Almost as he heard me, Noah said, “I’m sorry, Max.”
Nothing to be sorry for, brother,” I assured him.
Out of everyone, he was the one who needed to hear that the most.
“Call the kid. I need some time, and when I have everything in order, I’ll haul my ass to Denver.”
“Appreciated,” I muttered.
I stopped watching Skylar as she studied the lettering and the details of my ink like it was the high art and looked over her head.
“Stone,” I called.
“I’m here.”
“It was an honor,” the words scratched my throat.
“To my soul,” He rasped back.
After he said it, I got nothing. He hung up the phone. Fucker. I turned, tossed the phone on the counter, and took Skylar entirely into my arms. She looked up at me with an intense look in her eyes.
“Is there any coffee left for me?” I grinned at her.
She was confused for a second but offered me the cup.
“Does that mean you’re still a little monster, or can I stop being scared of you?” I couldn’t help it. I had to tease her.
Her eyes turned to slits.
“It depends,” she snapped.
“On what?” I grinned.
Damn, she was cute.
“On whether you plan on being an ass first thing in the morning.”
I threw my head back and laughed. When I got control over it, a look of wonder was all over Skylar’s face. Fuck me. The need to kiss her was so intense I could almost forget everything I promised to myself I would do before I made her mine.
“So, what’s on the agenda today?”
I asked to distract myself from thinking about kissing her.
Or tasting her.
Or fucking her.
“I have to go to lunch with my aunt and uncle. Then I have to swing by the hotel and get my things. That’s it,” she shrugged. “Nothing much.”
“Oh, and I gotta call Kiki, my cousin. I couldn’t get a hold of her since the wedding,” worry clouded over her features.
“I’m sure she’s fine.” I tried to assure her.
“Yeah,” she was pulling away.
I didn’t want to let her go. I tensed, and she stayed where she was-
“Will you tell me who was on the phone?” she asked shyly.
“Noah Stone, my ex-team leader at SWAT.”
She seemed surprised.
“Why, former?”
“Because both he and I are leaving the force,” I let her go under the excuse of filling up the cup with the second dose.
“Why?” she watched me move around the kitchen.
I didn’t want to keep anything from her, but the reason why I was leaving my job was too much for anyone to hear in the morning, let alone her.
“I will tell you, Bean. Just not right now. It was a difficult situation, one that still follows me, and I’m asking you to give me some time before I reveal uglier things,” I said honestly.
“Okay,” she whispered.
I came to her, leaned in, and kissed her cheek.
“Thank you,” I mumbled.
She wasn’t fast enough to hide her look of disappointment. I smiled to myself.
“I have to go get ready,” she indeed thanked me. And turned to leave.
“Brody, my other teammate will be your shadow today. So, don’t freak out if you see an unknown man following you. I’ll give you his picture so you would know who to look for.”
She indeed smiled and went upstairs. It was good that I called Stone. I dragged my feet, but it had to be done. For both of us. All that was left, before I made Skylar mine, was find out what the hell was going on with Barone and where he was hiding. I had my team at my back. Chace was at the front line right along with me. And if need be, Carter would not be far behind. Which meant Skylar was safe. At least for now. And I intended to keep it that way.
Chapter Eleven
Max
I was pacing up and down my living room and checking my phone with every turn I made. Where were they? Jason called and said they were two minutes out. That was ten minutes ago.
"Prepare, man."
Before he burst out laughing and ended the call. I couldn't believe I let it happen, not only that, I arranged it. After Skylar left to get ready for lunch with her aunt and uncle, without a second thought, I called Rory.
"What's up?" She answered as cheerfully as ever.
"I need a favor," I choked out.
I knew that was going to cost me in ways I couldn't even imagine. I just hoped it wouldn't end with me sitting in a cell. That was Rory's favorite pastime, getting her brothers arrested. She liked to torment us, and I was fully aware I was giving her ammunition to destroy me. I didn’t give a fuck. I wanted Skylar to have fun. To be carefree for one evening. I also wanted to have someone she could talk to. She wasn’t fully relaxed with me. Even though there was a pull between us, one I never felt before, we still had a lot to learn about each other. With Rory, she could unload without the pressure of needing to live up to some imaginary expectations. Living with a sister taught me that a girl got that when she was hanging with her girlfriends. With Melanie gone and her cousin in the wind, Rory was my only option. It was a good call. After she got home from her lunch, she was quiet and decided to go lay down for a bit. I wanted to have her near and be within my reach. I took the time while she was upstairs and called Brody to get a brief and to get Skylar’s background. With what he told me, I wished I didn’t. Every word he said, sliced me across the chest until I had to check and make sure I wasn’t breathing. Her life consisted of tragedy after tragedy.
And I got to see why she was willing to bury her head in the sand so deep she completely missed who she was sharing her life with. I couldn’t imagine the fear and loneliness that she forced herself through every single day. It had very little to do with Barone out in the wild and all with my need for her. She woke up, got downstairs, and beelined to me. Without a word, she climbed in my lap, pushed her face in my neck, and sighed.
“I missed you,” she muttered.
It was amazing to hear her say that.
"Max," she called into my skin...
"Right here, Bean."
"Thank you for letting me sleep with you last night," she whispered in a small voice.
"Never need to thank me for that."