Angel (Unlocked Mates #12)

Chapter One

Carter

Starting every morning shift with a walk around town made Carter feel like part of the community. The town he and his brother Hudson had been born in but left before they had started school was now home once again. Carter had dragged Hudson back after leaving Boston, needing a slower pace of life.

It was a nice place, friendly, and fast growing with the help of a well-off family who owned most of the private land beside the state park.

Carter had yet to get to know the men living in the big house outside of town limits, only catching glimpse of them around, but he’d heard the stories and rumors that were rampant around town.

The same house his brother had gone to and spent the night at.

Carter was really trying not to worry about his younger brother. Hudson was a grown man that had every right to make friends with who he wanted. More than friends, from the way Hudson spoke about Bastian. Except Hudson was also too naively kind and trusting.

Passing the bakery, Carter had to stop himself from going inside. Since returning to this town, Carter was dedicated to turning over a new leaf. Walking when and where he could, eating healthily, and getting out in the fresh air. Taking the time to enjoy life instead of just existing.

Boston had felt like home until it became the place that Carter had lost himself in.

Working double shifts for the Boston PD, eating takeout and fast food for every meal, barely having time to even see his brother.

Carter hadn’t even recognized himself in the mirror the last few months they’d been there.

Then his partner was injured on the job and Carter couldn’t do it any longer. Couldn’t live that way. He was bone-tired, exhausted trying to prove himself, and just disgusted with the justice system that he’d spent his adult life working for.

The hardest thing that he’d ever had to do was tell Hudson that their parents had died in a car accident.

At eighteen and just graduating from high school with Hudson aged sixteen, Carter hadn’t been prepared for what had come.

Being a big brother slash parent to a confused and devastated brother.

That night still haunted Carter’s dreams. Hudson had howled and cried as Carter had been unable to do anything except make promises he hadn’t even been sure he could keep.

He had kept every single promise he had ever made his brother.

Raising Hudson on his own was difficult, yet the one thing that Carter was most proud of.

Instead of going to school to become a lawyer, Carter had worked himself from a patrol cop to a detective.

Carter had thought it was what he wanted.

The second hardest thing he’d done in his life was to sit his brother down and explain that Carter had to get out of Boston.

That he was burnt out and…lost. Carter had feared Hudson’s reaction.

Instead of panicking or wishing Carter well and staying, Hudson had taken a few quiet moments before asking where they were moving.

Home.

At least, the only other place that had been home.

Truthfully, Carter didn’t remember the town or when they’d lived there. He’d seen an ad for a police officer online and recognized the name of the town. He’d looked it up on a newly built website and had just felt like he needed to be there.

The mayor had placed ads across social media and Carter had just stumbled on them as he’d lain in his bed scrolling one night when he hadn’t been able to sleep.

Once he’d gotten the idea to move. Yeah, Carter had not wasted time. He’d spoken to Hudson and they both applied for positions.

Home.

Was that what this feeling inside his chest was when he spotted Mrs. Rose from the library crossing the street? Or when his next-door neighbor Mel invited him over for coffee on the porch? It sure felt like something close to that.

Carter had been proud of years of service to the Boston PD, but this small town that no one really knew about gave him a true purpose.

Sure, he wasn’t chasing down drug dealers or stopping a murder or looking at trouble around every corner. No. Not here. Carter was making sure that his new neighbors were safe and happy. He’d given up his wrinkled and worn suits to wear a uniform once again.

Ahead he spotted his brother on the sidewalk and grinned. He would often run into his brother or a friend as he made his rounds. The perk of living in a small town.

“Hey, Hud!” Carter called jogging across the street.

Hudson whirled around as something like panic crossed his face.

What the fuck? Why would Hudson look at him like that? Was Hudson hiding something from him. Had his new boyfriend gotten Hudson mixed up in trouble? It had been one fucking day!

“Hey, Carter,” Hudson greeted. He glanced nervously toward the red brick building he was standing in front of then back at Carter.

“What are you doing in town?” Carter asked.

“I thought you were still hanging out with Bastian.” Or had Bastian already taken off on him?

Carter knew Bastian hadn’t been around the area for long.

He was newer to town than even Carter and Hudson were.

If that dick had fucked Hudson then left or some bullshit like that, Carter had no problem using his resources to track him down.

Hudson had texted earlier saying that he was hanging out with Bastian for the day and didn’t plan on coming home that night. But here Hudson stood in the middle of town. Something was up.

Carter’s gut never failed him. He knew something was going on with his brother.

“Bastian needed to stop by the office to pick something up,” Hudson explained. The excuse was vague.

“And he left you out here on the sidewalk?” Carter demanded. Even if it was true, why wouldn’t Hudson go inside unless Bastian was up to no good?

“No!” Hudson answered and laughed. “He wouldn’t do that.”

“He better not.” Carter still wasn’t happy with the response from his brother. Protective? Yes, yes he was. Hudson was his family. His everything.

Hudson rolled his eyes. The bright smile on his face was one that Carter was used to seeing. More so since they’d moved there. The change hadn’t just been what was best for Carter. Hudson was thriving in the new town as well.

“I offered to grab coffee and food from the bakery. I caught up with Easton for a minute but was headed there now.”

“So everything went okay last night?” Carter asked, rocking back on his heels.

Carter hadn’t driven out to the big property outside of town limits and close to the state park to check on his brother.

He’d hadn’t texted Hudson a million times like he’d wanted.

He’d remained calm and cool. As far as anyone else knew.

He might have left his ringer on the highest volume all night just in case Hudson had called, needing him.

Hudson’s face flushed red and he quickly looked away while shifting on his feet.

Oh God! Carter didn’t need the dirty details about what Hudson had been doing with his tatted-up boyfriend. “I wasn’t talking about that, perv!” Carter shoved Hudson’s shoulder, really hoping that his brother wasn’t in the sharing mood.

They shared everything. Carter was the person that Hudson talked everything out with, including when Hudson had figured out he was gay. That didn’t mean Carter wanted details. And by Hudson’s blush and the avoiding of his eyes, Hudson must have very dirty details from the night before.

“Then what did you mean?” Hudson’s voice came out in a teasing tone.

Carter huffed. What a brat! “I just meant…I…”

“Weren’t you asking about my night?” Hudson asked sweetly.

Carter had asked about his night. But not like that! He found his own face heating. Damn it! “I just wanted to make sure he was treating you well,” Carter said. There. That was a good big-brother thing to say. “I’ve heard things about the guys out there. The county sheriff is not a fan.”

“You told me that the sheriff was a bigoted idiot that needed to retire,” Hudson reminded his brother.

“Doesn’t mean he can’t be right this time,” Carter argued, but yeah, he had said that. And Hudson always saw the best in everybody. It was Carter’s job to worry about who his brother spent his time with. Plus, he was a cop. Carter knew just how depraved some people could be.

“Bastian and his friends are wonderful. They’ve made me feel very welcome. I get fed the best food, I have plenty of people to talk to, and Bastian treats me like a prince.” Hudson’s smile grew. It was his real smile. When he was happiest. Carter had no defense against it. No one did.

“Fine.” Carter rolled his shoulders. “If you say so.”

“I do say so,” Hudson insisted. “They moved here for the same reason we did. They were looking for a place to call home. I really want you to give them a chance.”

“It’s not like I’m going to have much of a choice when you decided to date one of them.” He’d seen several of the couples and in at least one case three men together. Add in the talk of the town and Carter didn’t know what to think.

The door to the office opened and Hudson’s date from the night before stuck his head out.

“Are you okay, baby?” Bastian asked Hudson before looking at Carter with a scowl.

“Yes!” Hudson waved back. “Fine.”

Of course Hudson was fine. Carter was with him.

Bastian pushed the door the rest of the way open before stalking down the stairs. “I thought you were going to the bakery? Aaron called from there asking if we wanted something. I told him that you were headed that way, but he hadn’t seen you. I got worried.”

Oh, had Bastian been worried about Hudson when he wasn’t where he was supposed to be? This dating thing might not be a bad thing. Carter would have someone else who would be looking out for his little brother.

Hudson took a long breath before blowing it out. “I ran into Easton. Then Carter. I was headed that way! I’m perfectly capable of walking down Main Street.”

“You never know what can happen,” Bastian told him.