by Jen Talty
“I actually totally agree with you. I hated even scolding him. Blaine has been nothing but mean to Davidson—David—ever since we moved here. I’ve tried talking to Blaine’s father, but he doesn’t think his kid could do anything wrong.”
Gunner gripped the bottle, his knuckles turned white. “Are you interested in Wendel Lawrence? Romantically?” He had no claim to Arcadia, and he had no right to be even the slightest bit jealous, but Wendel was a piece of shit. “Have you ever gone out on a date? More than a date? Slept with him?”
She tilted her head toward the sun, exposing the soft underside of her kissable neck. He used to spend hours dribbling her with kisses right under her earlobe. It was where she tasted like sweet coconuts.
“Wendel can be charming, and I went out with him for a drink. I thought maybe it might help with the boys, but that’s not what happened, and I refused his advances. Later, I learned he’s got quite the reputation as a ladies’ man around the PTA water cooler. Besides, I’ve only been divorced for a couple of months. The last thing I want is to jump into dating or a relationship.”
Gunner wanted to know how his son handled the marriage, and the divorce, but one thing at a time, and there were more pressing matters to deal with. “I need you to stay away from Wendel, and I think it’s a good idea if we keep David away from Blaine.”
“That won’t be hard to do for the next week, but after that, they are in the same school, so impossible.”
“We could enroll David in Rolling Hills. It’s a private school and a bit pricey, but I could swing it. Most of my team members who have kids send them there. It’s supposed to be really good.”
“I’m not moving my kid because of a bully.” She leaned forward, clasping her fingers together around the bottle. “David knows everything that Blaine said was total bullshit. The only reason he waited to hit back was because I’ve always told him to never throw the first punch because that’s what got you into so much trouble, even when you did the honorable thing.”
“Blaine’s father isn’t a bully. He’s a bad man. It’s all over the news about the fact the fire at his house wasn’t an accident.”
“He claims his ex-wife did it. I’ve never met her, so I have no idea what kind of person she is, but either way, Wendel makes me skittish.”
“I’ve never met her either, but I know people on the base who know her quite well, and they all say she’s been put through the ringer with Wendel, and they are engaged in a custody battle right now,” Gunner said.
“Divorce can make people crazy.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Gunner said. “But that’s not the case here. I don’t know how much I can tell you, which is why I asked my captain and the investigator on base to stop by.”
“Here? Now?”
“Ace is bringing his wife, kids, and chicken wings. Harper, the investigator, is bringing her husband Brodie, also a team member, their twins, along with some corn on the cob, bread, and dessert. That way it will feel more like a gathering, and Ace’s oldest boy, Alex, is almost eleven. A new friend for David. It will be fun for him, and hopefully Harper and Ace can give us some insight.”
She jumped to her feet, planting her hands on her hips, and glared. “You can’t just invade my home. Call them and tell them there has been a change of plans. I don’t want to entertain anyone, much less play family with your friends.”
“Whoa. Wait a minute.” He ran a hand across the top of his head. “I’m not asking you to play anything. I thought it would be nice for David to meet some new friends and you as well.”
“I don’t need new friends,” she mumbled.
“Okay.” He held his hands in the air as if he’d waved the white flag. “But that doesn’t change the fact that something is going on with Wendel, and I wanted to get more information, for both of us.”
“And that couldn’t have been done over the phone? Jesus, Gunner. You know I hate it when people make plans for me. Besides, it’s way too soon for us to be hanging out with other families. All of this is going to take time. We all need to adjust, and there will be bumps along the way. We can’t just leap into the deep end. Call them and tell them not to come.” She held up her phone. “Or David and I are leaving.”
“Oh no, you don’t.” He waved his finger. “I’m the only one in the deep end, and you’re the one who shoved me there. And frankly, I’m drowning. You and our son, on the other hand, have been living in a world where I was lost and needed to be found. He knew all about me and my life. How you and I met. What my favorite color is. He’s been listening to stories about his father. I’ve had jack shit. Until today.”
“And that’s your fault, not mine,” she said with rage dripping from each syllable like a rabid dog.
“Not the point,” he managed behind a clenched jaw. “And the issue here isn’t you, me, or David. The issue is there is an open investigation regarding Wendel, and I’m trying to keep you safe and informed while at the same time trying not to scare the shit out of our son. Besides, he wanted to meet some of the men I work with and I wanted to…to…” He rubbed his temples. “I wanted to show him off. I didn’t know I could love someone so much or be so proud, and it happened in less than a day.”
She opened her mouth but slammed it shut when a Suburban rolled to a stop in her driveway. A young boy with dark hair jumped out of the rear-driver side door. “Hey, Gunner.” The boy waved wildly. “Dad says there’s actually someone here my age to hang out with, so I don’t have to deal with my little brother and sister all night by myself.”
“Sure is. His name is Davidson.”
“It’s actually David,” Gunner corrected.
“I’ll be inside,” Arcadia said as she jogged up the stairs. She didn’t say hello to anyone, much less let him introduce her. She could be pissed off all she wanted. He wasn’t about to regret taking care of her.
And his son.
Kelly, Ace’s youngest, only three years old, stumbled as her older brother set her feet on the ground. “Gunner,” she yelled as she flapped her arms wildly at her sides. He’d only met Ace’s kids a couple of times, since he avoided his friends’ families as if they had the black plague.
Gunner lowered to one knee, his hands outstretched. The little girl had stolen his heart the first time she squished his face with her pudgy little hands and gave him a big kiss and told him to ‘lighten up.’ He’d never laughed so hard in his life, but the toddler had a point. “You look so pretty.” He scooped her up, giving her a big kiss on the cheek.
“Come on,” Lexi, Ace’s wife, took the little girl onto her hip, balancing a big bag of chicken wings from the local pizza shop. “Let’s go find Gunner’s friend and her son.”
“Charlie, get out of the bushes,” Ace yelled. “Go with Mom.”
“Okay, Daddy. But there are all sorts of neat bugs, and I want to collect some.”
“We don’t collect other people’s bugs; now scoot.” Ace slapped Gunner on the back, giving him a manly hug. “How are you holding up?”
“About the only thing keeping me from going crazy is the fact that my son is the most amazing human I’ve ever met, but then I realize I had nothing to do with how he’s turned out so far, and I go back to wanting to take my fist and put it through a tree. Or better yet, Wendel Lawrence’s face.” He leaned against the railing on the porch, staring out over the front yard. Brodie and Harper should only be about ten minutes out, based on their last text.
“You did a number on his gut.”
“I barely hit him,” Gunner said. “What do you know?”
“When Harper came to me with her investigation, I turned over all the evidence to the arson case. That pissed Wendel off because he’s been asking for his possessions to be returned.”
“What did the arson team collect?”
“Anything that was salvageable in that room went to the CSI team along with a few charred items.” Ace pointed down the street. “Harper thinks they are connected to the rapes and murders.”
Brodie’s SUV slowed to a stop in front of Arcadia’s house. Brodie worked with Ace on the arson team, something Gunner thought about training for, but that meant he’d be committing to staying with the team for as long as Ace would have him.
Harper stepped from the passenger side, her growing belly gaining in size every day.
A second set of twins.
Gunner couldn’t imagine doing two at once.
Brodie set one of his three-year-old twins on the ground while Harper handed him a screaming child. “Where are the other kids?” Brodie asked.
“Probably the backyard. Just go through the house.” Gunner held open the door.
“Can I pawn these two off on Lexi?” Brodie asked. “I want to be part of this conversation.”
“Aww, my honey has FOMO.” Harper raised up on her toes and kissed Brodie’s cheek. “Don’t worry, babe; what I tell them, you already know.”
“Why don’t we move this to the backyard,” Gunner said as he gave Ace a slap on the back. “I want Arcadia part of the conversation since this concerns her too.”
“Gunner.” Harper grabbed his biceps. “I can’t tell her certain things. Not only is she a civilian, but this case is about to get real hot.”
Gunner ran a hand over his growing beard. He shouldn’t let it grow like this because he was just going to have to shave it off the second his forced vacation was over. “Break it down for me.”
“All right.” Harper sat in the rocking chair and rubbed her belly. “But I can’t give out the details of the investigation. Not even to you.”
“Why can’t you just haul his ass in?” Gunner asked.
“I wish it were that simple, but if we want these charges to stick, then we need to do this right, and that means being patient.”
“Easy for you to say,” Gunner said, dropping his hands to his sides. “My son goes to school with—”
Harper held up her hand. “I know you punched him on the school grounds.”
“How do you know that?” Gunner asked, but he suspected Wendel might have filed a report on the incident.
“It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I’m finally getting some solid evidence I can use to arrest that asshole, but he’s a slippery motherfucker.”
“Does Arcadia fit your victimology?” Gunner asked, catching Harper’s gaze. “She’s thirty, with long, dark hair—”
“She doesn’t live on the base,” Ace said with his hand on Gunner’s shoulder. “She’s safe.”
“There have been other rapes off-base that could fit the profile.” Gunner knew that Harper had looked into a few cases in other counties, but she’d been tight-lipped about most of it.
“Every woman on the base was married with a husband deployed at the time,” Harper said. “That’s not the same for the cases I’ve seen off-base. Including those who were military. I’m sure you’ve got nothing to worry about.” Harper’s voice lacked any of the conviction she usually spoke with.
“I haven’t shown this to Arcadia yet, but I think I have a lot to worry about.” He snagged his phone from his back pocket and pulled up the email that he’d gotten less than a half hour ago. “I take it as a threat.”
Ace held the phone in his hand before handing it to Harper.
“I hate this asshole,” Harper said, handing the cell back.
“Please tell me what I’m up against,” Gunner said.
“You can’t tell Arcadia.” Harper raised her brow. “I mean it.”
“I won’t tell her the specifics.”
“A necklace that Ace found in the fire might have belonged to the first victim,” Harper said.
“A trophy?” Gunner didn’t have to be an investigator to know that many serial killers kept something to remember their victims.
Sick bastard.
“It could be,” Harper nodded. “But it’s a common necklace. I even have one, so without DNA, I’ve got nothing.” She raised her hand before Gunner could even open his mouth. “The necklace, and other items, are being tested as we speak, but this stuff sometimes takes time.”
“I’ve got a kid who punched that man’s son and a…a…” What the hell did he call Arcadia?
“It’s the weekend, so no school to worry about. This team is off for an entire week, so we’ll make sure eyes are on Arcadia and your son the entire time.”
“I’m going to put that jerk-off behind bars; you can count on that.” Harper stood just as Brodie returned to the front porch.
“What did I miss?” Brodie asked as he handed his wife a water bottle and beers for everyone else.
Gunner laughed. “Everything.”
“Story of my life since having kids.” Brodie held up his longneck. “To family.”
“To family,” Gunner repeated. The new words tattooed on his back burned his skin and scorched his heart.
He had a family.
Chapter 6
“Mom! Please! I promise to be good.”
Arcadia shot a nasty look in the direction of Gunner, who sat at her island in the middle of her kitchen. He’d all but said it would be fine. He had no right to make that kind of decision without discussing it with her.
In private.
Not in front of a room full of children jumping up and down, begging her to let David spend the night at Ace’s house.
A man she’d just met. It didn’t matter that his wife, Lexi, was about the nicest woman Arcadia had ever met. It didn’t matter that Arcadia wanted to get to know Lexi. That she could see them being fast friends.
And their kids? Wow.
Brodie and Harper were also about the kindest people ever. Their twins, while a handful, were as sweet as sugar.
But that didn’t change how she felt undermined by Gunner who had zero experience being a father. To his credit, he asked everyone to give them a minute to discuss the situation. Now it was time to have David leave the room.
“Let me talk to your father. Why don’t you go outside and play with Alex?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She kissed the top of her son’s head and watched as he scuffed his feet across the wood floor, his head hung low. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“Excuse me?” Gunner held his beer halfway between the counter and his lips. “Do what?”
“You told him he could go without talking with me first and this after you bulldoze me into entertaining your friends. I don’t like being manipulated like that.”
“I’ll apologize for not consulting you before inviting my friends over, but you’re being delusional because all I told our son was that before any decisions were made about a sleepover, he needed to discuss it with you, but if you need one more reason to continue to hate me, be my guest.” He tilted the glass bottle. “For the record, I was all for him spending the night at my boss’s house. I thought it might give you and me a chance to talk alone. But now, I don’t want to be in the same room with you. So tell him whatever you want, and I will one hundred percent back you up.” He pushed his chair back from the counter. “I’ll be outside with my friends. Shall I send David in?”
“Yes, thank you.” She snagged her wine glass and took a big gulp of courage. She had two choices. Say yes and be the hero. Say no and be the mean mom.
Oh, who the hell was she kidding.
Neither of those things were true. Besides, her only reason for saying no would be to piss off Gunner. What good did that do her son?
“Hey, Mom. Dad says you have a decision for me.”
She patted the stool at the island. “How do you feel about having met your father after all these years?”
“Truth?” David responded with the family standard question. She’d raised him to be honest, but she also understood that there would be times in his life that he’d rather keep his thoughts and feelings to himself, so he had the option to occasionally keep his mouth shut.
“Always,” she said.
“I love it, but I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“I�
��m glad you love it.” She reached across the counter and held her son’s hand. “It’s harder for him because he didn’t know about you, and I want you to know he would have been here all along had we found him earlier.”
“He’s told me that at least five times in the last hour.”
“Have I told you how proud I am of you lately?” she asked.
David nodded.
“You’re making Gunner feel loved, and that’s the best feeling a father could have.”
“Don’t you still love him, Mom?”
Out of the mouths of babes. “It’s been a long time, but yes, part of me will always love your father. He’s a really great man, and I think he’s right. You should go spend the night with your new friend.”
“Really?” David jumped from the stool and turned in a circle, flapping his arms. “Thanks, Mom. Can I go tell them?”
“Of course.” She watched her son race out the back door while she poured herself another glass of wine. She held up the bottle. Only half a glass left, so she filled hers to the brim. Might as well get a little numb since she’d be spending the night alone for the first time in almost ten years.
The next ten minutes was filled with David running around, collecting what he’d need for his sleepover. His excitement filled the air, and it proved impossible to stay angry, even at Gunner.
Arcadia knew deep down David would be just fine. He’d been starved for this kind of interaction with kids his own age. While he made friends easily, he didn’t put himself out there, mostly keeping to himself, so this truly was a blessing.
“Are you okay?” Lexi asked. She stood next to the back door and smiled. “I know we’re a lot to take in.”
“You can say that again.”
“For as long as we’ve known Gunner, he’s been a loner, always keeping us at a distance. Most of the single men on the team do the same thing, but not to the extent that Gunner has. So when he called Ace for help, Ace offered to come over with Harper and Brodie.” Lexi’s smile reminded Arcadia of Gunner’s mother before she passed. It was kind, loving, and reassuring.