Tough Love

Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Four

Eli

Dani's in the shower so I'm using this time to look through the file Greggson sent me. I don't want Dani to see it, in case it upsets her. She didn't want to deal with this case because of what it might have thrown at her, so I have to respect that and keep it away. It's mostly information that we already know; things that Dani told us or snippets of info that we found ourselves. It does say that the bank is a suspected cleaning house for the Russian Mob. The Bratva. That's what they're called. According to the research I've been doing, the Bratva are divided into regions, much like the Italian bosses, except the Bratva aren't really tied by family like the Italians. They have rankings similar to the Army.

As I close the file and slip it back into the envelope, I make a mental note to look into the Bravta further. I need to know what I'm up against here and that means finding out as much as I can about the enemy. I send a quick text to Ash, telling him we need to do some recon before the end of the day tomorrow. We need to use the work database to access the information, so we'll have to do it in the precinct.

Dani has a restless night. Even though she doesn't tell me about the nightmares, I know it has something to do with the breathing on the tape. She seems to be struggling a lot, like she's trying to get away from someone. So when she's distant first thing in the morning, I don't question it and I'm not surprised by it. I have to learn to read the small things if I want to keep her safe and make her more comfortable. I have to learn when her thoughts are consuming her and when they are affecting her everyday life.

Before we step onto our floor at work, I say, “Dani? If you need to talk, I'm here. Ok? Just don't let everything get bottled up because you'll struggle to release it if you do.”

“Yes sir. Sorry, just had a bad night.”

“I know, sweetheart. I just want you to share the burden. I want you to know you don't have to deal with it alone. My mom wants to show you some of her recipes tonight. You ok with that?”

“On my own?”

She's panicked by that thought.

“No, I'll be there. My dad wants to do some training with me. What do you say?”

She thinks for a few seconds and then nods. I shoot her a smile and we head in to start the work day.

Dani

Today has been crazy. I haven't even had a chance to breathe, let alone have a break. In a way it's a good thing, because it doesn't give me time to dwell on dark thoughts or my nightmares. It's almost 3pm when Cain and Ben are at the front of my desk. I jump at the unexpected visitors but manage to calm myself down by pushing my chair back and away from the desk. It's getting easier to calm myself down when the team are around.

Both guys greet me and I return the hello and manage a small smile, which I'm certain looks more like a grimace. I'm looking at one computer screen and holding a sheet of paper in each hand and glancing between all three. I manage to ask, “Is everything ok?”

Ben quickly replies, “Oh yeah, sorry. LT sent us for the training stats.”

Before I can stop myself I question, “LT?”

Cain smiles, “Yeah, that's Eli. The Lieutenant, LT for short.”

“Oh.”

“We kind of don't like calling him Eli on the job and Ramirez gets a bit long sometimes, so we just call him LT for short.”