Page 12 of Softer Than Stone
“Jenna will be transferred after her interview,” Lucas said. “Another unit is handling her and her sister. Brax is… predictably pathetic. He’s giving us enough, but it’s clear he wasa puppet, not a player. And as for the tiger….” He grimaced. “Annoying as hell, but reluctantly cooperative.”
I snorted. “No surprise there.”
Lucas tilted his head, studying me. “This case isn’t going to be ours for much longer. Callen’s on his way, and he’s made it clear this is being shifted to another team.”
Frustration curled in my gut, but I kept my face neutral. “Figures. We were dragged into this mess, and now they’re pulling us out.”
Lucas’s smirk returned. “Bright side? A few days off.”
I grunted in response, though the thought of some downtime wasn’t unappealing.
“Anything else I need to know?” I asked.
“Not for now.” Lucas straightened. “Focus on getting Waru through this.”
I nodded, the weight of the case fading slightly as I left the office.
Waru’s well-being was my priority now.
It tookfour hours before I could get Waru out of there and home safely. Since eating and his interview, he was at the point of crashing. His eyes were heavy, almost glazed and unfocussed. While the calories had picked him up a little, what energy he’d stored was almost gone.
He didn’t even put up a fight about me driving him home in his car.
I stared at him for a moment, taking in the wide set of his nose, the gentle slope of his cheekbones, and the way his dark lashes fanned against his skin. His lips were slightly parted, and the soft rise and fall of his chest was a soothing rhythm. Evenwith the tension of the day weighing him down, there was an innocence in his expression, as though sleep had granted him a brief escape from reality.
The urge to let him rest battled with the knowledge that he’d be more comfortable inside.
“Waru,” I said softly, reaching out to gently touch his shoulder.
He stirred, scrunching his nose before his eyes fluttered open. For a moment, he blinked at me in confusion, his gaze struggling to focus.
“You’re home,” I murmured, smiling despite myself.
“Oh.” His voice was groggy, and he rubbed at his face before yawning. “Right. Home.”
I opened the car door and walked around to his side, pulling his door open. Waru fumbled with the seatbelt for a second before I reached in to help him. He blinked up at me, still a little dazed, and let out a quiet laugh. “Guess I’m out of it, huh?”
“Come on, sleepyhead,” I teased, offering my hand to help him out.
Waru’s house was small and modest, but there was a warmth to it that suited him. I led him to the door, and when we stepped inside, I hesitated. His nerves were palpable, his steps slowing as the reality of the day seemed to catch up with him.
“You okay?” I asked softly.
He looked at me, his eyes shadowed with worry. “I… I don’t know. It’s just… a lot.”
“I can arrange security,” I offered. “They can sit outside, keep an eye on the place.”
Waru hesitated, his brow furrowing. “It all happened at the restaurant, though,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “What about my staff? My restaurant?”
“They’re fine,” I assured him. “The SICB secured the place and checked on everyone. Your staff is safe, and the restaurant is locked up tight.”
The tension visibly drained from his shoulders, and he sagged against me, his forehead pressing into my chest. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. His warmth seeped into me, and I felt his breath hitch against my shirt.
“You need to sleep,” I murmured.
He nodded against me, his voice muffled. “Yeah. I do.” He pulled back just enough to look up at me, his eyes vulnerable but steady. “Stay?”
I hesitated. “Waru….”
