Gwen hurried to the conference room where Nico had ensconce himself, Oliver, Randall, and Melinda. Several others divided their time between scurrying to find something, and standing by Oliver. As for Oliver, he stood with his hollow gaze aimed out the window, being reamed by someone she didn’t kn…
Her jaw dropped. It was that Wild witch! And he was stabbing his finger into Oliver’s chest hard enough to rock him, furiously whispering at Oliver like everything was his fault…
The sudden presence of the Wild witch was overwhelmed by the fact that he was verbally attacking Oliver.
“Stop! It’s not Oliver’s fault!” she cried, inserting herself between the two men, scowling up at him. His name was Isaac? “He didn’t do anything wrong!”
Isaac hesitated at her appearance, then he glared at her. “He let that fucker get away!” he snarled.
Gwen shook her head fast, braid whipping behind her. “No! I’ve seen Oliver working this case till he’s exhausted, I’ve seen him go over everything three or four times! He didn’t do anything wrong!”
“My point is made!” he snapped. “He’s got his fucking fingerprints on everything, and therefore everything is getting thrown out, therefore the case has no evidence and will fail!”
Gwen gulped. She hadn’t been there, but she’d heard from Steven, who’d grimly advised her to be ready to help.
Nico’s voice was cool as he gently pulled Oliver, who didn’t look so good, to a chair. “That’s not necessarily true, Isaac. The judge halted the trail to order an investigation, case pending that investigation’s outcome.”
Isaac’s displeasure was clear. “You know how that’ll go! The AG has to be in his pocket, or vice versa. Who’ll do the investigating?”
“The FBI.”
“And who controls the FBI?”
Nico didn’t answer.
Isaac gave a curt nod. “That’s what I thought.”
Phoebe arrived then with a man whose light brown hair was so curly they almost made corkscrews, mid-forties, with a frustrated look on his face, who walked swiftly to Isaac, taking his arm and whispering urgently. The two argued, until the older man dragged Isaac to the side of the room, continuing to whisper, anger and worry on his face, fury and frustration on Isaac’s.
“Thank you, Phoebe,” Nico said, running a hand over his face. He turned to look at Oliver, who was watching Isaac and the other man with guilt and hurt on his face.
Gwen wanted to hug him.
Restrictions kept her rooted in place.
Phoebe had no such trouble, and went to Oliver, wrapping him up.
A warm hand landed on her shoulder and she looked behind her. Jesse was watching Oliver and Phoebe. When he looked down at her, she flinched, went red.
Jesse hesitated, then sighed. “Come with me, Gwen.”
Gut roiling, she followed. In another conference room down the hall, Jesse shut the door so they were alone.
Jesse sighed again, looking sheepish as he met her gaze. “I shouldn’t have done that, Gwen. Even if you weren’t a witch, I’m twelve years older than you. Being a Tumbler once upon a time shouldn’t have anything to do with this.”
Gwen’s jaw dropped. A Tumbler. Oh wow. She could see that, what with his good looks…
Jesse saw her surprise and shifted uncomfortably. “Not while I was married, Gwen. After. And only a few times, because we were short-handed and I was available…and lonely.” He shook his head and looked away. “Not that loneliness is an excuse, or that providing physical relief for them was the same as providing company. You’re my witch, and I hope to adopt you in a few months to a year. We’re just barely getting to know each other, but I’m hopeful. I shouldn’t have kissed you, because it complicates an already complicated relationship.” He hesitated, still staring off in the distance. “When I picked you from the pool, your picture was… I thought you were much younger, even though I knew your age. When I saw you for the first time, saw a young woman, I should’ve…” He stopped abruptly.
What? Sent her back? She had a feeling that was what he’d almost said. Why didn’t he?
Jesse drew a slow breath and turned back to her, met her gaze. “I fucked up when I kissed you, Gwen. And I’m sorry. I promise that it won’t happen again. Can you forgive my lapse in judgment?”
Gwen gulped. Wow. A Handler—her Handler—was apologizing to her! A witch! Oh, wow.
“Of course,” she said hurriedly. “I…I made a mistake!” she blurted. Surprise rocked through her as she slapped her hands over her mouth. Why did I say that? Oh no!
Jesse’s brows drew together, puzzled. “What mistake?”
Gwen lowered her hands. She’d admitted to a mistake.
It was now or never, or until her mistake was revealed. Jesse said he wanted to adopt her. If he found out about it, he wouldn’t adopt her. Unless she was honest. Maybe if she told the truth, he’d forgive her.
The decision was already out of her hands, so she went for it. For all her decision though, her voice was trembling as she spoke. “I told that wild witch who Oliver was. I didn’t mean to! He phrased it so…a-and I said his name…”
Jesse’s mouth tightened, his eyes narrowing. “Tell me everything.”
It spilled out of her in a rush, beginning to end, and she tried hard to use her training to make it emotionless and factual.
When she stuttered to a stop, Jesse’s mind drifted away in thought. She couldn’t read him, couldn’t begin to guess his thoughts or the emotions on his face at all.
Finally Jesse shrugged to himself, a flash of something flit through his eyes, and he faced her. “You didn’t report this in your paperwork of the case.”
She shook her head guiltily.
Jesse’s eyes flashed with anger. “You’re new and inexperienced, Gwen. A mistake is understandable and can be forgiven. Do you understand that in less than five minutes, anyone could Google Oliver’s identity as an agent and a public servant, much less a witch?”
Gwen stared at him. Oh.
“He manipulated you into admitting Oliver’s identity. Like I said, that’s not a huge problem. I’m not worried about that.”
She gulped, wondering what was coming.
“What I can’t decide is whether to discipline you for falsifying an official report.”
The world shifted. Her knees wobbled, her mind seized. The next moment Jesse was holding her up, hands wrapped around her upper arms. She realized she was crying, and then he was holding her close, murmuring softly, one hand rubbing her back in comforting circles. “I’ll discuss it with Nico. Discipline may be necessary. That doesn’t mean I’m going to send you back, Gwen. You’re mine.”
The world steadied. She felt safe again, his warmth and voice washing over her. Among the murmurs she heard, “I can’t do it. I have to do right by you.” And, “you’re so young and impressionable.” And, “I won’t betray your trust, little one. It’s not your fault. None of it is.”
Gwen had no idea what he was talking about, but his warmth and comfort, and the simple words of protection and forgiveness eased her mind and stabilized her life.
When he drew back, doubt and torment echoed in his eyes. He gave her a smile, though, and patted her shoulder. “Let’s get back in there and help. None of this is Oliver’s fault, and he needs support. Oliver doesn’t have many friends, and he seems to like you.”
Gwen nodded eagerly. And then she stopped, looking up at Jesse. “Oh! That unregistered… He’s here!”
Jesse’s eyes flashed with something like…worry? But Gwen barely caught the flash of emotion before it was replaced by determination.
Gwen followed her Handler as he bolted for the large conference room.
Jesse charged into the room. His gaze went straight to the Wild witch, where he still stood with the other man, still angry, but at least calmer now.
“That’s why he was familiar,” he muttered. “We’d just looked full in the face of his grandfather and father.”
“What?”
“Never mind, Gwen.”
He turned and strode over to Nico, who turned from his talk with Oliver, Tracy, and Phoebe. Jesse pitched his voice low enough to keep the words from the man, but they were tense and hard. “Nico. Nico, that man is a Wild witch!”
Nico straightened, gaze steady on Jesse’s. “I know.”
Gwen echoed Jesse’s shocked look. Jesse rattled his head. “You know? Then we need to arrest him. He’s Wild!” Jesse hissed.
Nico shook his head. “I can’t.”
“What? Why?” Jesse was aghast. Gwen looked up into her Handler’s face. At least he seemed aghast.
And then Isaac loomed behind them, face furious, and Gwen wondered if he was going to blast them all with his Fire.