Case File 94

Case File Name:
What Now?

♤Chapter Ninety-Four♤

"It's still missing something," Elena said, eyeing the homemade salsa she made.

I grabbed a spoon, deciding to try it for myself.

And the only thing that felt off about the salsa to me was—

"More salt," I said, reaching for the salt shaker to hand her.

And Elena didn't hesitate to add more salt to the salsa, mixing it up as Pierre entered the kitchen with bags of groceries.

The twins are still at the hospital with Marie who luckily gets discharged later tonight.

And the General Attorney is currently in a meeting with the FBI.

And to keep myself sane, I've decided to have dinner with Elena and Pierre.

While Pierre grabbed a few last-minute groceries, Elena had shown me childhood photos of Tazmin to make the day go by quickly.

Which helped in a way.

But it also made my chest tighten.

I miss her so much.

Her soft brown eyes, the way she always has to be touching me—even her familiar cologne. 

And since it's looking like I'll be spending another night without her by my side, I changed into one of her t-shirts when I briefly stopped by our house.

Which was chillingly quiet. 

I'm honestly kind of dragging out my time here just so I don't have to go home. 

"Okay now try it," Elena said as she handed me a clean spoon.

Which I immediately took from her to try the salsa.

I nodded a few times as I processed all the different flavors, "It's perfect," I said, setting my spoon down to subtly grab a bag of tortilla chips.

"Now I need to try," Pierre determined, sliding his hand into the chip bag I grabbed to scoop some salsa onto a chip. 

And as soon as he took a bite, making the most dramatically fulfilled look ever—Elena laughed, shaking her head at him as she kissed his cheek. 

Which made me smile slightly as I looked between them. 

I hope Tazmin and I can build what they have. 

Minus the psychotic daughter. 

At least if we ever hear from the Attorney General again. 

I mean, what if things didn't go to plan? 

What if they're arguing his points or—

"I'm going to start seasoning the ground beef for the tacos," Pierre suddenly determined as he unpacked the last grocery bag. 

And instead of staying stuck in my own head, I decided to suddenly take a step forward. 

"I can make the rice," I offered, recalling one of Morana's homemade recipes. 

Elena nodded, "That sounds good—we definitely need a dessert too," she said, suddenly walking over to the freshly stocked cabinets. 

"Yeah, maybe cupcakes for Taz's arrival back home tomorrow," Pierre suddenly said. 

Which immediately made my actions halt, my eyes naturally widening as I turned to Pierre. 

Mostly to repeat what he said. 

Even if I know what I heard. 

My heart feels like it's quite literally beating out of my fucking chest at it. 

"He confirmed it?" I whispered, glancing over to Elena who looked just as shocked as me. 

Pierre nodded, his smile widening, "I got the call in the car," he told us. 

Which immediately made a grin spread across my face. 

"She's coming home?" I whispered mostly to myself, glancing between Pierre and Elena, "She's coming home," I repeated in more of a confirmation. 

And before I could think it through, I reached out for Pierre—and pulled him into the biggest hug. 

"Thank you so much," I whispered as Pierre hugged me back, along with Elena who naturally joined in on the hug. 

"We'll always have her back," Pierre assured me. 

"And you're family so we'll always have yours too," Elena added, briefly kissing the top of my head, which made me feel so loved. 

But only in a way I hadn't experienced in years. 

Standing here in a kitchen that smelled so homey with Elena and Pierre holding me in a comforting hug—

I felt just like a child again. 

"How about we make Taz's favorite funfetti cupcakes together?" Elena offered, briefly squeezing us all in the hug before we naturally pulled away. 

I nodded a few times, blinking a few times when annoying tears burned in my eyes. 

"That sounds perfect," I whispered, suddenly grabbing my phone, "I also want to get flowers, some balloons, maybe even a card too." 

Pierre smiled in amusement at me, "You really are the one for her Lena and we seriously couldn't be happier," he told me as Elena began grabbing the mixing bowls. 

"We're beyond happy actually," Elena added as she sat the bowls on the counter, "You should be the one to pick up Taz—maybe get a moment alone and then come here after for a small party?" 

I immediately nodded at the idea, "I would love that so much," I admitted, wanting nothing more than to pick her up. 

"Well you are her wife now so," Pierre joked as he grabbed the freshly packaged ground beef. 

I smiled even wider at his statement, "Yeah, I'm her wife now," I whispered, blinking a few times at how surreal that still felt. 

"Which means you have to know this recipe so you can bake these cupcakes for her all the time," Elena told me, motioning me over as she grabbed two aprons for us. 

And as soon as Pierre got his favorite soft jazz music playing we were all diligently working in the kitchen. 

Like a family. 

Which naturally made my chest grow warm—especially as I imagined the idea of doing this with Tazmin next time. 

We not only made tacos and rice to go with the chips and salsa—but also Tazmin's favorite cupcakes that would await her tomorrow. 

The dinner was perfect, especially the tacos that were seasoned perfectly. 

It was even better when I added some of the homemade salsa with the cheese and sour cream. 

I could finally eat without feeling sick to my stomach. 

And I actually felt tired for once. 

But I knew my sleepiness would disappear as soon as I arrived at our empty house. 

It's fine though, I'll have tomorrow to sleep in Tazmin's arms. 

I really can't fucking wait. 

"That was such a perfect dinner, thank you guys for having me," I told them both as we finished cleaning up the kitchen. 

Elena didn't hesitate to nod, "Of course, you know we actually..." she trailed off, briefly glancing to Pierre, "We were wondering if you just wanted to stay the night here? The guest bedroom is set up and—" 

"I would love to," I cut her short before I could think it through, nearly leaping at the idea of not being at home alone. 

Elena's smile grew, "I'll walk you up then," she determined, opening the fridge to grab a bottle of water that she handed to me, "We already have spare toothbrushes and toothpaste—oh, and also stuff to take a shower if you need it." 

I shook my head a few times, "I already took a shower before I came so I'm all good," I assured her as we walked through the open living area. 

"Night Lena," I heard Pierre call out. 

I briefly glanced over my shoulder, "Good night," I happily said before following Elena upstairs to the guest bedroom. 

Where the bed looked so fluffy with numerous pillows and a thick white blanket. 

It also smelt like warm vanilla and coconut. 

And after Elena showed me around the guest bedroom and the attached bath, she dimmed the lights for me and left me to get ready for bed. 

Which really only consisted of brushing my teeth and washing my face. 

I didn't have all my serums and stuff so I just patted my face dry and called it a night. 

But almost as soon as I stopped by the bed, I immediately noticed the framed picture on the nightstand. 

And I could recognize Tazmin's familiar features anywhere. 

Especially her smile. 

Elena did say she would stay in this room from time to time. 

I let out a content sigh as I slid into the soft bed, deciding to keep the dim lamp on as I rested my head on the pillow—

And stared at the picture of Tazmin. 

She looked maybe five or so? 

It also looked like she was in the midst of playing peek-a-boo considering the cover she had lifted up and the wide grin on her face. 

And I don't know what it was about it... 

But the picture of her looking so happy soothed something inside of me. 

At least enough to finally fall into a calm sleep where I didn't twist and turn. 

♤

The next morning, I was up before the sun could even rise. 

I grabbed flowers and a card to write in—and also balloons to drop off at Elena and Pierre's for later. 

I also might've grabbed a welcome home banner. 

But I couldn't help myself, I just wanted her to know how missed she was. 

By the time I made my way over to the FBI headquarters, the sun had started to rise—giving me the most perfect view ever. 

I had a naturally wide smile on my face too. 

Especially with fresh white roses I cleaned in the sink beforehand and wrapped up perfectly for her with a bow—and then a card that I wrote a long heartfelt note.  

I also wore one of her black blazers with a white dress—wearing my hair down as she liked it. 

I seriously couldn't wait to see her face. 

Or hug her. 

Or kiss her. 

Or just wrap my arms around her and never let her go. 

I swear, not even being able to see her while she was in the FBI's custody was enough to drive me insane. 

But at least she was here instead of in prison. 

Roman assured me during one of my low moments that they had her in a single cell and she was all good. 

"Your name ma'am," the guard sitting in the booth asked me as I slowly halted the G-Wagon at the tall gates. 

"Lena Az—Lena Moretti," I quickly corrected myself, blinking a few times as I quickly processed that my last name had changed. 

The guard immediately nodded, "You're authorized to go through—there's a parking garage to the left that you can park in," she told me, buzzing me in as the gates slowly rolled open. 

And I swear my heart nearly pounded in my fucking chest as I drove past the gates and onto the grounds of the FBI headquarters. 

Just as the guard specified, there was a parking garage to the left that I parked in. 

And I immediately got out of the car with the flowers and card that I sat on the hood—waiting for my wife to finally walk out the doors. 

I swear I nearly counted each second—I also checked to make sure I was on the level Roman had specified. 

Until I naturally glanced up from my phone when one of the doors opened. 

Only to be left disappointed when a random man in a suit walked out. 

At least until I caught a glimpse of her familiar face as she walked out behind him.

She wore her same white pantsuit from two days ago with the matching shiny slip-on loafers. 

Her blonde her was pulled back and her bare face was almost unnaturally glowy for where she had been.  

And I swear the biggest smile nearly lit up on my face, immediately walking over to Tazmin who held the most beautiful smile on her face. 

"My baby," I whispered as I threw my arms around her neck. 

Tazmin immediately slid her arms around my waist where they belonged, picking me up entirely in her arms. 

"I missed you so fucking much," she murmured, pressing repetitive soft kisses to my neck. 

Until I pulled back to kiss her soft lips, wrapping my hands around her neck as she naturally kissed me back. 

"I told you we would figure it out—I fucking told you," I whispered happily, nuzzling back down into her neck as I hugged her tighter. 

"You told me," Tazmin said, not bothering to argue with me as she hugged me even tighter to her body, "I never want to let you go." 

I hummed, "And I never want to let you go," I said, smiling wider against her neck, "We can never separate again." 

Tazmin immediately nodded, "So what I'm hearing is there will be a bring your wife to work day? Because you know I've always wanted to try that out," she said, her tone clearly light and joking. 

"Oh there will one hundred percent be that—I'll even get you a chair to sit beside me at my desk," I said, knowing she wouldn't need her own desk when we could share mine. 

Tazmin laughed against my neck, "That sounds perfect Mil," she murmured as she slowly let me down. 

And as soon as I pulled away from her neck, Tazmin leaned down to kiss my cheek. 

And then my other cheek. 

Also my forehead and the tip of my nose and—

"Tazmin," I laughed, lightly nudging her away. 

Until I naturally grabbed her waist and pulled her back into me. 

"I love you so so much," I whispered, tilting my head back for a kiss. 

That Tazmin didn't hesitate to give me, "I love you so so much too baby," she whispered, gently squeezing my waist.

I smiled happily, "I brought flowers for you and a card—and there's a little surprise at your parents," I told her as we pulled away, interlacing our hands together as we walked over to her G-Wagon that I had been driving. 

"You're so cute baby," Tazmin said as she eyed the flowers and card on the hood of the car. 

I hummed with a growing smile, "Yeah, I was always meant to be a wife," I said, clearly joking with her. 

"No, you were only meant to be my wife," Tazmin quickly corrected me, letting go of my hand to gently pull me into her side—now picking up the card to read. 

My smile grew, "Only yours," I whispered, watching as she read the long note I wrote inside the card. 

Which naturally made my face burn up, especially as Tazmin's smile grew—suddenly glancing over to me and leaning down to kiss my lips. 

"I love you," she whispered so perfectly against my lips. 

I briefly pressed my lips back to hers, "I love you too beautiful," I said as we slowly pulled away from the kiss, "Now you grab the flowers and I'll drive," I instructed her. 

Tazmin nodded firmly with an amused smile, "Yes ma'am Mrs. Moretti," she purposefully said, briefly kissing my lips before I had a chance to pull away from her entirely. 

And soon as we were seated in the car together—after Tazmin had opened the driver-side door for me and helped me in. 

Once she slid into the passenger side beside me, she set the flowers in the backseat and the card in the dash—before later running her hand across my thigh where it rested. 

"Catch me up on the last thirty-six hours," Tazmin said, gently caressing my thigh as she openly eyed the side of my face. 

I briefly pursed my lips as I focused on driving past the opening gates, "Well, I met the attorney general, so that was cool," I whispered, feeling almost hesitant about what I was about to tell her. 

"That's nice baby," Tazmin said, her dark eyes never wavering once away from me, "But you ate and stuff? Did my parents take care of you?" 

I blinked a few times, "Yes...?" I trailed off almost hesitantly, briefly glancing over to meet her dark eyes, "How did you—" 

"My mom told me she would make sure you're good," Tazmin gently cut me short, giving my thigh a gentle squeeze. 

And suddenly I knew what Elena had said to Tazmin in their hug before the FBI walked us off the beach. 

"Well they both took very good care of me—your mom's salsa is so good," I told my wife, doing nothing but bragging about my amazing in-laws. 

Tazmin hummed, "I'm happy to hear that beautiful," she said, gently caressing my thigh as I focused on the road. 

"Yeah and just a few other small things—I got to see more childhood photos of you, we also found Gia at the hospital and she pulled a gun out. Marie got shot but she's good now, and then there were the twins with their crazy eating, I mean—" 

"Hold on-hold on," Tazmin suddenly cut my rant short, clearly noticing what I had tried to sandwich in there. 

"What? Is it the childhood photos? Because I swear you look so cute baby," I said, even if I knew exactly why she cut me short. 

And what she's visibly processing. 

Especially when her hands naturally roamed up my body. 

"But you're good? Gia didn't touch you?" Tazmin instinctively asked, eyeing my body, "I swear if she fucking touched you—" 

"I uh... It was sort of the opposite—at least before she shot Marie," I whispered, awkwardly pursing my lips as I slowly halted the car at the red light. 

"The opposite?" My wife clarified, tilting her head as I met her dark eyes. 

My pursed lips grew into a small smile, "Well, I sort of slammed her hand in a desk drawer, pushed her up against a window, and then I um—I back slapped her so..." I trailed off, carefully eyeing Tazmin's face. 

That slowly but surely grew with amusement. 

"Sounds like my wife," she murmured, gently grabbing my left hand to briefly kiss my ring finger adorned by the large diamond. 

"I would've killed her for you," I said, my tone nothing but serious as I stared precisely into her dark eyes, "I would kill anyone for you," I emphasized as she gently let go of my hand. 

Tazmin's smile grew, "I would kill anyone for you too baby," she whispered, her dark eyes trailing every detail of my face. 

Until I was forced to face forward when the light flickered green. 

"I already know you would Tazmin," I said, gently grabbing her hand that rested back on my thigh, "But I want you to know that I would kill for you," I clarified, gently squeezing her hand. 

"I know that Milena," Tazmin didn't hesitate to assure me, her dark eyes burning into the side of my face so perfectly. 

I suddenly sighed, "You guys seriously need to tell Gia about what really happened with her stillbirth," I told my wife, briefly turning my head to meet her dark eyes. 

"Yeah, I just have to get the sealed hospital records and Dorian so we can—"

"Wait, Dorian?" I cut her short in clarification, my eyes naturally widening as I turned to meet her stare entirely. 

Tazmin gently grabbed my chin and guided my head back forward, "Eyes on the road baby," she reminded me, softly running her hand down from my chin to caress my neck, "Dorian was the father of the baby, but it was a random hook up and he didn't want the child so he... I found out that he was the one who caused the car accident." 

I blinked almost three times in a row, my brows furrowing as I tried to wrap my head around the new information that had come to light. 

What kind of father tries to kill his unborn daughter? 

"By the time I found out, Gia had already forgiven me for the accident and moved past it and I just didn't want to bring her back to that dark place," Tazmin tried to explain, letting out a deep sigh, "But it's obvious that I played this all wrong and—" 

"You didn't play anything wrong, Tazmin," I quickly cut her short in assurance, "Anyone else would be lucky to have a sister like you—Gia is just... I think losing that baby has slowly driven her insane." 

Tazmin nodded a few times, "Yeah, I gathered that when she had me arrested by the FBI," my wife joked with me. 

I jokingly rolled my eyes, "Yeah, well it seems like she had a plan with me all along," I said, suddenly thinking about everything a little harder, "I mean, now that I think about it, she was the one who first told me about Adriana—she also wanted to tell you about that kiss, which sounded like the right thing to do at the time, but I now think she wanted to stir everything up between us by telling you." 

Tazmin hummed, gently squeezing my thigh, "Yeah, I was thinking about everything when I was in that cell—like the brunch she insisted you come to, or how she slowly integrated herself more into your life or our life," she said, letting out a long sigh, "Her intentions seemed normal at the time, but now I see she only wanted to get closer to you on purpose." 

I shook my head a few times, "And the sickest part is Tazmin," I suddenly said, briefly meeting my wife's eyes, "She never liked me as she claimed to when you found out—she just wanted to make you angrier... she wanted to ruin what you had with me," I said, my voice slowly trailing off into a soft whisper as I truly processed Gia's actions. 

Even if I leaned into that kiss first, Gia was the one who insisted I come that night—she got us a shared room and made sure we both drank a lot. 

She even pulled me down onto that bed for the so-called "snow angels". 

And I fell for it all. 

"I feel really stupid for what happened with her Tazmin and I swear—" 

"It's okay baby, really," Tazmin immediately assured me, gently squeezing my thigh, "You were drunk and now it's looking like she instigated it all to happen between you guys in the first place." 

I nodded a few times, "Yeah, we seriously just need to find her and sit her down for an intervention," I said, letting out a deep sigh as I rolled out my suddenly tense shoulders. 

Tazmin hummed, "Knowing her she's probably already fled Mil," she said, which naturally made me feel anxious. 

But at least she was gone. 

For now at least?

"So what now?" I whispered, briefly glancing over to my wife. 

Tazmin tilted her head, "What do you mean?" she asked with an amused smile, "I'm packing our bags and taking you on a honeymoon baby." 

A slow grin spread across my face, "Yeah?" I whispered, feeling my face burn up as I focused purely on the road. 

If I even met a glimpse of her dark eyes, I would one hundred percent blush all over my fucking body. 

"Of course baby—anywhere you want to go, I'll take you," she said, leaning over the console to press a brief kiss to my cheek and then my temple. 

My grin slowly grew shy, "Yeah... well this might be a weird request then," I whispered, flicking on my signal as I merged into the right lane. 

"You and weird don't even belong in the same sentence," Tazmin said, not even giving in to my assumption. 

I jokingly rolled my eyes, "Well, I was just thinking—you know Turks could be fun since we first started dating there and all," I said, feeling my face burn up more at my request. 

Mostly because we could go anywhere and I'm requesting a place we've already been. 

"Turks sounds fucking amazing," Tazmin didn't hesitate to say, "That's a perfect idea baby." 

My smile grew even wider, "Turks it is then," I whispered, briefly glancing over to her dark eyes that never once glanced away from me.