Page 16 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)
“The woman’s a walking disaster,” I gritted out.
Gabriel chuckled, a smug smile playing on his lips. “I don’t know. I think someone like her could be good for you. Make you live a little. Plus, she’s damn nice to look at. Smells good, too.”
My teeth ground together, my jaw working back and forth. I knew she smelled good. Like bergamot and rose—scents I shouldn’t have been able to peg—but they’d played in my mind until I finally nailed down what they were.
“Okay, okay.” Gabriel held up his hands in surrender. “Maybe you’re not interested. I might just have to ask her out, then. Take her to The Pop, on a tour of the town. Or maybe a picnic. Really get my swoon on.”
My entire body tensed as blood whooshed in my ears. Images of Ellie filling my mind weren’t anything new, but this time, she was on a picnic blanket with my best friend, gazing into his eyes, laughing as he told her jokes.
A deeper laugh cut into the nightmare, this one coming from across my desk as Gabriel tipped his head back and roared. “Jesus, Trace. You are so screwed.”
My fingers wrapped around the arms of my chair, digging into the padding. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Gabriel wiped tears from under his eyes. “Dude. You looked like you were about to snap me in two.”
“Maybe I’m beginning to reconsider my taste in friends,” I grumbled .
“Naw, you’ve got impeccable taste there. And don’t worry, I’m not going to make a move on your girl. Even if your ass is too stubborn to.”
Your girl.
Why did I like the sound of that so much?
I cleared my throat. “Let’s just focus on the case at hand, okay? We don’t need to add to the Sparrow Falls gossip mill.” One that was apparently working overtime if they were keeping up with how many T-shirts of mine Ellie had in her possession.
Gabriel fought a smile. “Whatever you want, boss.”
“Shut up,” I muttered.
He just laughed again. “No hits on the APB, but I’m thinking we could hit up a few informants. See if they know of anyone who might drive a vehicle like that. The color makes it unique.”
“Good idea. I’m going to make the rounds in town and do the same.” I hated the idea of Ellie looking over her shoulder constantly, worried those assholes might show up again. She’d been through enough lately. She deserved to feel safe.
Gabriel pushed to his feet and headed for the door. “You might want to stop by The Mix Up on your rounds.”
“Why?” I called.
“Heard your girl got herself a job.”
“She’s not my girl,” I growled.
But I couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted that.
It wasn’t like Ellie could cook. Maybe she simply needed the money.
I didn’t know what she’d done back in New York.
Which just told me how little I knew about her.
But I knew Linc well enough to be sure he would’ve offered to help her out for as long as she wanted or needed.
Shoving my chair back, I stood and slid my phone into my pocket. The din of the bullpen greeted me as I stepped out of my office, officers running down leads or taking calls. The only one not working was Will. I tried not to let that annoy me but failed.
The fact that he’d put his name in the hat against Beth for a promotion just amplified that annoyance. It was as if he thought his presence alone was a gift to the station. The moment he saw me leave my office, he stood. “Need backup, Sheriff?”
“Shouldn’t you be working on finding that vehicle like I asked?”
Will’s lip began to curl, but he fought it back. “I got some feelers out. Just waiting to hear back.”
I’d just bet he was. “Then start your patrol. You’re on traffic in thirty anyway.”
His blue eyes flashed with an angry heat. “Whatever.”
He’d never get the promotion. And unless he had a real wake-up call, he wouldn’t last long in this station.
You needed to be a team player here. And that was the last thing Will was.
He wanted glory and excitement. But law enforcement was a hell of a lot of paperwork and tracking down endless leads until you struck gold.
Beth rolled her eyes as I passed, a phone pressed to her ear as she took notes. Beth had what it took. I knew it wasn’t always easy for her, but she handled working in a male-dominated field like a boss. She called assholes on their behavior and never let their BS get her down.
I saluted her as I passed, mouthing, “ Godspeed .” She struggled not to laugh.
Stepping outside, I took a deep breath and let the mountain air move through me.
When I was a kid stuck in that godforsaken cabin miles outside of town that smelled of rotting food and things I hadn’t been able to identify at the time, I would sneak out at night just to breathe.
The cold mountain air had been my only comfort.
The one thing that’d felt like it could wash away everything I was living.
I grabbed hold of that air again and didn’t let go. It was the one constant when my world was spinning out of control. And then a single sentence blew it all to hell.
“Well, if it isn’t the little traitor.”
Hatred and disgust dripped from a voice I hadn’t heard in twenty-four years, not since the day they’d locked him up when I was twelve.
My birth father was only supposed to be inside for eight years, but that had become twenty-eight when he killed a fellow prisoner two years in and attacked a guard.
How he’d managed to get out early was beyond me .
I stared at the man opposite me. He was a stranger and the person I knew best all at the same time. And I knew him best because I’d memorized every mood shift and anger tell. I knew when he would snap even before he did.
But he was smaller than I remembered. When I was a kid, he’d towered over me, this looming evil force. Now, he looked stooped, his skin sallow from all the years he’d spent without a constant source of daylight. It made an angry scar beneath his eye stand out all the more.
“What’s the matter, traitor? No hug for your old man?”
Blood roared in my ears as I let his words land. “What do you want?”
One corner of his mouth kicked up, making the scar deepen. “What? I can’t stop by for a little family reconciliation? See my son at his fancy new job?”
That was the last thing he wanted. What Jasper wanted was to threaten. Intimidate. But I wasn’t twelve anymore, and he didn’t have free rein over me.
“Parole offices are a town over. I’m sure you’ll be needing to check in.” I kept my voice even despite the war of emotions playing out over their battlefield.
Jasper’s eyes narrowed on me. “You’d best watch your tone, boy. Looks to me like you’ve got a lot to lose. Adorable little girl. Hot piece of ass living next door, too. It’d be a shame if anything happened to either of them.”
The lunge was instantaneous. Had someone not reached out and grabbed me from behind, I likely would’ve snapped my father’s neck. I had no doubt.
“Shit, T. It’s what he wants,” Gabriel ground out as he tried to keep me from getting to Jasper.
The man who used to be my father tipped his head back and laughed. “Good to see you, traitor. Can’t wait for our next visit.”
I lunged again, and Gabriel cursed as Jasper strode down the street. Blood roared in my ears as I fought against my best friend. He got up in my face, giving me a hard shove. “Get it together. You want to give that bastard exactly what he wants? You in a cell or worse? ”
My heart hammered against my ribs as I struggled for breath. Gabriel was right. Jasper might be an asshole, but he wasn’t as stupid as he looked at first glance. He’d known exactly what he was doing showing up here today.
“I would’ve killed him,” I rasped.
Sympathy washed over Gabriel’s expression. “You wouldn’t have.”
I ran a hand through my hair, tugging on the ends of the strands. “No. I would’ve.” I could see it clear as day. And it was because, as much as I tried to prove we were different, there were ways we would always be far too similar.
“Trace—”
“I need to go check on Keely.” Saying the words aloud was like a hot poker to the chest. After everything I’d done to keep my daughter safe, I was the one putting her at risk.
“Okay,” Gabriel said softly.
“Can—can you check on Ellie?” My throat strangled the words, but Gabriel understood.
He clapped me on the shoulder, not letting go. “I’ve got your back. Always. No matter what.”
I struggled to swallow, and I sure as hell couldn’t speak, but I managed a nod before stalking off toward my SUV, trying to ignore the truth of whose blood flowed through my veins.