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Sloane frowned “You’re sure the police will drop the charges?”

“Positive” Derek counted off on his fingers “Your father has an alibi for the night The Bird was stolen Johnny Liu has a vendetta against your father and his partners—one he unleashed on all of theainst Xiao Long, e’ll try to establish has a connection with Johnny Liu Trust ainst your father will be dropped Diane and the Bureau are already working on it”

“I owe both you and Diane a huge debt of thanks for ju it resolved so quickly”

“You can thank Diane by buying her lunch As for ratitude”

Sloane sent Parker”

“Oh, one ot to tell you When I talked to Leo, he told ht in the hopes of finding the dossier the Bureau had co that would give him a clue as to where his fiancée was He realized it was a long shot, but he saw the file and acted on iuy”

“Neither can I I’d move heaven and earth to find you”

Derek gave her a deep, slow kiss “You won’t have to I’ anywhere”

“Derek, let’s get married”

Sloane’s proposal came out of the blue Derek was so stunned he nearly fell off the sofa “What did you just say?”

“I said let’s get married Soon Before I reapply to the FBI, and hopefully ao down to Quantico and put in raduate, the Bureau will be more apt to place me in the New York Field Office with you We’ll be married, but there’ll be no conflict of interests You handle Violent Crimes, and I handle White-Collar Crimes Different squads, same Field Office This hen I start my new professional life, my personal life will already be exactly where I want it”

Derek was still staring at her She’d obviously given this a great deal of thought Even so, he had to be convinced she was a hundred percent certain

“You’re sure this is what you want?” he asked bluntly “That you’re ready to e step”

“Unless you’re not ready, or it’s not what you want” Sloane’s tone was teasing, but her gaze was serious as she searched Derek’s face

“Are you crazy?” Derek gripped her shoulders “Say the word, and we’ll get a e license tomorrow” He frowned “If we lived in New York, we could be husband and wife the next day In New Jersey, there’s a three-day waiting period But, okay, we’ll be married this weekend”