Page 78 of More Than a Hero
She framed his face with her hands, her thumbs sweeping over his stubbled jaw. Her touch was warm, and her eyes were filled with something that made his chest tighten again. “You matter to me, Pete.”
That was all he needed. He bent, capturing her mouth with his, hoping she felt words he hadn’t said yet. This was their time, and as far as he was concerned, they were happening now.
After they’d made love, showered, and dressed, they ate breakfast quickly before needing to head to work. “I have to run home to feed Queenie,” he said, filling his travel mug of coffee.
She walked over and rested her hands on his waist while dropping her forehead to his chest.
“What’s the matter, babe?” he asked, setting the hot mug onto the counter.
She leaned back and smiled while shaking her head. “Nothing.”
“Uh-uh,” he retorted, then chuckled at her incredulous expression. “Don’t say ‘nothing’ when there’s something on your mind.”
Her eyes twinkled, but she pressed her lips together as though she still wasn’t sure if she should say anything. He waited, willing to give her the time to decide, even if it made him late.
“I just wish you didn’t have to leave,” she finally said.
He waited, still patiently, knowing there was more to come.
“I suppose that sounded dumb, didn’t it?” She sighed, then said, “I know you only live about fifteen minutes away, but right now, that seems huge. I wish we lived closer, that’s all.”
“How close is closer?”
This time, her smile widened. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe… here? Sometime. Once we know that Queenie would be happy.”
Those words were almost as sweet as her saying she loved him… almost. He grinned and said, “I’m all in, Angie. Now we just have to see what Queenie says.”
Her laughter reached her twinkling eyes as she nodded. “I’m all in, too. And whenever you want, we’ll let Queenie try out this place.”
The air was thick with the scent of gasoline and fried food. The neon glow from the convenience store sign flickered, giving the front of the store a happier appearance than the shadows and cracked pavement in the back alley. Pete pulled the SUV behindthe gas station, easing it into the same familiar spot near the overflowing dumpster.
Jacko was careful… always made them come to him. Sure enough, a few seconds later, the rusted back door creaked open. Jacko stepped out, dragging two overstuffed bags of garbage in each hand. Hefting them over his shoulder, he let them slam into the dumpster with a grunt, then wiped his hands down the front of his stained shirt.
He shuffled toward the SUV with a tired sort of swagger. Jeremy popped the passenger door open and slipped into the back seat, letting Jacko slide into his spot up front.
Pete exhaled sharply. “What have you got for us?”
Jacko’s lips curled into something resembling a smirk. “Damn, I don’t even get polite conversation anymore? You just jump straight to the action without foreplay.”
Pete fought the urge to shudder. He did not need the mental image of what type of foreplay Jacko might engage in. “Just get to it.”
Jacko sighed dramatically, then twisted around in his seat so he could see both of them. His expression was half amused and half confused… the usual mix when he was in one of his moods.
“Word is, G-Shine wants to use the Eastern Shore as their transport route from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. They want the whole track themselves.”
Pete kept his face impassive, but Jeremy let out a scoff from the back. “Okay, tell us something we don’t know.”
Jacko held up a finger. “I was getting there. See, OGD ain’t happy about G-Shine trying to take the whole route. They got a guy, calls himself Flame. Apparently, he was originally working with Ciao… you know, that dumbass who wrecked his car?—”
“We know who Ciao is.” Pete interrupted, his patience thin.
Jacko huffed. “Man, you take the fun out of telling my story.”
Neither detective reacted. Jacko sighed again, more put-upon this time, before continuing.
“Fine. Okay, where was I? Oh, yeah. When Ciao got arrested by you all, Flame figured there was no reason he couldn’t take over the route from North Carolina through his home turf in Norfolk, then straight up to Pennsylvania. It pisses all over G-Shine’s plans, but if he pulls it off, he moves up in his orbit.”
Jeremy leaned forward slightly. “We know someone named Flame. We’re looking for him.”
