Why did I fill her head with false hope?
Pulling her to me, I tuck her into my side. “I hope so. But I really don't know what Kane found.”
“Promise you’ll call me as soon as you know?”
“Absolutely.” Kissing her lips, I let her go and climb into my cruiser. “I'll call you as soon as I’m done talking to them. I love you. I'm trying my best to give you your life back.”
“You're my life now, Officer Keaton. I just want my independence while you're at work.”
“I know. I'm trying, Goddess. I want you to have that too. I miss our runs.”
She giggles. “You just miss staring at my ass while I beat you in a race.”
Shrugging my shoulders only makes her laugh harder.
“I'll see you soon, Goddess,” I say as I back out of the garage.
She waves at me until I can't see her in my rearview anymore.
Me:On my way.
Kane:Good. You're either going to love me or hate me.
Five minutes later, I run into my office, hoping that Adam is either home or on patrol. Anywhere but in this building.
Throwing my office door open, both Kane and Chief stare at me. Chief has a big smile on his face.
“Fill me in. What did you find?”
“First, daddy—” Chief says with a smirk “—congratulations on your new bundle of joy coming. Secondly, we found him. I sent Adam to get him.”
I freeze. “Adam? You trust him with this?”
“That's the beauty of it all. This idiot decided to camp on state forest land and light a campfire. The park ranger saw the smoke and called us around the same time I clocked him and a new stolen car going into the park through the traffic cameras,” Kane tells me.
Chief jumps in to add, “So Adam thinks he’s just going to get an idiot starting an illegal fire.”
“Can I just reiterate my question? You trust Adam with this?” I raise a brow. Because I one hundred percent do not.
“He was given specific instructions to arrest him so I could make a point with the tourists who like to ignore the laws. He understood.”
“If you say so, Chief. I'll trust your judgement.” For now. Until I can sayI told you so.
“About fucking time you do.” He shakes his head, and Kane laughs.
“You sound like my brother when he forces me to do something he knows I think is a bad idea.” Kane rolls his eyes.
From down the hall, the booking door opens, and Adam's annoying whistling follows.
All three of us step out from my office to see Adam… alone.
“Son, I know you were given very simple instructions to arrest that man and bring him in.” Chief puts his hands on his hips and stares Adam down as he walks towards us.
“Why? We were just going to let him go anyway. I had the ranger take a photo of me arresting him, without his face, so you can post it on social media to prove to the tourists they shouldn't do it. And now we have so much less paperwork.”
The idiot looks smug like he did us all a favor.
Chief takes a deep breath, the one he takes when he's trying really hard not to lose his shit.
