Chapter 25

25

"You got a minute?" Sunny called out as I tossed my bag in the back seat.

I didn't have a minute, I wanted to get home to Sophie. I hadn't talked to her since she'd called me on her way to her apartment. She was wasting no time bringing more shit to my—our—house. She'd also planned on talking to Hayden and I wanted to know how that went, but with a barricade that took for-fucking-ever to clear and a search warrant I hadn't had time to call her.

But this was Sunny.

So I'd make time.

"What's up?" I asked and slammed the back door.

"I dig your woman," she started on a smile. "Luke does, too."

That was good to know but everyone had made that obvious yesterday. Sophie had been immediately accepted into the crew. Hell, Mereno hadn't shut up all day about me locking her down and wedding her before she wised up and found someone better-looking. He was more right than he knew, but I wasn't worried about her leaving me for someone better-looking.

"She's moving in," I told her.

"It's good to see you with someone who's actually worthy of you instead of the bar flies you usually pick up."

I ignored the bar fly comment.

"You got it wrong, Sunny. I'll never be worthy of Sophie."

Sunny's blue eyes roamed my face, the contrast between her study of me and Sophie's, blaringly obvious. Sunny had to try to read me. Sophie just did.

"You know, if any other man said that, I'd think that was cool. Him thinking his woman was too good for him. Implying he knew she was one-of-a-kind and he'd work his ass off to make it so she never turned her eye. But you actually believe that."

"Sunny—"

"I've known you a long time, V. But I don't know a damn thing about you. None of us do. We know what you want us to know. You're a good friend to all of us. You're excellent at your job. Always there if someone needs you. You didn't hesitate to get involved at the Hope Center with my brother and the guys from TC. But other than that—nothing. Don't know where your parents live. Don't know if you've got siblings. You steer any conversation that minutely personal away from you. I thought we were giving you what you needed, not asking questions. Now I'm seeing we fucked up. Friends don't let friends sort their shit alone."

Goddammit . I didn't want to talk about this. And not for the normal reasons. I wanted to get home to Sophie.

"Listen—"

"You listen. I'm gonna tell you something Gordy said to me when I was struggling. It doesn't feel real good to know you're the type of friend you are to all of us but you won't let us return that favor. You'll trust me to have your back when we kick in a door but not with anything else."

I blew out a breath and scrubbed my hands over my face, doing this to buy myself time.

"I get you. I do. And you're right, I guard my personal life. But that's not because I don't trust you or the team. It's because until very recently I was ashamed for anyone to know. I felt guilt and embarrassment—and a lot of both of those—but also I'd buried so much grief I didn't know how to let any of it out without fear of it exploding all over the place.

"I'll always make time for you. I appreciate you looking out for me. So don't take this as me being a dick when I tell you, I wanna get home to Sophie. My personal shit will have to wait for a time when we can crack open a beer and I can explain fully, but, I don't have parents. I have a father who lives fifteen minutes from here but is an alcoholic. I don't have siblings because my sister died in a car accident with my mother. I'm ready to tell those stories, just not when Sophie's been at her apartment packing and she should be home now, and that's where I want to be—at home with my woman so I can continue to convince her she made the right choice giving me a shot."

I'd been so hellbent to get my speech done and over with, I hadn't noticed the annoyance had leaked out of Sunny and now she looked gutted.

"Fuck, Shiloh, I'm sorry I?—"

"Don't Shiloh me and don't you dare apologize for giving me that gift. I want to crack open that beer with you, V. I want to be the friend to you that you've always been to me. But I'm gonna have to settle on water while I listen."

She'd been drinking water yesterday, too.

"Are you…"

"Guess that test I took in the locker room was wrong. Echo thinks I should sue the manufacturer."

That sounded like something her big brother would say.

I didn't bother stopping my smile when I told her, "Happy for Luke. Seriously happy for your brothers. But I'm happier for you."

"I love that you understand what this baby will mean to my brothers, to our family. It'll make this next part easier. I'm quitting, V."

"Quitting, or stepping out of SWAT?"

"Quitting. I haven't told anyone yet. But I'm ready. I did everything I set out to do. I did my duty as a Kent to right the wrongs that needed to be made right. I believed in my brothers' mission. I set my sights on SWAT and I accomplished that goal. I set out to be the best I could be within the team and I feel I accomplished that, too."

"You did, Sunny. You know how valuable you are to the team."

She gave me a small smile and nodded.

"Now, I have a new mission. A new goal. I can't wait to be this little one's mom. I want to be everything to him or her that I didn't have. I know I could still be a cop and be a good mom. But that's not what I want. And since I have a husband who will give me not only everything I want but what I need, he'll give me this and do it happily."

She wasn't wrong. Luke was going to be thrilled to give his wife something she wanted.

"Like I said, I'm happy for you, Sunny. Really fucking happy."

"Thanks, V. And keep this between us, yeah? I haven't even told Luke."

The gravity of what she said hit me square in the chest.

I reached out, hooked her around the back of her neck, and pulled her in for a hug.

She stayed stiff for a second before she hugged me back.

"Honored, Shiloh," I muttered to the top of her head, then I let her go.

When she stepped back she tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "Don't go soft on me, Malone. Just because I'm pregnant doesn't make me less of a badass."

"Right." I smiled. "Are we done so I can get home to my woman?"

"We are as long as you promise never to hug me again."

"You're gonna be a great mom, Shiloh."

Her face softened and she lost the attitude.

"I know I will."

That was Shiloh "Sunny" Kent Marcou—nothing short of fearless and strong.

"I call dibs on babysitting duty."

"You're so full of shit." She laughed and started to back away. "You want to babysit and change dirty diapers about as much as you want two to the chest."

"Diapers?" I frowned. "I'm talking about when…what age are they potty-trained?"

"No clue." She shrugged.

"Do you know anything about babies?"

"Nope. Not a damn thing."

She busted out laughing. I didn't. I watched the miracle that I'd seen a lot since Luke had come into her life and smoothed all those sharp edges that used to slice anyone who got too close. Seeing that, seeing her, knowing the shit her life was growing up, knowing all she'd overcome to marry a good man, be happy, make a baby, and be able to stand in the parking laughing carefree, gave me hope.

Hope that I could do right by Sophie.

I walked into an empty house. I knew it was going to be empty because Sophie's car wasn't in the driveway or garage. I pulled my ringing phone out of my back pocket and frowned.

"What's up, Hayden?"

"Tell Soph she's lucky no one tagged my TV or I'd be pissed she left the door open."

What the hell?

"Come again?"

"Where are you guys? The club house?"

Something I didn't like raced up my back, making the hair on the back of my neck prickle.

"I just got home from work. Last I spoke to Soph she was going back to the apartment to talk to you. That was nearly nine hours ago."

"Well fuck, I've been out all day. Came home, door was open. Her car's here. Purse and phone on her bed. I assumed she was somewhere with you. Maybe she went down to get a package."

"On a Sunday?" I reminded him as I walked back out to the garage.

"Yeah. If something's delivered and it's too big for the mailboxes the guy who runs the club house stores them. I'll run down and see if she's there. Sorry to?—"

"I'm on my way over to your place."

"I'll just take me a minute to run down there. I'll save you a trip and have her call you when we get back upstairs."

He wasn't getting it.

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

There was a beat of silence.

"The door was open but not damaged."

I got what he was saying but it did nothing to loosen the knot in my gut.

"See you in ten."

I hung up, scrolled through my contacts, found Brady's number, and hit go.

He answered on the third ring.

"You're already calling for a rematch? I figured after the last time I smoked?—"

"I'm calling in a marker."

"What do you need?" he asked, all traces of humor gone.

"I need you on standby. I'm headed to Sophie's place right now. Shady Brook Apartments off 15 th and Marne. Her roommate got home, front door open. Car in the lot. Purse and phone on the bed. He's checking the club house to see if she's there."

"Fuck. That means her tracker is likely on her bed unless she carries it in her pocket."

"Correct."

"And you got a bad feeling."

"Every time we've left that apartment, she double-checks the door is closed. Even when her roommate is in the apartment. She still pulls on the handle. There's no way she walked out and forgot to shut the door. Either she didn't lock the door when she went down to the club house and someone let themselves in, but I reckon Hayden would've noticed if something was missing and her purse is on her bed, or something else went down."

It was the ‘something else' I was trying to keep locked down.

"Copy that. I'm at home. I'll boot up now and be ready if you need me."

"Sorry about taking your Sunday."

"Fuck off with that. Out."

Brady disconnected and I drove.

I was parking when Hayden finally called back.

"I'm in?—"

"She's not there. No one's seen her."

Fuck.

Fuck .

"I'll be up in a second," I told him and disconnected.

My chest started burning and that something became harder to lock down.