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Violet knew she was going to have to write up a memo on that and tape it up where her ovaries could read it day in and day out. If this man was going to be hanging around, they were surely going to be hyperactive and overly vocal.
Bitches.
Like right now, they were completely in tune with how nice it was to be pressed against his back, how right his arm, which he’d reached behind him and held her with, felt.
And why the fuck am I still against him like we’re trying our best to become one?
She stepped back and skirted around so they were side by side. Unfortunately, her ovaries let her know, it didn’t matter where she was around him, they were going to be informing her how stupid her decision was about remaining hands off when it came to Hastings Rhodes.
“…you know I can’t discuss an ongoing investigation.” Officer Juarez had focused on Hastings as they spoke.
And she was lost because she’d been fantasizing about his cock and how freaking fantastic it would be sliding in… Nope, nope and nope! I am not going there.
“I’ll be here until this is figured out, Officer Juarez. If you get any leads or information, we would both appreciate you notifying Miss Wentz at Welcome Home.”
Wait. What? He’s staying? It was one thing to believe it or think it may happen herself, but for him to vocalize it to not only her but the officer standing before them, well, that just seemed to make it all the more real.
“I know the place.” Juarez made some notes in his notepad.
“I can also tell you this.” Hastings crossed his arms and stared at the man across from them. “He didn’t do drugs.”
Sympathy crossed the officer’s face. “Things can change, sir. I know you say you know him.” His gaze moved to Violet. “But being homeless, even though he was at Welcome Home… Time and war can change a man.”
“You served.” Hastings made it a statement.
He glanced at Hastings. “Eight years in the Army. Got out when my wife was pregnant with our first. I wanted to be there and be part of his life growing up. Even so, my adjustment wasn’t easy.”
“He is my best friend. I can tell you, he wouldn’t have turned to drugs because that’s how he lost his mother.”
“Times change as do circumstances and outcomes.” Juarez shifted his gaze back to Violet once more and she nodded, stepping closer to pull the focus away from the brooding man beside her.
“We would appreciate any information you can share.” She dug in her back pocket for a business card. Her personal ones hadn’t arrived yet, but she had one of the facility’s so she would have the address. Holding her hand out, she smiled at the man when he passed over his pen. “My personal cell is on the back.” She made sure to write it down and put her name there beside it.
Hastings released a low growl. She wasn’t sure, at first, if the officer had heard it, but when he looked swiftly to the warrior beside her, she realized he probably had. Still, he took the card when she held it out, then took back his pen with a smile.
“Do you know where he worked? Where he liked to hang out?”
Violet didn’t respond right away, as Hastings moved from her side to position himself near the bed that held his friend. She tracked his moment and sucked in a deep breath. For the briefest of moments, emotion flashed over his once-carved-in-stone expression. Such guttural and visceral pain she experienced the sting of tears in her eyes. As soon as it had happened, it vanished, leaving behind the statue.
Hastings loved the man lying there.
“Of course,” she told Juarez, forcing herself to look away from the six-six man who took appearing like a Viking to an entirely new level. Violet palmed her phone once more and tapped into the system for Welcome Home. As she pulled up Eric’s information, she worried her lower lip. She would have preferred much more time to look over everything before giving information over.
After passing along the name of the courier service he had been employed by, she stiffened when she heard a familiar, grating voice. The senator.
“We should be going.” She shook hands with Juarez as Miller walked back in the room, his gaze just as slimy as it had been before. She didn’t offer to shake his hand. Instead, she walked to Hastings and placed a hand on his arm. “Come on, his father’s coming and no matter your bad blood, this isn’t the place to get into it with a senator.”
Violet Wentz was right and Hastings knew it. Swallowing back his violent urge to wait and put hands on the senator, he focused on the woman beside him. She barely reached his shoulder yet had the backbone of a lioness.
