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CHAPTER 14

Her little car that she had driven for years and loved so much—her dad had bought it for her when she’d finally graduated high school at nineteen, as a gift for her triumphing over her own demons the way she had—was going to be ok, it was just going to take some time, money, and work to get it road ready again.

Houston’s big green truck that he had so obviously adored wasn’t going to be so lucky. He cursed but when he looked at her, she didn’t think he was that angry.

“You good?” She’d seen him angry before. With an intern they’d fired who’d been stealing equipment out of the storage room to fund a drug habit. And taking things out of people’s lockers and bags.

He’d been caught getting into Brooke’s bag she’d put in her office. Houston had ripped into him, up one side and down the other.

He had a notorious temper around the station—but only when someone seriously deserved it.

But the station was a microcosm, a world unto itself. He could be a totally different man outside the station. She wasn’t stupid. Nor was she reckless.

His eyes were clear. “Yes, I’m good. It’s just a truck. Plenty more out there. We’re alive. My brother and sister are alive. For too long last night I was afraid they weren’t. I’d lose a thousand trucks without flinching now. I know what matters most, honey. It’s not a truck. My kid sister got out of that hell alive. My older brother, too. May I…walk…you somewhere? I’m not about to let you walk anywhere alone in this.”

“I’d like that very?—“

Brooke yelled out when something hard slammed into her back and she went sprawling to the wet pavement just outside the station door.

Houston yelled and then he was jumping over her and facing the threat head on.