’ll all be armed. Nothing’s going to happen to Becca or anyone else.”
“And my team will be there,” Chen said.
“Is this what everyone thinks?” Nick asked, his voice like gravel. He crossed his arms and surveyed the group. Nods and affirmatives all around. “Fuck. Then what’s the plan? Because I want it to be goddamned foolproof.”
For the next hour, the guys strategized. Chen had brought plans for the Italian restaurant where they were scheduled to go, as well as a big map of the surrounding streets and alleys. He’d arranged to have surveillance on the restaurant starting immediately, to make sure no one arrived early and found a place to lay in wait. When they were done, Chen put in calls to his undercover contacts to get the word out. He was apparently confident enough in the way information moved within and between gangs to think that the word would make it to Woodson in time if in fact he was actively looking for her. Worst-case scenario, it didn’t, and he didn’t show. And then they were right back to square one, but no further behind.
After Chen left, Becca turned to Nick, where they were all still gathered in the gym. “I want to be armed tonight.”
“Me too,” Kat said.
Nick and Beckett traded a look, but then Nick nodded. “Everyone who’s comfortable handling a weapon should be armed. I want redundancies on top of redundancies where safety is concerned. And for the record, I fucking hate this.”
Becca wrapped her arms around Nick and laid her head against his chest. “I do, too. But I hate being scared more.”
Nodding, Nick said, “I’ve got a few calls I want to make. But then I’ll be wrapped up here.”
“Okay,” Becca said. “Maybe I’ll go throw together some lunch for everyone.” Staying busy was the best way to keep from going crazy. At least, it had worked for her during the team’s investigation. No reason why it shouldn’t now.
“I’ll help,” Emilie said.
“Me too,” Sara said.
In the end, all four women made their way back to the apartment with Becca, and she appreciated the silent show of support. She really did. They decided on tacos, and everyone got to work chopping veggies and browning the meat. Emilie apparently made a mean spicy Spanish rice, so she took charge of that.
As Becca stood at the stove, the whole thing suddenly crashed over her like a tidal wave. The shooting at the hospital. Knowing everyone would be in danger tonight. The prospect of facing Woodson again—for real this time. “Can you watch this?” Becca asked Emilie, laying down the big spoon with which she’d been stirring the ground beef. “I’ll be right back.”
She rushed down the hallway and ducked into Kat’s sometimes-room rather than her own—the one she shared with Nick. First, because she wanted to be alone in case Nick returned from making his calls. Second, because her wedding gown was in this room, hanging on the outside of the closet door. Luckily, they’d picked up their dresses from the bridal boutique before the lockdown had started, and now it was here waiting for her.
For whenever Nick and Becca were finally able to get married. Because her gut told her it wasn’t going to be tomorrow.
Becca sagged down onto the edge of the mattress, her gaze drinking in the gleaming white satin and the sparkling beadwork at the waist. Her lip quivered and her eyes pricked, but she wasn’t giving in to tears. She was done crying. Now she was just fucking angry.
It doesn’t matter, Becca. The wedding is just one day in a forever that lasts the rest of your life. It’s just one day.
And it was. She knew it. But their love had overcome big obstacles—Nick’s initial belief that her father had betrayed him, sophisticated and numerous enemies, multiple attempts on their lives. What they had was hard-fought and well-earned. They deserved a day of celebration and happily ever afters.
Two soft knocks sounded against the door.
Becca straightened her back, took a deep breath, and said, “Come in.”
“Hey,” Kat said, leaning in the doorway. “Can I join you?”
“It’s your room,” Becca said with a small smile.
Kat shut the door and sat down on the bed next to Becca. “It really is an amazing gown. Nick is going to swallow his tongue when he sees you in it.”
It might’ve been the first time all day Becca smiled. “I am looking forward to seeing him see me in it for the first time.”
Grasping her hand, Kat nailed her with that Rixey stare. “You just have to hang in for a few more hours. This is almost over.”
“I know,” Becca said. “I know. But is it bad that I want to be the one to end this asshole’s life once and for all? I just want to see the consciousness bleed out of his eyes so I can know it’s over for good.”
“Not even a little bad,” Kat said. “You guys deserve a happily ever after.”
Becca chuffed out a humorless laugh. “We all do. But sometimes I’m afraid all we’re going to get is . . . a hard ever after. You know?”
Kat’s gaze was full of determination. “This guy’s going down one way or the other, Becca. And besides, a hard ever after sounds like it could be good to me. I mean, you know, hard can be good.”
That eked a smile out of Becca, and that smile turned into a chuckle. “Yeah, hard can be good.”
“No,” Kat said, grinning now. “Hard is good. Really fucking good.”
It was stupid and childish and ridiculous, but as the hard jokes started flowing out of them, they descended into outright crying giggles and really unattractive snorting that was a helluva better release than tears could ever be.
“Thank you,” Becca finally managed. “I really needed that.”
“Good. Now come on, let’s go eat.” Kat pulled her up from the bed.