Christian drew in a deep breath. I could hear him trying to steady himself before he answered my question. “There’s a problem over at the North Shore development.”
I slumped back in my seat, my eyes seeking out Aiden again. Another fucking problem I didn’t need.
“What is it this time? A delayed shipment? The wrong tile?” Despite my flippant words, something niggled in my lizard brain. Christian wouldn’t be this unsettled over something so minor and trivial. He’d get it fixed.
No. This had to be serious.
“Um. No, sir. It’s on fire.”
9
AIDEN
My leg shook as I glared at the small piece of glass on my desk. I wasn’t even sure what possessed me to bring it to work with me, let alone display it on my desk for anyone to see. It was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. It was as good as giving an open invitation to ask questions to the rest of my colleagues.
So far, no one had said anything, but in a room full of detectives, it was only a matter of time. Especially once Victoria got back. And the clock was ticking down on my reprieve from her insightful eye. The fact that her cousin had no idea who Nate was still twisted my gut. And the fact that I was almost certain he was the one who had left the small bird figure should have alarmed me.
For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why it didn’t.
But the idea that maybe he was thinking of me just as much as I was thinking of him made a fire ignite deep in my belly.
I reached out and ran my fingers along the cool, smooth surface of the wing. There was a grace, a freedom, to the bird that I never felt about myself.
As soon as I’d seen it sitting on my porch, it was like a punch to the gut.
Little bird.
That was what he called me. And this felt like it was left like a token of his affection.
My body folded over my desk, head falling onto my hands as my elbows rested on top of my desk. I should have been concerned about how he knew who I was. Where I lived. How he’d gotten it onto my porch without me knowing or my cameras catching him. Instead, all I felt was heat blooming in my chest at the feeling thatDaddyhad been thinking of me and had wanted me to know and left me a present.
Jesus Christ.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
I was a homicide detective. A cop who had investigated countless murders that had started out just like this. Yet there I was, begging to be some random man’s sacrificial lamb just because he had paid me an ounce of attention.
Could I have been any more pathetic?
The whole situation screamed walking red flag, from the moment he’d sat down. But I lapped the attention up like a puppy dog just waiting for an ounce of praise from his master.
Or Daddy.
“Well, helloooo, stranger,” a familiar voice mocked from behind me, right before Victoria’s arms locked around my shoulders.
I pushed back my crisis and suppressed the groan. The last thing I needed was for her to smell blood in the water and try to figure out what was going wrong in my life now.
Putting on my best smile, I let out a chuckle as I twisted in my chair and turned to give her a proper hug. Damn, I realized how much I’d missed her as my arms tightened around her. Part of me wanted to unload my burdens onto her because Iknew she’d be more than willing to offer me some advice, but at the same time, I felt foolish.
“Welcome back!” I ducked my head, unable to meet her gaze, even though I was glad to have my partner back where she belonged. Not that we hadn’t texted and video chatted while she was off.
She beamed, her smile growing even bigger than I imagined it could. Who would imagine a week off just to babysit would rejuvenate someone like that?
I was almost awed by the change in her. She was almost like a whole new person.
“Thank you, thank you. I had a great time and I can’t believe it’s already been a week and I have to be back here looking at your ugly mug.” Victoria let out a laugh and I rolled my eyes at her.
“Gee, thanks, Vic. I definitely feel the love.”
