CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

6x16 Coda

Jeremy was dead. Doyle had already taken out one of them. How long before he got to her? Tsia was grieving for her dead fiancé and running for her life.

"I'm sorry," Emily said. "You can't be at his funeral, it's today, isn't it?"

"Well, that's the problem with marrying a member from your own team. One of you is a target, so is the other. I get it." That hit a little too close to home. Marry me. Emily thanked the universe again that JJ was overseas - far, far away from all of this.

"I know what you're thinking. Absolutely not. Your team isn't under oath. They don't have clearance."

"They could help," Emily replied through her teeth.

"It's premature. And reckless. Trust me."

"I don't trust anyone anymore."

It had been almost two hours. She was sitting alone outside trying to sip her coffee. But her stomach was doing backflips. There was that feeling again. The paralyzing gut-dropping feeling. Ian was watching her. She could feel him.

And then she did feel him. He touched her back softly. It made her want to vomit. Lauren Reynolds is dead. Not anymore.

"I knew you were watching me. I've been here for two hours. You should know better than to keep a lady waiting."

"Seems hypocritical - seeing as I had to wait seven years."

He sat down across from her. It felt surreal. This couldn't be happening. This shouldn't be happening.

"Hello, Ian."

"Hello, Lauren. Oh, wait. Lauren Reynolds died in a car accident, didn't she?" He smiled smugly.

"What do you want?"

"You. Not today, don't worry about that. But soon. Tell me, does the lovely Penelope know the truth about you? Or is she too busy watching movies with Derek to care? Here you are, all alone. While Aaron sits at home with his son. And why didn't Dave and Ashley invite you to their game night? Maybe they thought you'd be on the metro with Dr. Reid. Oh, that one does have some quirks."

"Come near my team and I will end you. I was doing my job."

"I think you did a little more than that. You took the only thing that mattered to me. So I'm going to take the only thing that matters to you."

Emily held her breath. Thus far, he hadn't mentioned JJ. Maybe he really didn't know about her. But if Ian was talking about the things that mattered most to her - JJ was at the top of that list.

"Your life," Ian finished, smiling wickedly. Emily let out her breath. She was relieved. Relieved that he wanted to kill her. As long as he didn't touch her team - or JJ. It was at that moment that it hit her - JJ meant more to her than her own life. How could she not?