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“Just,” he said, glancing around the table to include the other kids, “be mindful. And text me when you’re ready to go home.”
They claimed an empty table opposite the door. The pub wasn’t packed—a lot of folks were probably trying to hold to their New Year’s resolutions, but there were folks taking up quite a few of the booths and sitting on the stools along the bar anyway.
“Thanks,” Dante said as he sat down again. “I guess I get a little overprotective.”
Vincent grinned. “Believe me when I tell you how much I understand. Romy tests my every nerve. She just doesn’t understand how scary the world is. I dread the day she graduates from high school.”
Dani’d already had a lesson in how shitty the world was, but that didn’t stop Dante from worrying.
“You two are close though, right?”
It had seemed like they got along at the holiday dinner. Dante had learned that Barone was bi and had a boyfriend, and Romy seemed fine with the whole situation.
“We are.” Vincent nodded. “It’s been the two of us for a while now. Still, she’s going to spread her wings wide, and soon. It scares the crap out of me.”
The bartender stopped by, and they each ordered a beer. Dante had only been Dani’s guardian for four months, but he knew exactly how Vincent felt. How had Simone managed this whole parenting thing?
As that grim thought crossed his mind, the front door opened, and Dante immediately recognized André Dear’s silhouette. His heart skipped a beat, as if he was a teenager seeing his first crush. The man paused for a moment, probably to let his eyes adjust to the dim lighting. Dante could almost feel André’s glance when it landed on him.
Vincent turned to see what had caught his attention and, before Dante could stop him, raised his hand and waved André over.
“André! Have a seat. We just got here.”
Did he imagine a slight hesitation before André headed in their direction? Fuck if he knew. Vincent pulled out the chair beside him and André’s gaze met Dante’s as he sat down. His heart began to beat faster.
“Been a rough couple of days for you, hasn’t it?” Vincent said when André was comfortable.
“That’s one way of putting it.”
Dante eyed André, taking in his appearance. After years in law enforcement, he was probably good at hiding how he felt, but Dante could tell he was exhausted. There were shadows under his eyes, and he hadn’t shaved. Dante could see the sexy glint of silver in his scruff spark under the pub’s lighting.
“It doesn’t help that everyone in town has decided to become a backyard detective. Folks have been calling the station with all sorts of tips.” André made finger quotes around the word tips. “Some of it could be helpful—like the fact that there seems to have been disappearances going back to the seventies—but most of it is probably useless, and Carol is not equipped to run a hotline.” He eyed them. “Do I have to tell you two not to spread this around?”
He and Vincent both shook their heads.
“Do you have the budget to hire someone to just take the calls?” Dante asked.
André frowned. “No, but the mayor wants to meet with me. I’m hoping that means she’s wrangled money from somewhere. None of my staff has the experience for this type of investigation.”
“There’s only one way to get it,” Dante pointed out. He wanted to offer to help. He knew his way around police reports.
André scowled. “My staff of two deputies is fifty percent useless.” His eyes widened as he glanced around again. “Shit. Don’t repeat that either. The union is already on me.”
“Deputy Trent causing issues again?” Vincent was scowling now.
“Maybe.”
“We all know it’s not Lani Cooper. Lionel Trent has never been a good cop.” André and Dante both stared at him, waiting for Vincent to clarify. “Xavier was jumped as a teen, and yeah, Xavier was trouble back in the day, but this was a clear case of bashing and Trent was the investigating officer. He did nothing.”
“Fuck,” André growled. “But sadly, I am not surprised.”
Dante shook his head. He didn’t know this Trent character, but the truth was that there were people who just shouldn’t be in law enforcement.
The bartender returned with Dante’s and Vincent’s beers. “Sorry this took so long,” he said. “What can I get you, Chief?”
“I’m off duty for the rest of the day, fingers crossed. A beer sounds good. Thanks, Garth.”
Garth headed back to the taps and the three men were quiet for a bit while Dante and Vincent each took a sip of beer. Dante didn’t know what the other two were thinking about, but he would bet Vincent wasn’t thinking about how to get André alone, make sure he got something to eat, and then maybe strip his clothes off and help him relax.
