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I grin back at her. “Absofuckinglutely.”
“It’s been a goddamn week since some fucker threw a rock through Summer’s window, and you’re telling me that no one knows anything?” I scowl at my commanding officer, feeling so fucking helpless. “No one heard or saw a damn thing on that whole block? This is a small town. People pay attention to shit.”
“Maybe they weren’t home,” he suggests and leans back in his chair. “It was during the work day, and people have jobs, Wild. If they were being strategic, they chose the right time of day for that shit.”
“It’s infuriating.” I pace his office and rub my hand over my mouth. “I need to figure this out, because she doesn’t deserve to live her life constantly looking over her shoulder.”
“From what I hear, she has you to protect her most of the time.”
“She shouldn’t have to have that, either. It’s been months of harassment, and I’m pissed that we still don’t have any leads.”
“I don’t like it any more than you do,” he says with a sigh. “Go back to the house, sweep for more prints, talk to more neighbors.”
“The entire house has been swept, and I’ve spoken to every single person who lives on that street personally. But I’ll ask around again. Thanks for listening.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
I leave his office and stride out to my car, climb inside, and head out on patrol. It’s been a fucking week, and still, we have nothing. Either this bastard is smart, or he’s damn lucky.
Maybe both.
Tonight is the party for Summer’s women’s group, so I won’t see her until late. I’ll take her lunch so I don’t have to go the whole day without her.
And isn’t that just ridiculous? I can’t go one whole day without seeing her, without feeling like I’m going insane.
I sigh and push my hand through my hair.
“I’m so in love with her that I irritate myself.” I let out a humorless laugh and turn right, just in time to see my brother, Ryan, walk out of an attorney’s office.
I park at the curb and climb out of the car, approaching him.
“What are you up to?” I ask him.
“Oh, hey. I had a meeting.”
I eye the door of the office and then turn back to him. “With an attorney?”
Ryan nods and shoves his hands into his pockets. “You know, I do have a lot of attorneys.”
“Not ones in Bitterroot Valley. What’s up?”
My brother frowns, looks down the street, and then back at me. “Keep this between us for now, okay?”
“Are you in trouble, Ryan?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “It’s nothing like that. I was speaking with a family law attorney. I’d like Jake to be placed with me, permanently.”
That word seems to be going around a lot lately.
“Wow.” My brow lifts in surprise. “It’s going that well?”
“It really is, and I’m as surprised as anyone, but he’s so great with my animals, and he just seems to fit in there, you know? His attitude is mellowing out with time and patience. He’s been staying with me on the weekends because the assholes who have custody right now don’t give a shit about him, and I like having him there. He’s not a little ass with me; he’s respectful, and he’s just a good kid.”
“And you want to adopt him?”
“Yeah.” Ryan raises his chin, almost defiantly. “I do. He deserves a hell of a lot better than what he’s gotten in the past year, and I can give him a damn good home.”
“You can give him a life that most people only dream of,” I reply. “Let’s not sugarcoat it.”
