Page 67 of No First Kisses

Logan: I know.

I do know, too. I almost look forward to the fact that Poppy will no doubt tell Dean exactly what I did.

Maybe then, I can earn a little bit of redemption.

Instead, my phone starts to ring. Along with Remy’s and Linc’s and Dom’s, too.

“Oh shit.” Ian laughs. “Good luck going back to work, guys. I’ll make sure to leave you a few slices of pizza.”

Remy’s eyebrow hits his forehead. “You’re staying here, with three pregnant women and two babies. Where Nox is gonna be back anytime from my parents’ place because he doesn’t want to spend the night.”

Linc shakes his head. “You’re a crazy man, Ian. If I were you, I’d pretend that you got called in too.”

The sliding glass door opens, and Emma stands there with an irate look on her face while she stares at Dom.

“I saw that,” she hisses loudly. “If you leave and that pizza isn’t here within ten minutes, you might as well sleep at the station, Dominic. All I wanted today was to get grilled chicken and pickles. You knew that. You owe me.” She turns around and almost has the door shut before Chloe grabs the handle from her.

“Ian.” She says his name calmly. “Go ahead and go with them. Otherwise, they’re gonna come up with any excuse under the sun to not come back after whatever is going on.”

“I gotta catch a ride with one of you,” I say to no one in particular. “Let’s go, so I can try and win back my pregnant woman before it gets too late.”

By the time we make it to the station, opting to fit all five of us into Parker’s SUV, I realize that shit is hitting the fan in a terrible way.

Birch County Sheriff’s Department vehicles line our lot, along with Maine State Police and the Emergency Management Agency. Plus, there may have been a few black federal vehicles there as well.

When I step through the back door after punching in my code, I wait for the others before walking into the bullpen.

“Men.”

Chief Townsend stands there with Jake Findlay, the Birch County sheriff, at his side. On his other side is one of the troopers whom I don’t recognize. And there are a dozen other officers in the room as well.

“There’s been an accusation.” Jake cuts right to the chase. “The four of you have been accused of tampering with evidence, harassment, and the attempted murder of a civilian.” He turns to Ian. “You don’t need to be here, Keller.”

Ian stands his ground, coming up directly to my right. “If you’re accusing them, you’re accusing me. I may only be part-time here, but these men are part of my unit.”

My blood runs cold as all of what Jake says filters through the shock. “Ortega,” I hiss, bile rising in my throat. “It was Ortega.”

The trooper purses his lips and crosses his arms over his chest. “How did you know that, Officer Pierce?”

“Detective Pierce.” I can’t help being a smart-ass and correcting him. “But you can call me Logan, sir. And I know it’s him because he’s been harassing me and the mother of my child since he got out of prison. Where he spent fourteen years out of a thirty-year sentence in the negligent homicide of a minor.”

“Yes.” The trooper nods. “I’ve read his file.”

“Then you know,” I go on, stepping in front of the others, hoping that I can take the grenade I can feel heading our way. “You know that he spent those years in prison for killing my little sister.”

The trooper nods again, clearly not giving a shit that he is wading into a world that he will never understand.

“Mr. Grimes’ complaints are valid, and he has corroborating evidence and surveillance to support his claims.”

“Bullshit,” Remy snaps from behind me. “And I’m sorry, but none of us will be stepping foot out of this bullpen or answering any questions until our lawyer gets here.”

I turn and look at him over my shoulder. “Benton?”

Remy nods, holding up his phone while he shakes it. “Already sent him a message. He said he’d be here in less than five.”

“Why would you need a lawyer if you’re innocent?” The trooper just won’t shut up, and I am on my last straw.

I’m not the one to snap, though.

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