Chapter 164
“Hey man, I just landed in California,” Bailey said, giggling into her phone as she waited for her girlfriend.
“Oh, that’s great,” her brother, Logan, replied. “How was the journey? Have you seen Mom?”
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She strained her neck, scanning the airport. Aaliyah shouldn’t be hard to spot, she was supposed to arrive with her parents.
“Not yet,” Bailey replied. “I’m still waiting for Aaliyah. We’re having dinner at her parents‘ house first, then I’ll go see Mom.
“Oh, cool,” Logan said. “When you get there, let me know so Alice and I can talk to her.”
“Alright, man. Talk to you later. Say hi to Alice.”
“Bye,” Logan said, ending the call.
Bailey tucked her phone into the pocket of her baggy pants. She had been at the arrivals terminal for over forty minutes now, waiting to be picked up.
The last time she called Aaliyah, she said she was close and that had been fifteen minutes ago.
Glancing at her wristwatch, Bailey sighed, “You better have a good reason for being late,” she muttered, her eyes darting across the crowd.
She had no idea what car Aaliyah would be driving, so she gave up trying to guess. Just then, her eyes landed on a small flower shop across the road.
A smile spread on her lips as she set her bags against the wall. Nobody would steal her luggage; she was just stepping across the street and she had a Glock. Not that she would use it unless absolutely necessary, but still.
“Hey, how much for this?” she asked the vendor, pointing to a small bouquet of roses.
“Thirty dollars,” the seller smiled.
Perfect. Just exactly what she had left. She took the money from her backpack and handed it over. “Thank you.”
The vendor nodded and packed the bouquet. Moments later, Bailey returned to her spot, flowers in hand, her luggage untouched.
San Francisco.
It felt good to be back home. It wasn’t exactly home, but she and Logan had spent most of their childhood here. After their father died and their mother threw herself into work, accepting the transfer to Colombia just made sense.
Though she flew in now and then–which was how she had met Aaliyah–she had never thought of San Francisco as permanent.
Except now it was different. She would be here for at least three months. Maybe less, if by some miracle she solved the case faster.
Not that she wasn’t happy being back, her mother was here, her girlfriend was here. She was just going to miss Colombia
more.
Her mind drifted to Aaliyah and her stomach churned. Was Aaliyah going to come? How would she react when she met her
parents?
Meeting the parents meant stability, next–level shit. Not that she was scared of commitment; she loved Aaliyah deeply. It was just… a lot.
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Chapter 164
Just as she began to feel uncomfortable standing at the exit, a blue Range Rover pulled up.
“Bai!”
Her body reacted instinctively to Aaliyah’s voice, and when she stepped out, dressed in a hot black gown, Bailey fought the urge to do crazy things to her right there.
Though they had seen each other a few weeks ago when Aaliyah flew to Colombia, Bailey still missed her.
“Hey babe,” she said as Aaliyah approached her. But instead of a hug and a kiss like they always did in Colombia airport, Aaliyah simply smiled and grabbed her luggage.
Bailey frowned, her arms still in mid–air.
“Ready to go?” Aaliyah asked, grinning sheepishly, already walking to the car before Bailey could even answer.
Bailey lowered her raised arms, as the realization hit. Aaliyah still hadn’t told her parents.
“Why didn’t you tell them?” she asked, following behind.
Aaliyah acted like she hadn’t heard her, and Bailey repeated her question when they were both inside the car.
Aaliyah sighed, her eyes fixed on the road. “You know it’s not that easy.”
Bailey clenched her jaw. “But it is. You just tell them.”
Aaliyah said nothing, she just kept driving.
Bailey knew she shouldn’t push, but she was tired of the secrecy. “It’s been a year, Aaliyah. A year of hiding. When I pick you up in Colombia, I kiss you, I don’t hide you. When we hang out there, you’re free to express your love in public.
“But here? You’re different. And I hate it. I begged my chief for this assignment just so I could be close to you. I can’t believe I spent five weeks convincing my bosses, and for what? To come here and be hidden again?”
Aaliyah didn’t respond, but Bailey noticed how her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Bailey sighed, her annoyance dissolving into exhaustion.
“I’m sorry, Bai,” Aaliyah finally said, her voice soft. “I’m working on something big. I promise, I just need time.”
Bailey furrowed her brows. “You’ve been saying that for months. Why did you lie about your parents coming to the airport?”
“I… wanted to give you hope,” Aaliyah admitted, finally meeting Bailey’s gaze. “I know you’re tired of this, but I promise I’ll fix it.” She reached over and squeezed Bailey’s hand. “Please.”
The touch melted softened Bailey’s breath instantly.
“I love you. You know that,” Aaliyah said.
“I know,” Bailey replied. “I love you too.”
Their lips touched briefly before Aaliyah turned her attention back to the road.
“So, have you told your chief you landed?” she asked.
“Not yet. I’ll call when we get to your place.”
Bailey was supposed to travel via the FBI private jet since she was back in California on official duties, but she had managed to convince her chief to let her fly commercial. She had even added that it was a good idea to blend in perfectly for the
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Chapter 164
mission.
To the outside world, she was just a regular girl being picked up by her girlfriend and not an undercover FBI agent.
“We are here,” Aaliyah said in a singsong voice, snapping her out of thoughts.
“Cool.”
When Aaliyah parked the car properly. Bailey got out and grabbed her luggage.
Aaliyah didn’t even bother to help with the luggage, it was as if she was ashamed of her. It hurt that Aaliyah was treating her like a friend, but Bailey didn’t say anything.
As she wheeled both luggage in, one of Aaliyah’s neighbors shouted from across the street.
“Oh, Aaliyah you have a visitor?”
“Yes, just a friend,” Aaliyah said quickly, without looking at Bailey.
Bailey bit her lip, the pain tightening her chest as she unlocked Aaliyah’s door with the code.
She clenched her fists. How wonderful. She knew the code to her girlfriend’s house, yet she was still being hidden.
Before her thoughts could spiral, her phone rang. She reached for it in her bag and picked it up. “Hello Chief.”
“Jones,” Chief Ramsey’s voice was calm. “How was the journey? Landed safely?”
“Yes, Chief,” she replied just as Aaliyah walked in.
“Rest tonight. Tomorrow, you’ll meet with Special Agent Quinn. He’ll fill you in with everything on Mateo Castro. You’ll compare what we have with the Colombia files and get to work.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Alright. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” she said, ending the call.
“Was that work?” Aaliyah asked, moving closer. She wrapped her hands around Bailey and planted kisses on her neck.
As much as it felt good to be touched, Bailey was angry so she stepped away.
“Can I have your car, please? I want to go see my
mom.”
Aaliyah sighed but didn’t argue as she handed the keys. Of course, she knew what she had done.
As Bailey turned to the door, Aaliyah called out, “I’m sorry, Bai. I’ll fix everything soon.”
Bailey wanted to believe her, but she knew words weren’t enough, she needed action.
When she entered the car, she dialed her mother’s number.
*Hey Mom, send me your address.”
“Oh, Bailey, you’re, coming?” Her mom asked, excitement filling her voice.
At least someone was happy to see her. “Yes, Mom.”
“Alright, love. See you soon.”
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Chapter 164
As soon as the call ended, a message popped in. Bailey started Aaliyah’s car and drove to the address
When she reached the premises, a bodyguard stepped outside.
“Hello. Who are you here to see?” The guard asked.
Bailey smiled at him, probably her first genuine smile since arriving in California.
“I’m here to see my mother, Monica Jones.”
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