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I shake my head, tears still falling.
My dad shifts to sit on the other side of me, followed by Havannah, and they hug me while I cry.
“Ms. Rivera.”
I lift my head and peek past my dad to find Officer—or whatever the hell he is—Bennett in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. He avoids my gaze a moment before he looks up.
“I just wanted to personally apologize to you for all this.”
“This wasn’t your fault.”
He shrugs. “No, but it was messed up. You had to grieve while that woman watched on. Probably shouldn’t say it, but I’m glad her lungs gave up on her. Wish her pops would have died right along with her, but I guess we can’t ask for too much in one night, huh?”
“For a fake detective, he sure remembered that bulletproof vest, didn’t he?”
“Guess he knew what a dirty bastard he was. I’m holding out hope that he gets a nice, big cellmate to play with.” He smirks.
I can’t help but smile a little, and Havannah laughs lightly.
When she does, Bennett’s eyes slide her way, and she grins, averting her gaze.
“You can go now,” my dad tells him.
Without a word, he turns and walks out.
“Dad!” My brows jump, and his frown slides to me.
He lightly shakes his head as Havannah shifts in her seat.
“Long night.” He clears his throat. “I don’t wanna be interrupted right now.”
I drop my head back against the pillow. “So, what now?”
“Now, we get ready to give our statements. All the documents have already been turned in. Blaze business stays hidden, and we go back to normal. While I still hope to one day have Alec be a part of Blaze on a bigger scale—assuming that’s what you want, too—the company and home revert back to me. It was only to switch over to him in the event of my death. Everything goes back to exactly how it was before all this.”
Havannah hops from her seat, clearing her throat. “I’m gonna run to the restroom. Be right back.”
My dad sighs in his seat, his eyes lifting to Rowan.
I glance at Rowan, who smiles down at me and looks to my dad. “Things are different, sir. We can’t just go back.”
My dad stares him down and then reaches inside his pocket. He hesitates a moment before holding out a gold pin for Rowan to take, but Rowan simply stares at it.
“Take it, son. You’ve earned it. What you did last night took more than strength and courage. People sometimes think rescuing your family is second nature, but we know that’s not true. When it’s your family or people you care about”—my dad reaches out to grip my hand—“we tend to lose focus, and training goes out the window, panic taking over. And you not only saved my daughter and your brother, but you also saved a woman you didn’t know. You put aside any personal feelings you might have had and risked your own safety to save a stranger.” My dad lifts Rowan’s hand and flips it over, dropping the pin inside. “I’m proud of you, son. I’d be honored to have you as a Blaze.”
Rowan swallows hard, a small laugh escaping him, followed by a deep sigh, and I grin.
My best friend has grown.
“Thank you, sir.” He stares at the pin before meeting my dad’s eyes and holding it out. “But I’d like to finish the program. I’ll earn it the way everyone else has.”
“You’ve more than earned—”
“Take the pin back, Dad. Let him do this.”
My dad’s glare shifts to mine, and then he laughs, taking the pin from Rowan’s hand.
“Wait ‘til I tell Alec about this one.” He laughs, and my muscles lock.
My dad’s eyes come back to mine, and they slope at the edges.
He feels guilt from the things Alec has done.
“Honey,” he starts.
I hold a hand out. “I know you want to say a bunch of things right now, and I love you for trying to help, but the only person I want to have this conversation with is him.”
He frowns and tries to accept my answer, but his frown speaks volumes, and Rowan and I laugh. “Yeah, all right.”
“All set.” The nurse walks in with my discharge papers and a wheelchair, and Rowan barks out a laugh.
“I’m not riding in that.”
“Sure you are.” She gives a shrewd grin. “If you wanna get outta here.”
My shoulders slump. “Guess I am then.”
We all stand and make our way to the door right as Havannah comes around the corner. “Outta here?”
“Hell yes,” I whine, moving to plant my ass in the wheelchair. “I can’t wait to crawl into a bed.”
I smile up at Rowan, and he winks.
“Got it all ready for ya.”
“You sure you don’t need me to come play nurse for you?” Havannah jokes, but her eyes are sad. “I can share a bed with Rowan,” she teases.
