Page 24 of Hero Mine

Baby—Bear’s uncle, Lincoln’s father—had lived here before Bear, back when he’d owned the garage. Bear and Baby had a strange sort of connection, both saddled with names they hadn’t chosen.

Uncle Baby’s real name was Blake, but he’d been called Baby his whole life. Bear’s legal name was Thomas, but he had been Bear since he was a kid, tracking animal prints with his brother Derek, both of them convinced every damn one was a bear.

He was halfway up the stairs to his apartment when the prickling sensation hit the back of his neck.

Someone was watching him.

His muscles tensed, instincts kicking in before logic. His fingers curled into fists, his body shifting slightly, ready to drop into the shadows and eliminate the threat.

Then a familiar voice cut through the night.

“Stand down, son.”

Bear exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as he turned. His dad stood a few feet away at the bottom of the stairs, hands in his jacket pockets, posture easy, but his sharp eyes taking in everything.

“Hell, Dad,” Bear muttered, shaking his head. “You trying to get knocked on your ass?”

Finn chuckled, taking a few steps up. “If you had better instincts, you would’ve known it was me before I said anything.”

Bear snorted but didn’t argue. Instead, he did what he always did when his father showed up unannounced, or announced—he hugged him.

Finn clapped a firm hand on his back before pulling away. “I stopped by the Eagle’s Nest, figured I’d find you there, but you’d already left.” A pause. “Paid your tab, by the way.”

Bear huffed a laugh. “You didn’t have to do that. Hudson knows I’m good for it.”

“Maybe.” Finn tipped his head toward the stairs. “You going to invite me in or what?”

Bear sighed, but there was no real irritation behind it.

“C’mon,” he muttered, leading the rest of the way up. “I’ll get you a beer.”

Inside, Bear popped the top off a beer and slid it across the small kitchen counter to his dad. Finn caught it easily, spinning the bottle in his hands before leaning back against the counter, studying Bear with those sharp, assessing eyes that saw too damn much.

“Always hard for me not to think of this place as Baby’s.” Finn looked around. “He was such a confirmed bachelor for so long.”

“Considering he and Aunt Quinn have been married for like three decades, I think he’s given up bachelor status for good.”

“Definitely true.” Finn smiled. “I’m glad you have this place now.”

Bear opened a beer for himself, waiting for his dad to get to his point. Finn Bollinger—despite his charm and easy laugh—wasn’t one to waste words.

“How you doing with how Joy’s doing?” Finn asked.

There it was.

Bear frowned, taking a slow sip of his own beer. “You mean, how’s Joy?”

“No,” Finn said simply. “I meant what I said.”

Bear’s grip tightened around the bottle. “Doesn’t matter how I feel. She’s the one going through it.”

Finn exhaled, his mouth pressing into a grim line. “Your mother was taken by a psychopath once. Held. Tortured. You’ve heard it mentioned, I know, but it’s not something we talk about much with you kids.”

His voice was quiet but firm, threaded with something Bear had never quite understood as a kid.

“Your mom got through it. She healed. She was the strongest person I know. Still is.” Finn’s gaze pinned Bear in place. “But I lost pieces of myself, watching her suffer. Pieces I never got back.”

Bear swallowed hard, his throat tight.