CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Lana stood in the living room with Rocky, Sunny, Jayson, and his brother Ryan. Jayson told her as they got dressed that Ryan was aware of the missing girls as three of the missing fell under his jurisdiction.
“Ladies, I received a call today from a Captain Millwood of the Hellburn Falls Sheriff’s Department.
Aside from some asshat who was put in his place, by me, the Captain and a Lt.
Brown have officially requested our assistance in their case there.
The rest of your team is enroute as we speak.
Braco and Charlie’s team will assist in your current cases here,” Captain Sheila “Queen” Windsor advised everyone through the phone.
“Let me guess, you got to listen to a Detective Brewer call me a badge bunny fucking my way onto his case?” Lana asked, rolling her eyes.
“Pretty much. Ice, watch your back while you’re there.
This man will be gunning for you. He was officially taken off of the case after the ass chewing I gifted him.
They are officially forcing Jayson Kenwood into the detective’s spot for this case.
Lt. Brown said you two had a flow in the question-and-answer part of this case at the crime scene. ”
“Congrats on the unwanted promotion, little brother. Now Brewer will really be gunning for your ass too.” Ryan laughed as he patted his brother’s upper arm.
Lana looked over at Jayson and saw he wasn’t happy about the forced promotion. She reached out and gripped his hand, squeezing it in comfort for a few seconds to show her support.
“What airport are they flying into?” Rocky asked as she shook her head at them.
“They landed at Charlotte International about an hour ago. They are already enroute by vehicle. They will be staying at a hotel just outside of the town you’re in.”
“They can stay here at the house with Rocky and Sunny. Lana and the kids can stay at my place, so the kids will have their own beds,” Jayson spoke up, making the whole room go quiet.
Lana glared at Jayson, her jaw clenching tightly. “I agree, the team can stay here with Rocky and Sunny. There’s plenty of room here.”
“I’ll forward the message and address. It would probably be best, so you guys can discuss the case more easily. Lana, how are the twins doing in your hometown? I know you were hesitant to go back there because of the memories. Everything cleared with Arlington for your father’s burial?”
“Yeah, those memories caught up with Lana really good.” Rocky smirked over at Lana as she flipped her off.
“Oh, they are doing wonderful, Cap. Miss Lana “Ice Queen” Pennington has lots of explaining to do once the kiddos are in for the night with their long-lost daddy-o,” Sunny quipped at her as she twirled a strand of hair around one of her fingers.
“Daddy?”
“Y-yes, Captain. Turns out their dad is no longer in the military but back in Hellburn Falls.” Lana cleared her throat as she flipped both of her best friends off again.
“Let’s not forget the “wife” comment. Lucy here has lots of splaining to do, Captain,” Rocky said in her best Ricky Ricardo voice.
“Wife? What the hell happened while you three were there?” Captain Windsor asked, her voice sounding confused.
“A lot. A lot that is still being sorted out where visitation is concerned, ma’am,” Lana admitted as she rubbed her forehead.
The group confirmed the arrival time of the rest of the team and the dynamics of the case. While talking with their captain, Jayson’s phone rang with a call from his Lt.
They had just hung up the phone with their captain when Jayson hung up with his Lt. Lana broke away from her group to head over toward him.
“Hey, everything okay?” Lana asked softly, placing her hand on his arm.
“Yeah. My Lt. confirming everything your captain already told us. I’m off duty tonight since I will be officially reporting in the morning with your team.”
“I’m sorry, Jayson. I know that you never wanted that promotion.” Lana squeezed his arm slightly, showing her support for him.
“Thanks. Look, Lana, I’m sorry I put you on the spot where your team was concerned.
I figured if the kids were at my place, it would get them familiar with their rooms, and they could get used to me more.
Plus, if you’re there when we are off, it would help them feel comfortable around me and in a new place.
If you don’t want to stay there, I won’t push it. ”
Well shit, when he put it like that, she couldn’t be mad at him. She also hated to admit that it would help ease her worries about the kids being away from her too.
“I’ll take the spare room…” Lana started to say.
“You’re sharing a room with me, Lana. No ifs, ands, or buts. I want this…whatever we still have between us. Stop being fucking scared and give us a chance.”
“Jayson…”
“Lana, this can be our chance to see how good we actually are together. At the end of this case, if you don’t want to be with me, then I won’t fight you on the divorce or custody. We owe it to the kids to say that we at least tried.”
Fuck him and his damn logic. She heard the kids’ laughter outside and let her defenses down, for them.
“Fine. We will try it, for the kids.” Lana held up her hand to stop his statement. “One fuck up, Jayson, just one, and then I’m gone. Divorce and all.”
Lana didn’t even have a chance to respond to his “yes” before he’d crushed their lips together. She couldn’t resist his taste as she returned his kiss.
“Let’s get the kids fed and settled at your place then we can figure out tonight with my team.”
“Actually, Mom and Dad were going to ask about them staying with them for a couple of days. So that they can get their rooms set up and spend more time with them while we’re working the case.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s okay.”