Page 34

34

Spencer

I t’s a good thing my body is used to little sleep and that I prefer to drive. I’ve spent half the night watching Miller’s head bob forward. One time, it fell to the right, and he hit the window. He was awake for a little while after that.

“This is nice, Smithy.”

“I thought you could use some fresh air.” We’re sitting in the back of the ambulance, swinging our legs with coffees in hand, looking at the stars over the water.

“Yeah. I’m sorry I’m being a terrible partner tonight. You know nights are hard for me on a normal day when I can sleep between shifts.” He leans his head on my shoulder, and I kiss his forehead. The gesture surprises him, and he lifts back up and looks around. I’m just as surprised as any public display of affection has never made me comfortable.

“I think you’ve broken me.”

He rests his head back on my shoulder. “I think I like you broken, Smithy.”

Pulling into the station after what felt like the longest night ever, I’m ready to go home, shower, and sleep. We only had one call last night, and it was a car fire. Our only purpose was to be there “in case” we were needed, which we weren’t. The lack of activity made the night drag on, but the perk is that there’s nothing to restock or count for the next shift. Miller has the post-shift checklist done by the time we’re backing into the bay.

“Coble, come up here a minute,” Chief Wetli bellows for me from the Eagle’s nest, the open balcony that oversees the entire fire station. The short, broad, and recently balding man waits until he knows he caught my attention and scoops his hand through the air for me to join him.

“Smithy?” Without saying the words, he’s asking if he should join me. I shake my head and climb the stairs. I don’t and haven’t done anything wrong to need backup.

I approach the Chief’s office and knock on the door frame of the open door.

“Come in. I won’t keep you long.” I step inside and stop right in front of his desk. “This was delivered for you here around five a.m. One of the recruits”—he mumbles dumbass under his breath—“was outside running suicides and said a guy dropped this off for you.” He pulls a generic white envelope from his desk with my name in familiar letters handwritten across the front. My mask is already on. It always is in this building. He doesn’t see any change in my expression or demeanor because there isn’t one for him to see.

“Thank you, Chief.”

“Anything I need to worry about, Coble?”

“No, Sir. I’ll be sure to tell you if or when there is.” He’s an intelligent man. He doesn’t believe me on pure suspicion but has no proof or reason to question it.

“Dismissed. Get some sleep. And tell Miller he looks like shit.”

“Will do, Sir.”

As soon as I see Miller’s truck, I let my mask fall. He jumps out of the driver’s seat and charges toward me, stopping a few feet away. We need to have a genuine discussion about our workplace roles, and I appreciate the space he gives me right now.

I put out my empty hand, and he stares at it for a moment before looking back at my face.

“Keys, I’m driving. You’re a walking zombie.”

“You want to drive my…yeah, fuck it.” He hands me the keys and I hand him the envelope.

“No fucking way. Here?” My thoughts exactly. Shane was here. Here. My place of employment. He’s escalating. “What’s in it?” He flips the envelope and realizes it’s still sealed.

“Let’s go. We can open it without the possibility of other eyes when we get home.”

The drive is silent. Mostly because Miller fell asleep before we got down the block, but my mind is also quiet. I don’t know if it’s because there’s so much to think about, my brain has shut down, or because, for the first time in my life, I feel safe.

I’ve always felt safe at home. It’s the place where I can be myself without judgment. My parents always made sure I knew that. But once I walked out the front door, there was an entire world that would judge and criticize me for being different.

My father taught me how to embrace some of my “talents” as he called them. When he realized that I had a photographic memory, he helped me learn to mentally catalog everything I see instead of it sitting in a mess in my head.

When I became obsessed with facial expressions and wanted to learn every micro expression that everyone could make, we worked on what was deemed an appropriate amount of time to look at someone without staring. One of my favorite things to do that summer was go down to the station with him, and he’d let me sit in his office and watch the other officers at their desks. That’s where I believe I got the best training. Police officers are trained to keep their faces neutral. When they knew I was there watching, they would try extra hard and then talk to me afterward to see if I figured them out.

I miss my father. I’ve given him space, too much space, to wallow in his guilt, and it’s time to reconnect.

When I stop at a red light, I pick up my phone and open his contact.

Spencer: Dad, can you meet me in 10 minutes at my house?

Dad: See you soon.

I’m not surprised to see him already waiting outside when we arrive, although I am surprised that my phone didn’t get any motion sensor alerts.

“What’s wrong?” My father approaches me as I step out of Miller’s truck and must see the concern on my face.

“Take ten steps to your left.” Without hesitation, he follows my instructions and I wait for the alert that doesn’t come.

“No wonder.”

“No wonder what, Spencer? What’s going on?” I show him my blank screen, and he stares at it momentarily before putting the pieces together. He helped me install the alarm and cameras out here and knows where they all point. We’re standing in the middle of the driveway and should be seen by at least two different cameras. Neither of which seem to be working properly.

I hear the passenger door close, and a half awake, Miller rounds the front of the truck.

“Why didn’t you wake me, Smit—Oh, hi Eddie.” Miller extends his hand to my dad, and they shake. “What’s wrong?”

“The cameras aren’t working right. It explains how I’ve been plucking pictures off your cars without you knowing.”

“ Fuck . Sorry, Sir.” Miller rubs the back of his neck, and my dad shoos his comment off with a hand wave.

“This situation requires a fuck. Let’s get inside and figure out what’s going on.” I reach in the truck, pick up the new envelope, and hand it to my dad. He takes it with a confused look. “Where’s this from?”

“It was delivered to the firehouse around five a.m. while we were on duty.”

“God dammit. Your work? The fucking bastard.” His opposite hand balls into a fist. I want to take his pain away, knowing he feels in part that some of this is his doing.

“Let’s get some coffee and see what’s inside.”

When I open the door, Gage greets us, letting me know that at least someone in the house is awake.

“Hey, Dream Girl, Daddy Tucker and I were just thinking—Oh! Hi Eddie. Um, sorry about that.” The tips of Lincoln’s ears turn red when he realizes Miller and I aren’t alone.

“What you kids do behind these doors is none of my business. Let’s chat.” He motions toward the kitchen counter, and everyone listens.

There’s already a full pot of coffee, and as I’m pulling down mugs, a warm presence steps up behind me.

“How was your night, Little Miss?” I turn my head over my shoulder and smile up at Tucker’s blue eyes. He bends and brushes a kiss over my lips. “Do you have any regrets about yesterday?”

“None. And our night was quiet and slow. I’m ready for some sleep.”

“How about some chamomile tea instead of caffeine then?” I sigh as his fingers graze my arm, and I lean back into his chest.

“That’s probably a better ide—”

“I’m fucking exhausted!” The front door swings open, and Axel boisterously announces his entrance. “Where’s my girrrrr-hey, Eddie. How are you?” He looks at me and mouths, “Sorry.”

“Listen, boys, this is the last time I’ll address this. You’re all grown adults. I may be an old man, but I ain’t no prude. I’ve never seen Spencer so touchy-feely, so you all must be doing something right.” He peers at Tucker, holding me, and smiles. “Treat my girl right, and we’ll be fine. Speaking of girls, where’s the feisty one?” He looks around for Katy.

“She’s with Justin and Nicole for a few days.” I hope he doesn’t ask any more questions. If she decides not to keep her pregnancy, there’s no reason to ever bring it up with him.

My dad smirks and huffs a laugh. “Can’t say I blame the child with all the hormones in this little house. I don’t know how you’re all managing to fit in here…never mind.” He picks up a mug and extends his arm for me to fill it.

Once everyone has their beverage of choice, we gather around the kitchen counter. My father pulls out the newest envelope, and the guy’s responses are various degrees of anger.

“What’s in it?” Lincoln’s deep voice sounds menacing as he eyes the writing.

“We’re about to find out.” My father slips his finger through the fold, and the tearing sound cuts thick through the tension in the room.

“When was this?” He flashes the picture toward Miller and me.

“What the fuck?!” Miller grabs the picture of us sitting on the back of the ambulance the moment I kissed his forehead. “This was tonight. Fucking hours ago. He was watching us? Is there anything else?”

He pulls out another photo and a note with familiar handwriting on it. The picture shows Miller, Axel, and Tucker outside on the day we found out Katy was pregnant. It must have been when Justin and I were inside talking to her.

“Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Which one of your men should I catch by the toe?”

“How the fuck is he getting near the house? It has security and cameras.” Lincoln’s rage is palpable.

“They aren’t working.”

“They what? How is that possible?” Axel runs a hand through his hair in frustration.

I walk into the living room and grab my laptop off the coffee table. I type in my password for my security app and see that all the cameras are working properly.

“They look fine,” Miller says with disbelief in his voice.

“Wait. Keep watching. The left corner.” Lincoln makes a circle with his fingers, and we all stare and wait. I don’t see anything out of the ordinary, and I’m about to give up when he yells, startling all of us. “There. Did you see it, Detective?”

My father slaps Lincoln on the back. “I sure as shit did, son.” I must have blinked at the exact second of whatever they saw.

“What did I miss?”

“Are you slipping on me, Spencer? You missed the shadow of the bird that flew by? I saw it the first time but didn’t realize it repeated until your man pointed it out. The video is on a loop.”

“I’ll call my guy.” Tucker has a guy? “My security is top-notch at the club. He’ll have this figured out and fixed before you leave for work tonight.” Tucker kisses my forehead and pulls me into his side. “I’ll let you sleep for a while, and I’ll be back around two with Chip.”

“Sleeeeeep.” Axel’s head drops to the counter with a thud, and I can’t agree more with his sentiment. I’m still in my work clothes.

“Alright,” my dad claps his hands, startling some of us. “I’ll let everyone get settled for the day. We’ll start with fixing the security system. Tucker, stop by and get me when you come back later, and I’ll help you out since I helped put the system here in the first place.”

“Sounds great, Sir.”

“Eddie. None of that sir crap.”

Tucker extends his hand. “Alright, Eddie. I’ll see you this afternoon.” They shake, and my father makes his exit.

As soon as the door closes, warm bodies swarm me with gentle caresses.

“You know I’m not fragile, right?”

“You’re a fucking flower, Tails. Some of us missed you. Just let us get some lovin’.”

“Could we have a morning that’s not full of stress?” Miller kisses my temple, and I wholeheartedly agree with his question.

“Tonight is your last night shift for two days, right, Little Miss?”

“Thank fuck,” Miller replies for us.

“Last night was mine. Not to brag or anything.”

“Shut up, Axel.” Lincoln pushes his shoulder.

Somewhere in the room, an alarm goes off. I don’t know whose it is but I’m sure it means it’s time for someone to leave for work.

“Duty calls, Dream Girl. Justin is bringing Katy to school, and I’m bringing her back to his place afterward.” Lincoln pushes the other guys aside and wraps an arm around my waist and the back of my head. He licks his lips then presses our lips together. He doesn’t have to wait for a response as I open for him, and our tongues dance. He deepens the kiss, and I can almost taste his need and the protection he’s trying to convey to me.

“Lincoln.”

“I know, you’ll be fine. I just worry about you anytime you’re out of my sight. Get some sleep.” He kisses the tip of my nose, passes me off to a waiting Tucker, and steps over to Miller.

The ends of his hair are damp as they wisp around his ears. I can smell his all-too-familiar scent of leather, and it comforts me. Tucker sweeps his lips across mine, making me smile. This man makes me feel like I’m home whenever I’m in his arms. I wonder if he makes the others feel the same.

“I’ll be back at two. Will you be alright with Miller and Axel?”

“Yes, I’m a good babysitter.” I look over my shoulder and see the two eyeing me for my comment. They know I’m teasing them. I also know Tucker was asking if I want him to stay as well.

“Be safe, and don’t leave the house alone.”

“I’m a big girl and have been taking care of myself for far longer than any of you have been around.”

“And now you don’t have to, and we want to take care of you. Promise me, Little Miss. At least for today until we get these cameras fixed and in order.” I could argue, but he only wants what’s best for me, and I know that.

“Hey, Dream Girl. Keep Gage on high alert in case he’s tampered with the security system, too.”

“Good idea, brother.”

There’s another round of kisses between everyone coming and going, and as I walk to my bedroom to finally take off my work clothes, I’m cornered against the wall, taking my breath away.