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The detective, a calm man with muttonchops, stares down at her as he stands. “If you think of anything else, you call us.”
She nods, her hands keeping a protective clasp around her belly. “I will.”
The door cracks. Seth slides into the room, a bag of coffee in his hands, a steady stream of cacophony following him in. He gives Luke a look as he shuts the door. “Star’s camped out at the exit. Fuckers. We toss ’em one damn bone and they ain’t lettin’ go.”
Luke turns to peer out the window, his brow furrowed.
Seth goes to Sal, perching on the edge of her bed. His eyes take her in, the bruise on her cheek, the bandage on her arm, the heart monitors keeping watch on her and the baby.
He leans down to kiss her. “You look awful.”
She laughs. “Thanks a lot.”
“I brought you coffee.” He grins. “Figured you had enough flowers.”
Sal eyes the bag of dark roast and smiles. “Figured right.”
The detective pauses at the door and clears his throat. “Oh, and one more thing, Mr. Kincaid. We heard somethin’ about a shotgun on the scene.”
The news is new to her, causing Sal’s breath to hitch, her body to go taut. Worry stokes in her at the stern look the cop’s giving Luke.
“Your shotgun,” the cop goes on, eyeing Luke closely.
Thinking on it, Luke gives a swift shake of his head. Keeping an easy tone, fingers hooked around his belt buckle, he looks to his brother. “Can’t say I recall. Seth?”
Seth shrugs. “Nothin’ rings a bell.”
Whether the cop doesn’t care or doesn’t believe him, Sal can’t tell. All he does is give a curt nod and then exits without a backwards glance.
Sal’s lungs expand and she can breathe again.
There’s a loud exhale from Seth. He locks eyes with his brother and then laughs. “Hell, I’m callin’ Jace,” he says, standing. “Just in case. Trust that guy to be the one to get our asses arrested. He’s got a damn conscience.”
Before he can leave, Sal grabs Seth’s hand and pulls him down. “Thank you.”
It’s all she can say. Gratitude pumps through her veins. So much appreciation, so much gratefulness he had Luke’s back, that he kept her secret the best he could, that he came for her.
“You get better, you hear?” He sweeps a lock of hair out of her eyes, his voice a soft rumble of a drawl. “You’re kinda my favorite person, so you gotta stick around. But don’t tell Luke. It’ll break his heart.”
A scoff from Luke.
Sal smiles. “Feeling’s mutual.”
Seth looks at Luke. “I’ll see you later.”
Luke nods.
When Seth’s gone, Luke sits in a chair beside her bed, his long fingers curling around hers as he scoops up her hand.
Sal’s eyes narrow. “What were you gonna do with that shotgun, Luke?”
He meets her gaze, nothing but granite-tough strength in his words. “Whatever I had to do.”
A ripple of worry. “What if the cops—”
“No one’s gettin’ arrested, darlin’,” Luke reassures, scanning her face. “I did what I had to do to bring you home. Ain’t nothin’ to worry about, so don’t.”
A spark of love hits her hard, Sal marveling at just what lengths he’d go to for her.
