Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Pyro kept in regular touch with Tex, who told him that Colvin was still in Washington, and from what he saw while monitoring his electronic footprint, hadn’t mentioned Virginia or Penny. It was a relief…but Pyro was still being extremely cautious.
Why would a man who’d adamantly told Penny that he’d collect on her husband’s debt suddenly decide he wouldn’t bother anymore?
Was it simply because she was back in the States?
Was it more difficult to extort money from her in a country where she might have more support from the authorities?
Or had Tex’s man really made that much of an impression that he just gave up so easily?
Pyro didn’t know, but he wasn’t sure he completely trusted the man’s word that he no longer had any interest in Penny.
Though he could admit, things in the last two weeks had been amazing.
Pyro would always remember the moment when Penny said that she loved him.
How he’d felt. How he’d wanted to find all those foster parents who’d returned him to the state, saying he was cold and unlovable, and show them that they were wrong.
He’d believed them for a long time, until he’d found his Night Stalker family.
And then fate had sent him Penny and Bowie.
Anytime he had a bad day at work, all he had to do was think about Bowie’s smile and her uninhibited joy for life.
A joy her mom had given her. Because, there was no way around it, life was difficult for the little girl.
She had to work twice as hard as everyone else in a world built for people who had no disabilities.
But she did so with a smile on her face and an enthusiasm that positively affected everyone around her.
If someone had told Pyro that he’d be perfectly content to sit at home every night and read children’s books, or learn braille, or stand in the kitchen and teach a little girl who couldn’t see how to measure ingredients and cook, he’d have told them they were crazy.
And yet, here he was. Happier than a pig in mud.
Even his job seemed easier, knowing he had someone—two someones—to go home to at the end of the day.
For the first time in his life, he dreaded getting the call that they were scheduled for deployment. He didn’t want to leave Penny and Bowie. They were completely capable of living their lives while he was gone, but he didn’t want to miss a minute of time with them.
He was besotted, and he didn’t give one little shit.
The topic of deployment had come up a time or two at work, which made Pyro a little twitchy. He was relieved Colvin didn’t seem to be an issue, but a nagging voice in his head said things weren’t that simple.
What he really wanted to do was fly out to Washington and have a chat with the man himself, but Tex had talked him out of it.
He said that his friend, Baker Rawlins, had taken care of it, and that he’d be in touch if anything seemed wonky.
Tex assured Pyro that he hadn’t found any more significant withdrawals from the man’s bank, indicating he might be paying someone to come to Virginia and collect the debt.
There were no emails or phone calls that looked suspicious.
In short, it seemed as if Penny was free to live her life without having to give up her hard-earned money to someone who didn’t deserve or need it.
So Pyro had no idea why he still had a feeling of dread every time he left Penny in the morning, or every time a full workday went by and he hadn’t heard from her.
He was clearly paranoid…but after everything that had happened to Zita, Mandy, and Laryn, no one could blame him for being on edge. Waiting for the other shoe to drop.
He hated feeling that way, but his upbringing had taught him that when things were going well, something usually happened to fuck it up. And the stakes were huge this time around. Because if Penny or Bowie were hurt, he’d lose his mind.
He was getting ready for a training flight exercise with Casper when his phone rang.
Glancing at the screen, Pyro’s adrenaline immediately started pumping when he saw it was Penny.
She rarely called during the day, knowing he was often busy.
If she wanted to reach him, she usually texted.
Considering his paranoia, getting a call felt ominous.
“What’s wrong?” he said when he answered, in lieu of a greeting.
She chuckled, making Pyro relax a fraction. “Why would you assume something’s wrong?”
“Because you never call me during the day.”
“Yeah, because I never want to bother you. Are you busy?”
He was. Looking over at Casper by the chopper, doing the checks they always did before takeoff, Pyro lied and said, “Nope. What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you’d be able to meet Bowie at school and walk her home today.
Two people called out sick at work and apparently the phone lines are stacked up with really long hold times.
My manager asked if I’d be willing to work a few extra hours today.
If you can’t, that’s okay, I can tell her no. ”
Pyro knew how important her job was, and how hard she was working to build up her savings account. She also loved what she did. She was passionate about educating expectant mothers and helping reassure them when they called with questions.
“Can I call you back and let you know in about ten minutes?” he asked.
“Of course. Honestly, it’s really okay if you can’t. I understand.”
“Just give me a few minutes to talk to Casper and see if it’s okay. I’ll call you back here in a bit.”
“Okay. Pyro?”
“Yeah, sweetheart.”
“I appreciate you. You’ve done so much for me and Bowie. I feel as if all I do is take from you and not give back enough.”
Pyro laughed. “You’re kidding, right? You have no idea what you’ve given me, Pen.
The biggest thing is a sense of belonging.
I’ve found the family I’ve been searching for my entire life.
And I’ve never laughed so much as I have with the two of you.
You asking me to walk Bowie home from school isn’t a hardship.
I love hearing how her day went and seeing how happy she is to have friends her own age.
I love both of you, more than you’ll probably ever know. ”
“We love you too,” Penny said immediately.
“Give me a few and I’ll call you back,” he told her.
“Okay. Thanks. Talk to you soon.”
“Yes, you will,” he said.
After hanging up, Pyro immediately headed toward Casper. His copilot and team leader had a small smile on his face as he watched him approach. “Everything all right with Penny and Bowie?”
“Yeah. She wanted to know if I could pick Bowie up from school. She has a chance for some overtime with her work. I told her I’d check with you. I know we’re about to fly, but—”
“It’s fine, Pyro. Go. I’ll go up with Edge after he does his flight with Chaos.”
“Really? Thanks.”
“I get it,” Casper said quietly. “We used to live to fly, but now we have different priorities. That doesn’t mean we don’t take our jobs seriously or that we want to quit, but when push comes to shove, what’s most important is no longer these hunks of machinery,” he said, patting the side of the chopper.
“I can come back after I drop Bowie off at the apartment.”
But Casper was already shaking his head.
“No. I’m sure if Penny’s on the phones, she’ll appreciate if you entertain Bowie.
There will be plenty of times in the future when I need to take off early to be home with Laryn and our baby.
Enjoy your time with them. Before too long, Bowie will be heading off on her first date, then leaving home to go to college. ”
“Can we please not talk about Bowie dating? I’m not ready for that yet,” Pyro said, completely serious.
But deep down, he felt all warm just thinking about being around to see the little girl grow up.
A lot could happen between now and then, but he wanted to be there to make sure any boyfriend knew to treat her right, or he’d have Pyro to deal with.
He wanted to sit up with Penny and worry about her until they heard her return later in the evening.
He wanted to do all the things he knew dads did, but had never seen firsthand.
And he wanted that with Penny and Bowie…
and any kids they might have in the future.
Casper laughed. “Go. I’ll clear it with the colonel.”
“Thanks, Casper.”
His team leader waved him off, and Pyro headed for the door before something could happen that would make him feel obligated to stay.
He called Penny back on the way to his car, letting her know he was stopping by his place and changing really fast before heading to her apartment.
It wasn’t against any rules to wear his flight suit outside of the base, but since Bowie’s school wasn’t on base, he liked blending in with the other parents who were there to pick up their kids.
It didn’t take him long to change and be on his way to Penny and Zita’s apartment complex. He saw Jen and Fred in the lobby when he entered. Fred had his official search dog vest on, and Pyro frowned.
“You headed out for a search?” he asked.
Jen nodded. “Eighty-two-year-old Alzheimer’s patient went missing an hour and a half ago from his assisted living facility.”
“How does that happen?” he asked with a shake of his head. “Aren’t the residents supposed to be monitored?”
“Unfortunately, it occurs more than you know,” Jen said. “But Fred’ll find him. I have no doubt.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
Jen headed outside with Fred eagerly pulling on the leash, as if he knew what they were about to do. And he probably did. He likely associated the vest with an official search.
Pyro headed up the stairs and used the key Penny had recently given him to enter the apartment. It was a big deal to be given 24/7 access to her living space, and Pyro had immediately reciprocated by getting her a key to his place.