Laughter filled the room as Tex pushed me toward the bed. “Yeah, I know.”

I got into the bed and groaned as the ache settled in further. Tex’s mouth opened before he closed it.

“What?” I asked.

“You missed Pen too?”

I grunted and got comfortable. The fur ball was important to Tex. And I might have missed hearing his bell or even the resounding purr he let out anytime he sat on Tex’s chest. Or when I pet him the way he was supposed to be petted. Tex was much too gentle. Pen enjoyed it when I didn’t hold back, rubbing up against me and looking up at me with those big, soft eyes.

“Go get food.”

Tex’s face lit up. “Oh, you did. I can’t wait to tell him.”

“Just bring him home.” If  Penelope was there, I knew for certain Tex wasn’t going anywhere.

Chapter 31

Enzo was still asleep by the time I stepped out the door. I made sure he was nestled up with Pen, a smile on my lips as I thought about the two of them cuddling. He liked to pretend he only enjoyed Pen’s company so-so. Strange that ever since Chelsea had dropped him off, the two of them had been more cuddled up than I was with Pen.

He loves that orange menace.

I pulled my phone from my chest and stared at the screen. Focus. I needed to get this shit over with. I’d had time to think. Enzo had broken me out of that cold, frozen place. I was ready to move on with my life. For now. I had no idea when it would all come crashing down again. My mind would be flooded with those horrible memories, but I couldn’t stay locked away forever.

My fingers hovered over the screen before I sucked down a deep breath and called my boss. The phone rang a few times before it was picked up.

“Caster? Where the hell are you?”

“I’m fine,” I said, not exactly answering Sergeant White’s question. “I need to—”

“The chief wants to talk to you too. Hold on.”

“Wait, Sarge. Sarge?”

The sounds of the precinct filled the phone, but she clearly wasn’t paying any attention. I sagged against the hallway, pinching the bridge of my nose. Great.

“Okay, Tex, you’re on with both of us.”

“Where the hell are you, Caster?” Chief Hawkins asked. “I understand you saw some horrible shit,” he said solemnly. “Especially with Houghton.”

I tensed up. The whole reason they’d let me off the hook was because of how Rourke had died. I’d told them I was shaken up and hiding from the Vitales. They understood it immediately because who wouldn’t after seeing the wreck that was Rourke’s body?