Page 81 of Love Me Gently

He grunted, and it told me all I needed to know. “This gonna go bad for me?”

“Can’t say. We’ll talk once you get here.”

“Be there as soon as I can.”

I ended the call and inhaled a calming breath. It was Wolf. Had to be. Chief didn’t hide things from me like this, and my guess was he couldn’t talk freely. There was no other option.

I texted Marie. They’d still be at church, but I knew her well enough to know she’d see the text.Getting called in. Keep the girls until I say otherwise. Thx.

I headed downstairs, phone in hand, calling Robbie. My parents would be at church, too, and while Trina’s visit with her parents had gone better than I’d expected, there was no way she was ready to head there after a service, not when half the church usually hung out at their house for a potluck lunch. But like me, Robbie and Ashley weren’t weekly churchgoers, especially with all their kids, so I took the chance he’d be home.

Outside of my dad and my partner, I trusted Robbie more than anyone.

Besides, he had guns. Lots of them.

“Hey, what’s up? Aren’t you getting the girls today?”

“Need to bring Trina to your place. Can you keep an eye on her for a little bit?”

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“Think her ex is in town. Chief called me into the station and was cagey on why.”

His voice dropped, and acid came through the line. “That man ishere? What for?”

The blow dryer turned off on the other side of the bathroom, giving me only a minute. “Can only think of one thing he wants and she’s not getting anywhere close to him until I have a chat with them.”

“Bring her here. I’ll keep an eye out.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Anything for you two, you know that.”

The bathroom door opened as I ended the call. Trina took one look at me, the phone in my hand, and her softly done, beautifully made-up face paled.

“What’s wrong?”

I tucked my phone into my back pocket. “There’s been a slight change of plans.”

“Marie changed her mind, didn’t she? She doesn’t want me to see the girls.” She came to me, sorrow and apology stamped all over her, and it didn’t skip my notice that this was the first timesheapproached me. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not Marie.” I shook my head and reached for her arms. Wrapping my hands around her biceps, her eyes widened. She also didn’t flinch or tighten as I held on to her. “I got called in to the station. Chief needs to talk to me about something important.”

No way was I telling her what I suspected.

Her large, vibrant blue eyes ping-ponged back and forth between mine. “It’s work?”

“He didn’t say.” I might not tell her what I suspected, but I wouldn’t lie, either.

“You’re worried, though.”

“Yeah. A bit.”

“Okay. Can I do anything while you’re gone? Get lunch ready or something?”

I shook my head. “I’m taking you to Robbie and Sarah’s. We’ll talk to Marie about getting the girls later.

“You’re… why…Jonathan.” She breathed his name, and her voice shook with the fear of simply mentioning him. “He’s here, isn’t he? And don’t lie.”

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