“Yes,” I said immediately. “This job, though … it’s going to be a challenge not knowing if she’s safe or not. Where she is. Who she’s with. She can take care of herself and has been long before I came along. I don’t know. Maybe it’s a guy thing.”

“Or a Zeke thing,” Jenn said. “You didn’t choose your career because you enjoy sitting on the sidelines.”

“I’ve told her that.”

“You can make it work if you really want it.”

“I do.”

“Then sleep on it. Get some rest, call her, and tell her what’s going on in that head of yours before you lose her.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Love you,” she said, hanging up.

I undressed down to my boxers, then reached over to switch off the lamp, pulling the covers over me. My head was still pounding, and my chest felt tight. Jenn’s voice had relaxed me a little, but I knew until I smoothed things over with Naomi nothing would feel right.

chapter twenty-seven

sunrise

Naomi

T

rex and I talked until sunrise. The rabbit carcasses were an intimidation tactic by Darby’s abusive ex, and he’d been working overtime to make sure she was safe without her stressing over the knowledge.

“I still think you should tell her,” I said. “These things always come out.”

“I know. I should. She’s so far along,” he said, worry in his voice. “I’ll tell her after she delivers.”

“She won’t think that’s good enough, Trex. I promise.”

“But she’ll understand.”

“Will she?”

“Yes.” He sat in silence for a long time after that, and then we began reminiscing about things that always helped distract us: our old deployments, Kitsch and his mental health, old times… We moved on to the shit coffee we were drinking and whatever else helped keep us awake while we watched over Darby.

I glanced up to Zeke’s window. The lights were out. He was probably sleeping, having no clue I was just below wishing I was up there with him.

“Okay. I’m out.”

Trex and I touched our coffee cups together.

“Thanks, Nomes.”

“Yep.”

I started up the FJ, letting it warm up for less than a minute before pulling out of the parking lot.

Just as I drove into the street, my phone rang.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Is that you pulling out of the parking lot?” Zeke asked, his voice raspy.

“Uh, no?” I lied.

“It’s not your green FJ turning onto the road right this minute?”

“Nope.”

“Come back,” he begged.

“Nope,” I repeated.

“Fine, then I’m coming over.”

“You sound exhausted.”

“I can’t sleep. I need to see you.”

A lump formed in my throat. “Okay, fine. Come over,” I said, hanging up.