Embracing Juliette (Texas Heroes: Station 9 #1)

Chapter 25

25

Dylan

I dropped the weights I’d been lifting when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Beth’s name flashed across the screen. Shit. I’d been waiting for this call. It could be great fucking news, or it could add to the suffocating fear I felt whenever I thought of Juliette being hurt by Kayla and Leo. Which I thought about way too fucking often.

I swiped the screen to answer. “Beth?”

The clanking of weights and whir of the treadmill faded as my brothers paused their workouts. I felt their eyes on me, listening without shame. That’s the way it was with us. We faced danger together too often for secrecy.

“I have good news and bad news,” Beth said, cutting right to the chase. “The good news is, I found dirt on Leo that I think we can use against him. He’s deep into drugs and gambling and he’s been borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. But in this case Peter and Paul are badass loan sharks who’d shoot him in the kneecaps if they found out. The bad news is, Cade won’t let me do anything useful with that info.”

“That’s not bad news. That’s a good husband.”

Beth huffed and I laughed at her faux frustration.

“Let Sledge keep you safe, and give me all the info you have on Leo and the loan sharks. I’ll find a way to use it to keep Juliette safe.”

“I can do better than that. Do you know Tex?”

“Of course. Everyone knows Tex.”

“I brought him in on this. I like to think I can beat him when it comes to hacking, but he’s a SEAL and I’m not. He’ll know exactly what to do with this intel.”

“That’s great, Beth. I can’t thank you enough.”

“My pleasure. I’m happy to bring down anyone who threatens to hurt another human.”

Shit, I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories for her. “And you’re damn good at it.”

“We’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks, Beth. Give Sledge my regards.”

I disconnected the call and met my brothers’ worried eyes. I felt their concern deep in my chest. These guys had my back, and Juliette’s too.

“So?” Ryan prompted.

“Leo’s into gambling and is messing around with loan sharks.”

“You going to threaten to turn the sharks on him if he doesn’t leave you and Juls alone?” Ryan asked.

“That’s risky. You’re assuming he’ll act like a rational person. He could just as easily turn on you for threatening him,” Brady said.

“I’m not doing anything yet. I’ll see what Tex says.”

Ryan whistled. “Bringing in the big guns.”

“Who’s Tex?” Ethan asked.

Ethan was the newest on our squad. He wasn’t around when Tex helped rescue Quinn or Penelope or any of the other women.

“Tex is a SEAL who’s medically discharged, but he’s just as lethal from behind his computer,” Ryan explained. “If Tex is on this, consider yourself and Juliette safe. There’s nothing that guy can’t do.”

My phone vibrated again, this time with an unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Dylan. This is Tex.”

I nodded at the guys as I answered. “Tex. Thank you for calling.”

“No need to thank me. Any friend of Beth’s is a friend of mine, and no one threatens my friends, and especially not my friends’ women.”

“What do you think we should do?”

“Leo already got a call from an associate of his lender. He received a friendly warning that they know he borrowed from them to pay a rival. The caller may have painted a detailed picture of what will happen to him if he doesn’t pay up immediately. And may have dropped suggestions that he never show his face there again. The coward’s already on the run with his tail tucked between his legs. He won’t be back anytime soon, and you’re the least of his worries.”

“Tha—”

“Don’t say it. That phone call was the most fun I’ve had in a while.”

“Ha, I bet it was.”

“One down, one to go. Beth’s still digging into Kayla.”

“Kayla’s a greedy leech, but I didn’t think she was into anything more than finding a man to latch onto. Now though… She’s not the same person I knew. I have no idea what she’s capable of now. And I don’t want to find out.”

“Never underestimate the wrath of a scorned woman.”

“I won’t underestimate anything when it comes to Juliette’s safety.”

“Good. Call if you need anything.”

“Tha-,” I started, but the call was ended. So the rumors were true. Tex was notorious for not taking a thank you.

“The man is as good as everyone says. Let’s have lunch before we lose the chance. I’ll fill you in while we eat,” I said, leading the way out of the gym.

We threw together a few sandwiches, but just as I took the first bite, the tones rang through the station. Grumbled curses came from around the table as we all shoved another bite in our mouths and jogged to the bay.

Two minutes into the four-minute drive, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Kayla. Fuck. I didn’t want to talk to her, and with the blare of the sirens, I couldn’t anyway.

I ignored the call and the next few after that, then gladly left my phone in the truck when we pulled up to the scene.

A couple of hours later, I climbed back onto the truck, as weary from the thought of dealing with Kayla as I was from battling a structure fire caused by an idiot with more charcoal in his barbecue than sense in his brain. Seventeen missed calls, four voicemails, five texts. Dammit.

Kayla: I know it was you

Kayla: How did you figure it out? You had no right

Kayla: You think you’re so much better than me. You’re not

Kayla: You’re going to pay for taking Leo away from me

Kayla: You’ll regret fucking up my life again

Motherfucker. I was a naive ass for thinking Kayla would just skulk away. I quickly called Juliette, my panic mounting with each unanswered ring. Finally, just before her voicemail would pick up, her sweet voice came through the line.

“Hello?”

“What’s wrong? Why are you whispering? And why do you sound out of breath?”

“I’m whispering because I’m in the library and I’m out of breath because I ran to the lobby to answer your call. Why do you sound so panicked?”

My eyes closed. My head dropping to my chest, I dragged in the first full breath since reading Kayla’s threat.

“Dylan, what’s wrong?”

“Thank God you’re okay. As soon as we get off the phone, I want you to go back into the library and stay with Jenna. Don’t be out there by yourself.”

“Why? You’re scaring me.”

“I’ll tell you the details later, but we got info on Leo, and Kayla isn’t happy. I’m afraid she’ll use you to punish me.”

“She doesn’t know where to find me. You need to be careful!”

“Don’t worry about me. I just need to know you’re safe. Can you stay with Jenna, then go straight home? Don’t go anywhere else, and keep all your doors locked.”

“That’s fine, I was going to go home after this anyway.”

“Good. I’m sorry, baby. Please be careful.”

“I will. It’s okay. I’ll call you as soon as I’m home.”

“Bye, I?—”

“Wait! I have to tell you something!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I found a book about firemen’s headgear from the 1600s to 1900s. I’ll bring it home for you.”

God, she couldn’t be any more different than Kalya if she tried. How the hell did I get so lucky?

“I love you, Juls. Go back to Jenna now, please.”

“I love you too. Be safe.”

Even in the fire truck with my brothers and chaos surrounding me, the silence that lingered after Juliette broke the connection was too loud. “Hey, guys? When we get back, you mind if I call this in quickly? I’ll make up for it later.”

“No worries, do what you need to do,” Liam said.

I nodded my thanks. It was non-negotiable that everyone pitched in to clean and restock and ensure we were ready to roll again. So it meant a lot to me.

I walked to the picnic table at the back of the station, not wanting to spare time to clean up before trekking inside, and listened to all of Kayla’s voicemails, my blood boiling more with every minute that passed.

“San Antonio Police Department, how may I help you?” a professional but detached voice answered.

“This is Dylan Larke from SAFD. I’m calling for Officer Quint Axton.”

“Hold on a moment.”

I may have overplayed the department’s connection when this was a personal matter, but whatever got me through the red tape.

“Dylan, it’s Quint. What’s going on?” He was all business, which was fine with me.

“Leo got himself in trouble with gambling and loan sharks and skipped town to hide away. Kayla is blaming me and sending me threatening messages.”

Quint was not happy. “Do not go rogue on me, Larke. Let the police handle this the right way.”

“I’m calling now, and I’m sharing Kayla’s threats.”

Quint just sighed. He knew the score, even if he didn’t like it. “I’ll send someone out to record everything she said. Keep me informed and be careful.”

“I’ll be fine. It’s Juliette I’m worried about.”

“She tried to hit you over the head with a beer bottle, and she’s threatening you.”

“A beer bottle she snagged off the shelf that she shoved Juliette into.”

“You both need to stay on alert. If she makes more threats or does anything, report it immediately. Don’t handle it on your own.”

“No worries. I’m reporting everything, and I’m filing for a restraining order for Juliette. I’m scared for her. Kayla’s out of control.”

Me: I have no idea what you are talking about

Kayla: Leo had no problems, then after running into you, he’s busted. I know it was you

Me: I’m sure he deserved whatever happened, but I had nothing to do with it

I trudged back into the bay and helped clean the trucks, scrubbing with more force than necessary. I filled the guys in while we worked. I appreciated that Quint was taking it seriously, but I knew there was not much they could do about Kayla’s veiled threats.

“She should be thanking you for getting that asshole out of her life. But they never fucking see it that way,” Ryan fumed.

“Yeah, there was definitely no gratitude in her messages.”

“Fucking bitch.”

Despite everything, I still wouldn’t have said it myself, but I agreed wholeheartedly. She was a vindictive, drugged up loose cannon, and that was scary as fuck.