Page 85 of The Moments You Were Mine

“Now get in the damn shower before I call your team and tell them not to bother showing up.”

That did exactly what I wanted it to do. It brought the defiance back, straightening her back.

“Take your high-handed commands and get the hell out of my bathroom.”

I grinned at her. “I’ll be right outside the door. If you get dizzy in the shower, just holler, and I’ll come get you.”

Fallon’s huff was a twist of exasperation and laughter. “Whatever happened to flip your switch is sort of scary.”

That wiped away my humor, but I kept the smile plastered on my face because I didn’t want her to think of what had happened in the field or send her into a spiral of sadness after I’d achieved a laugh. But she was right. It had been terrifying.

“Go slow so you don’t get dizzy and fall—unless you want me to see you naked before I have a chance to shower you with romance.” She let out another frustrated huff. “And, Fallon, you better get used to it. To me. I’m not going anywhere.”

I shut the door before she could respond. But she was likely thinking the same damn thing I was—exactly how long would I be there before command called me back to base? It was the same question I’d been asking myself about Theo, but with Fallon, it had another layer to it because there was no way I could leaveuntil we’d figured out who was coming after her.

I’d go AWOL before I left her unprotected.

The thoughts of my career going down the drain if I did just that reminded me of something I’d somehow forgotten. I wasn’t alone. I had a team of men who had my back. Screw the cop in San Diego. My teammates would gladly pay a visit to JJ and Ace for me. They’d make sure the losers were still sitting in San Diego, waiting for JJ’s trial. But they’d also find out if one or both of them were behind these stunts.

I yanked my phone from my pocket, opening a group chat. I could count on my team. They’d have my back.

And if this wasn’t JJ or Ace, we’d go down the list of suspects, one by one, until we figured out exactly who’d pulled the trigger today.

Then I’d end them.

Chapter Twenty-three

Fallon

GOOD NEWS

Performed by Shaboozey

TEN YEARS AGO

HER: I can’t sleep.

HIM: It’s been a traumatic day. That’s not a surprise.

HER: Can we take a walk? Down to the waterfall?

HIM: It’s not a good idea to leave the house. Our dads would have our heads.

HER: I need out of these four walls. I need to smell the fresh air and see the stars. I need to believe there’ll be an end to this that doesn’t leave me broken.

HIM: Nothing can break you, Ducky. You’re the strongest human I know.

PRESENT DAY

I stared down at my bodyas the water poured over my shoulders. I pushed on the tightness in my stomach. I’d wanted a baby—at least two. After watching the awe and amazement on Dad’s and Sadie’s faces while they stared at my siblings after they’d been born, I’d ached for that to be mine someday. To feel that same adoration and love for something I created.

And I’d only be lying to myself if I said it wasn’t Parker I’d imagined sitting on the bed next to me after delivering my own.

It had been a childish dream from a lovesick teenager.

One I’d known couldn’t come true. And now, even more so because I was having a baby, but it wasn’t Parker’s. There was no way I could put this on him. Not when he’d never wanted kids and was struggling to balance his life with the one he’d already been entrusted with. No way I’d add to those burdens.

Which meant, when I had this baby, I’d be alone.