Page 224 of Sinful Like Us

We all lived there with people we love and take care of—but we can’t go back. Pushing forward is all we have. And I’m snapped to.

Farrow has an arm around his fiancé’s waist. “The batteries were fairly new.”

“Fire alarms malfunction sometimes,” Banks says with the lift of a shoulder. “It’s not that uncommon.”

“Oui.” Jane nods resolutely.

I narrow my eyes on Akara.

His brows are scrunched, looking concerned. “Police are opening an investigation, guys. They’re not ruling out arson.”

It tanks the room like dumbbells hitting the bottom of an ocean.

I scrape my hand over my unshaven jaw, tugging my fucking IV cords. I untangle them. “Any security footage?”

“Damaged.”

Jane frowns. “But it still could potentially be electrical?”

“Yeah,” Akara says. “That’s likely, but we won’t know for sure until the police report.” He looks around. “Any other questions?”

Oscar raises a hand. “Our favorite doctor over here”—he gestures to Farrow, who rolls his eyes—“told me Tony wants back on-duty tomorrow. Is that happening?”

I swallow a rough cough in the back of my throat. Truth is, I ran into Tony earlier. We were waiting for chest X-rays together.

I was quiet.

He was quiet, until he said, “Thanks.” Curt. To the fucking point, and I nodded in reply.

I didn’t need more. Could’ve been fine with less.

Before the fire, he only had three days left as Jane’s bodyguard. Did I know he wanted back tomorrow so he could finish out her detail?

Hell no.

I would’ve said something to him. Likefuck you.

My hand is clamped on my mouth. I’m motionless. Waiting for the gavel to drop.

“I talked to Alpha and Epsilon,” Akara says, voice tight. “And to put thislightly, the leads admire that Tony was willing to risk his life for a client’s pet.”

Half the room restrains groans, the other half are eye-rolling around the world.

I’m glaring.

“It’s not ideal,” Akara agrees.

Oscar swigs coffee. “We’re not wishing the guy seven months in the ICU. We just want to know if he’s coming back tomorrow.”

“If the doctors clear Tony, he’s allowed on-duty.”

Donnelly spins to Farrow. “You clearing him or what?”

His jaw muscle twitches. “If he’s medically fine to work, I have to, and to be honest, that’s probably happening tomorrow.”

Silence entombs the room. We’re breathing dead air.

It’s not just about me. Jane and I can survive three days with Tony. This is about the team, our careers and future. We’re meeting the end of a golden era in security.