Page 91 of It's Going to Be a Chrome Christmas
The fact that Massey had gotten away was the only black stain on the very successful bust. Even the state troopers, who were finally brought in on the fact that the heist had been an undercover sting, had lost their ire towards Cayden once they learned the true score. The fact that the police currently were standing in a massive warehouse where a good portion ofCarver’s products were stored seemed to bring an air of ease to everyone.
Once she saw Lee, she also made sure to check him over. When she knew he was fine too, she slapped him across the face in front of his brothers in blue for endangering Cayden’s life and then she kissed his cheek for saving Cayden’s life. Cayden was vague on the details, but she understood that Lee had shot a man before he could shoot Cayden. She’d be forever grateful to Lee for that.
Lee dropped a kiss to her forehead. It was unexpected and she treasured the gesture, because she knew how rare it was.
Holloway was there too. He somehow kept a semblance of order in all the chaos. She was grateful she wasn’t in his shoes. He refused to let her pay to have his chair reupholstered. Trixie still couldn’t believe she’d thrown up on the man’s chair. A part of her figured it was better than vomiting on the man himself, but it was a very small part. She had been so embarrassed, but the former Marine wouldn’t hear her apologies.
Cayden and Trixie had been moved to another side of the lot when a large armored van was driven in to transport the prisoners. Cayden, keeping a hand on Trixie’s, led her back over when a tall bald man was led out. She was sure he was torn between wanting to keep her away from this man but also being unable to break his hold on her. She followed willingly, giving him whatever support he needed.
“Carver,” he said, still gripping her hand. Trixie blinked, finally putting a face to the name. “Talk to Detective Romero. Massey’s going down. He incriminated himself and more tonight. There’s no reason to go down with him.”
Cayden’s words surprised Trixie. Hadn’t the point of his undercover work been to take down Carver? Why would he be trying to help him now?
Carver gave Cayden a once over and then said the last thing Trixie would have ever expected of the criminal. “Thank you for saving Bucky. I don’t know if it means anything to you, but he wasn’t supposed to be here today. He came to celebrate with you.” Trixie felt Cayden stiffen next to her. “Maybe…” Carver sighed. “Maybe if you can get out, so can he. Maybe he could have a better life than either of us could offer him. Will you look out for him?”
Cayden nodded once. “Yes.”
Carver glanced over his shoulder. Trixie didn’t know what he was looking at. Maybe he was looking nostalgically at all he’d just lost? When he looked back at Cayden, though, Trixie thought his eyes looked sad. “Romero will need to come talk to me soon before Massey gets to me.” He took a step towards the transport before pausing. “Watch your back, Cay. He’ll be after you too.”
“Good thing my soon-to-be future brother-in-law’s a cop.”
A gasp escaped her. Of all the things for him to say! Trixie buried her blushing face into Cayden’s shoulder. The need to hide her embarrassment kept her from seeing Carver’s departure.
Holloway finally found them. Before he offered to have some uniformed cops take Cayden and her home, he told Cayden that he was going to handle Bucky’s case personally and make sure the kid was taken care of. When he waved the officers forward, Trixie recognized them from the day Cayden had stolen the Spyder. Hail, maybe? She couldn’t recall the other one’s name. As they got closer, she read his nametag,V. Sutton.
Neither looked thrilled to see them and it was only after they were in their cruiser that Trixie learned why.
“You removed their steering wheel?” she gasped out. She didn’t know if she should be shocked at his audacity or impressed at his creativity.
Cayden shrugged. “People always go for the tires. It’s so boring.”
She ended up laughing. He gave her a smile that sent a shiver down her spine and curled her toes in anticipation. Cayden leaned forward and kissed her. The kiss was slow and gentle, but no less intimate. When one of the officers cleared his throat from the front seat, Cayden just waved the man off and continued to kiss her.
When the officers pulled into their driveway, Cayden broke away from her. The officers let them out of the backseat. Cayden led her from the vehicle, still not letting go of her hand. Trixie thanked them, her cheeks aflame at what they’d witnessed the last twenty minutes of the ride.
The lights were off at the house. Realizing her keys and Firebird were still at the police station, along with her coveralls, Trixie brought Cayden around to the backyard.Papáhad always kept a spare house key in a box. She really hoped it was still there.
Luck was on their side and she found the hide-a-key box attached to one of the beams under the back porch.
Cayden scoffed. “I could have picked the lock. Probably would have been faster than that little scavenger hunt.”
She glared at him. He was holding up his phone as a flashlight. “I think you’ve broken the law enough for a couple of lifetimes.”
He gave her a cocky smile as he led her up the porch steps. “Just one or two.”
Trixie rolled her eyes and let them in. She hadn’t been to the house since the day he’d left. She paused.
His arms came around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“Just thinking of the food I left in the fridge for two months and the trash I never emptied.”
A snort escaped him. “How about I take out the trash while you go draw us a bath? We can attack the fridge tomorrow.”
Trixie smiled. She liked that plan. “Deal.”
She flipped on the kitchen lights, semi-surprised the room wasn’t swarming with flies. Trixie went to head towards the bedroom, but he caught her hand and pulled her back to him. He kissed her fiercely. Trixie curled her body around his, taking everything he offered. She could feel his hardness and craved it.
He lifted his mouth off of hers, leaving her swaying and breathless. He grinned like he’d accomplished a task and then kissed her nose. “Go draw that bath. I’ll be right there.” Trixie had to shake her head to clear it of the fog. She turned towards the bedroom. At the slap on her ass, Trixie yipped. He met her glare with a look of encouragement. “Go.”
