“It just happened tonight,” he insisted passionately. “Mom stood there, in front of all those people and called her names.”
Bracing my elbows on my knees, I twisted closer to my boy. “Hardin, listen to me. You can’t control what your mom does, and her actions aren’t a reflection on you—”
“They are when I was mean to her too, just like my own mother.”
And there it was, the real reason my boy was lyin’ up here alone, unable to find sleep. He felt guilty.
“I’m not gonna sugarcoat it for you. How you acted that day at Pop’s, it wasn’t cool. She didn’t deserve it. Whether you want to hear it or not, she and I did nothing wrong by keeping our relationship from you. But what you did . . .” I shook my head. “Bud, it doesn’t even compare to how your mom behaved. You feel bad because you’re a good kid, and you know you’ve done wrong. Makin’ bad decisions sometimes doesn’t take away from you bein’ good. What takes away from it is knowin’ you’ve done somethin’ wrong and not working to make it right. You understand?”
He looked down to his lap and nodded his head. “Yeah, Dad. I get it.”
I reached out, placing my hand on his back. “Good, bud. Now try and get some rest.”
I stood up and took a step when he spoke again. “You guys . . . you aren’t together anymore, are you? Is that ’cause of me?”
“No,” I answered adamantly. “It’s not because of you. I screwed up. I did something wrong, now it’s up to me to make it right.”
His gaze grew curious as he asked, “Are you? Gonna make it right?”
“I sure as hell am gonna try. Now go to sleep. I’ll see you in the mornin’.”
“Okay. Night, Dad.”
I pulled Hardin’s door closed, flipped off the hallway light, and headed downstairs to my room, thinking the whole way: I hope like hell she gives me a chance to make it right.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Leo
The shrill ringing of my phone pulled me out of a restless sleep.
Even though we’d only slept in the same bed a handful of times, I’d grown so accustomed to feeling Danika against me at night that I hadn’t slept for shit for the past month. I also hadn’t been able to bring myself to wash her sweet scent off my sheet, so night after night I could smell her, which was a form of self-torture I couldn’t seem to stop.
A quick glance at the clock showed it was barely after two in the morning, so my whole body was instantly on alert. I was glad my kids were back with their mom, because late night calls like this never meant good things.
“Drake,” I answered, kicking off the covers. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and hit the lamp on the nightstand, bathing the room with light.
“Got a call out, brother,” Micah said through the line. “Need you at Slicks.”
Slicks was a pool hall just inside the town limits. It had been around for a long time and catered to basically anyone who decided to walk in, which, most of the time, wasn’t the nicest of clientele. It was off the beaten path, then farther down another rarely-used road, tucked back in the woods. In other words, people with a penchant for robbery saw it for the easy target it was, which was why the owner had started hiring off-duty officers as security a few years back.
“All right, gimme twenty,” I said, balancing the phone between my ear and shoulder as I nabbed the jeans I’d discarded hours earlier off the floor and started pulling them back on. “What do we have? Another armed robbery?”
“Homicide,” Micah answered in a low, agitated voice.
“Ah, hell,” I mumbled, picking up the pace to my closet and ripping a shirt from one of the hangers.
“And you need to brace yourself, Leo.”
“Brace for what?”
“It’s one of ours.”
Fucking shit
Darrin Callo was twenty-six years old. He had a wife and two little girls, the oldest was three years old and the youngest only six months.
They were just babies, and they were never going to see their dad again. He and his wife had just celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary two months earlier, and now her husband was never coming home.
Gone when he still had so much of his goddamn life left to live.
He’d been with HVPD for two years, coming to us straight out of the Academy. He was a good cop. He did his job right and fair, and had aspirations of moving up the ladder. He wanted to be a detective, his wife had told us, and planned to take the exam as soon as he was eligible. But he was happy where he was for the time being, doing what he loved, raising two little girls he adored and married to a woman he cherished.
Wanting to take care of his family, he worked two side jobs, one as a carpenter for his father-in-law’s company, and the second working security two nights a week at Slicks to earn extra money.
I couldn’t get Sidney Callo’s face out of my head.
The hardest part of any officer’s job was having to tell the victim’s family that their loved one was gone. I’d had to do it more times than I cared to think about back in Philly, but this was different. Stuff like this didn’t happen in Hope Valley. And, Christ, Darrin was almost a goddamn kid himself. Holding it together as his wife crumbled in front of me took an act of strength I didn’t know I was capable of.
I still felt that burn in my chest hours later, and I knew Micah was feeling it just the same. He was the type to chat with whoever, always quick with a joke, but like me, he hadn’t said a word since we left the Callo residence, and he’d been quiet and somber before that.
It was only a little after six in the morning, and already the bullpen was full. Word had gotten out and every cop in the department was there because of their fallen brother.
“All right. Shit. I can’t fuckin’ believe this . . .”
Micah and I had been in our captain’s office for the past fifteen minutes, watching as he paced, clenching and unclenching his fists.
It wasn’t a secret that Cap wasn’t very well liked within the department. His was an elected position and to ensure he kept it, he had a tendency to play politics more than a lot of us cared for. But it wasn’t hard to see that he was rattled at the loss of one of his own.
“Tell me what you got so far,” he said, finally stopping his pacing to face us, hands planted on his hips.
Micah started talking, and I turned to look back at where he was standing, shoulders against the wall of glass that faced out into the bullpen, arms crossed over his chest. “Surveillance video shows a dark-colored sedan driving slowly into the parking lot and pulling up in front of the entrance. No one got in or out. The shots were fired from inside the car, then it took off.”
“Anything else?”
“The video was poor quality,” I answered. “We’ve got someone workin’ to clean it up. We’re hoping we’ll have a plate, or at the very least a make and model. Still waiting for the coroner’s report before we can do anything on that, but it looks like he was shot with a .45. We’re gonna wait to talk to the wife again. She wasn’t in a good way when we left, understandably, so we want to give her some time before we interview her.”
“All right.” Cap nodded his head, staring off into nothing before finally coming back to himself. “Whatever resources you need, whatever manpower, consider it approved. If anyone on city council gets a hair up their ass at the overtime, I’ll handle it myself. You two just do what you need to do to catch this guy. Callo was a good man. This department’s gonna do right by him.”
“Got it, Cap,” Micah muttered, pushing off the wall.
“Yes, sir,” I replied, rising to my feet.
Danika
The death of Officer Darrin Callo was all anyone in town had been able to talk about for days. The whole town was shell-shocked that something like this had happened. With the exception of a psychopath who had been stalking Tempie a while back and had killed a few residents in her name, there hadn’t been a murder in Hope Valley in decades. People came to our town because it was peaceful.
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I knew the Callos. Darrin and his family came in to Muffin Top all the time, particularly for sweets for the girls and coffee for Sidney, his wife, who spent all her time running around after two little ones and needed the pick-me-up more than most.
Sid and I chatted regularly whenever she came in, and if I saw them around town, which wasn’t uncommon, we’d always visit for a while before going our separate ways. I’d even watched their daughters a few times so they could go out for a date night.
They were just the most beautiful family, and it was clear how much Darrin adored the females in his life.
The whole town had turned out for the funeral, and that wasn’t an exaggeration. I wasn’t sure there was a single person who lived in or around Hope Valley who wasn’t there.
One by one, his friends and family went up to tell moving stories, funny stories, stories that brought everyone to tears.
As the minister spoke, the crowd remained silent. All that could be heard over his voice were sniffles and faint crying. My gaze stayed pinned to Sidney the whole time, my heart breaking over and over as I witnessed her absolute anguish as she clung to her girls.
My own tears fell, slipping past the lenses of my black sunglasses and sliding down my cheeks.
From where I stood between my mom and dad, I could see every member of the police force, all standing in uniform near the side closest to the casket and to Darrin’s family. Front and center was Leo, right in the middle of all his brothers and sisters in blue, but I couldn’t look at him. I just couldn’t. I couldn’t see how handsome he looked. I couldn’t think about how badly I missed him or how my heart hurt every time I thought about him.
I knew if I saw him, even a tiny glance, all the sadness I was already feeling because of the day and everything that was happening around me would be compounded with the ache I’d been experiencing since we ended, and I’d start crying so hard I wouldn’t be able to stop.
The minister finally finished his benediction and shortly after, the service came to a close. The large crowd began to disperse, some people returning to their cars, others breaking off into smaller groups. Turning to my parents, I said, “I’m gonna go talk to Sid really quick, then I’m heading over to open the shop.”
“Okay, sweetie,” Mom said, leaning in to press her cheek against mine. “Talk to you soon. Love you.”
My dad lowered his head to place a kiss on my forehead. “Take care, Button. Love you.”
“Love you both,” I returned. “I’ll call you later.” They turned to head to their car, and I moved to Sidney. She shifted her gaze when I was halfway to her and quickly ended the conversation she was having. The moment I reached her I lifted my arms and pulled her into an embrace, standing there silently as she cried on my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” I whispered, running my palm down her hair. “Anything you need from me, any time, day or night, you don’t hesitate to call, okay?”
She pulled back, offering a watery smile that didn’t come anywhere near her eyes as she batted at her cheeks. “Thank you, Dani.” I quickly leaned down to kiss her girls before placing my hand on Sid’s arm and giving it a squeeze. There were people gathered, all waiting to speak with her, so with one last smile, I left her and her family to do what they needed to do.
I started for my car, my head a fog of sadness, when I heard someone call my name. Looking over, I spotted Sage standing a few yards away with some of our friends.
She waved me over, and I nodded, changing direction, heading for her, Nona, Eden, and Rory.
“Hey, honey.” Sage lifted her arm as soon as I got close, and I moved in, giving her a squeeze. We broke apart and I moved to the others, giving them the same as I had Sage.
“How’s everyone doing?” I asked, taking in my friends’ sad, drawn expressions.
“As expected, I guess,” Rory answered. “It’s just so damn sad.”
“You knew the family, didn’t you?” Nona asked.
I gave her a small nod. “A bit, yeah.”
“You know how his wife is holding up?”
I turned to Eden who’d just asked that question. Shortly after it happened, I’d gone by their house to check on Sid and drop off some sweets for her and the girls, but I didn’t want to impose, so I didn’t stay long.
“Not good,” I answered. “I went to see her a few days ago, and she wasn’t able to stop crying the whole time I was there.” The poor woman could barely get a word out, so I’d left her with her mom and dad, giving her a hug and telling her I was there if she needed anything. It hadn’t felt like much, and I didn’t have the words that could offer her any kind of peace, so I’d left there feeling just as helpless and sad as I had when I arrived.
I turned to Nona, asking, “Do you know if Leo and Micah have any leads yet?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. They can’t discuss an ongoing case, so if they’re telling Trick and Hayes anything, they aren’t telling us. All I know is that the two of them look wrecked. I can’t imagine how hard it is to investigate a murder, let alone one of their own.”
I couldn’t imagine either, and if I were being honest with myself, I’d been thinking about Leo constantly since it happened, worried about how he was doing. My hand reached for my phone about a hundred times a day, wanting to call or text, just to check up on him, but I always stop myself.
“Incoming, Dani,” Sage said in a whisper. “Mini-Leo at two o’clock and closing in.”
I turned around to see Hardin coming my way. He stopped just outside our little huddle, his expression and mannerisms nervous as he looked around at the rest of the ladies.
“Uh . . .” He cleared his throat nervously. “Hey.”
I smiled gently. “Hey back.”
“Um, Dani. Could I . . . well—”
“We’ll just leave you guys to talk,” Eden said, giving Hardin a beautiful grin that made him blush.
My friends moved in to give me hugs and cheek touches, then took off, leaving me and Hardin alone.
My attention returned to him to see he was growing more anxious by the second. Reaching out, I placed my hand on the arm of his sharp-looking suit jacket. “Honey, is everything okay?”
“Yeah . . . I mean no. What I mean is . . .” He shook his head as though trying to clear his thoughts. “I was an asshole to you that day at my Pop’s house,” he stated. “And, well . . . it wasn’t right. You’ve never been anything but really nice, and I just . . . I guess I—”
“Hardin.” He stopped, lifting his gaze off the ground. “You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, okay?”
“But I do. I’m not that guy. I mean, I’m not like that. I’m not mean. And I was mean to you, so I need to make it right, and to do that, I have to apologize.”
God, this kid. “We’re good, sweetie. We’ll always be good. I promise.”
His lips parted in surprise and those hazel eyes, so much like his dad’s, grew wide. “Really?”
“Really,” I returned on a giggle.
“Okay. Well, then . . . good.”
“Hardin!” I watched with concern as his back stiffened at the sound of his mother’s voice. When I turned my head to look in her direction, I saw her standing there, gripping Macie’s hand, her face was a mask of anger. “Come on,” she continued shouting. “We’re leaving.”
I saw the struggle carved into every inch of his expression and quickly moved to put him at ease. “Swing by Muffin Top some time. I’ll have something sweet waiting for you.”
“Thanks,” he muttered. He started to turn away, but stopped himself. “You know, my Dad, he really likes you. Like a lot.”
“Hardin—”
“Just somethin’ to think about,” he finished, and with that, he turned and started across the grass to his mom.
Macie glanced back over her shoulder and gave me a little wave that I quickly returned as her mother dragged her off. I watched as they disappeared into the crowd, letting out a sigh before turning for my car.
The minute I did, my eyes landed on a familiar pair of hazel eyes that never failed to make me shiver.
That shiver quickly worked its way up my spine, sending my heartbeat into overdrive. Leo didn’t wave or smile, he didn’t tilt his chin in that way guys always did or acknowledge me in any way. But his gaze remained locked on mine, even as the officers standing near continued their conversations around him. He just stood in the middle of it, staring at me.
Everything inside of me was screaming to go to him, but I pushed it down, beating it into submission until I could finally force my eyes from his and unroot my feet from where they’d planted.
Then I headed for my car and started for Muffin Top, thinking the whole time that I’d just made a mistake by walking away.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Danika
After attending a funeral and then working the rest of the day, I was the kind of exhausted that could be felt all the way to your bones, physically tired and emotionally spent. By the time I closed the shop and headed home, I was ready to collapse into bed fully clothed and pass out.
I had tunnel vision as I pulled my car into my driveway and climbed out, my eyes on the heels I hadn’t bothered to change out of after the funeral as I moved up the walkway to my front porch, so I didn’t notice Leo until he said my name.
I jerked to a stop, my head flying up to see him slowly rising to his feet from where he’d been sitting on the top porch step. “Leo,” I said on an exhale as all the air escaped my lungs.
“Hey.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. At some point in time, he’d gone home and changed out of his uniform into a pair of faded jeans and a tee. “Sorry to just show up like this. I would’ve called, but . . .” He let that sentence hang, but it didn’t take a genius to understand where he’d been going. He would have called, but . . . he knew I probably wouldn’t have answered.
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