Chapter 12
JOEL
“None of this has gone to plan. Everyone, calm the fuck down. Apex, I’m Joel Novar.
Haven is my ol’ lady, we all got that established, but that is not why I wanted to meet with you.
I need any information you have on the container delivered in Jersey last night.
We think it’s involved with the ones we’ve been receiving.
” I take the coffee Twister offers me and sit next to Haven.
I’m still feeling the need to show my dominance in my own damn house, and it’s pissing me the fuck off that I can tell Haven isn’t fooled. I throw my arm across the back of the couch so that our bodies move closer, and she snorts.
“As I was saying,” I poke her ticklish spot as Apex raises his eyebrow at us.
“That’s him, huh?” His question brings me up short.
“It is.” Haven links her arms together and lays her head on my shoulder.
“Danica would be happy for you both.” And the hits keep coming.
“You two spoke about me?” I look at Haven, who blushes at my question.
“Was it before or after you saw her?” I glare at Twister, and he shuts his mouth before he can finish his inappropriate question.
“Before.” Haven and Apex say together, filling the room with tension again.
“Look, Prez, I’m only here to give my report, then I’ll move along to my next assignment. My contacts in the Coast Guard witnessed a handoff of that container off the coast of Delaware.” Fuck that can only mean one thing.
“They know we’re on to them.” Apex nods and stands.
“I’ll call if I get anything else. Permission to hug her goodbye.” Haven rolls her eyes and stands stepping into his open arms.
“Good to see you. Don’t be a stranger. Corvin will be pissed he missed you.” She squeezes him once more before stepping away.
“He just wants to get me between his thighs again.” Haven laughs and nods as he walks to my front door.
“True,” she says as I reach around her and open it for him.
“Thank you for the information. When you’re ready to settle, you have a place with us.” He looks up at me with a hint of shock on his face.
“I’ll let you know in nine months.” He nods once and walks out the door.
“You aren’t pregnant, are you?” I whisper into Haven’s ear.
“For fuck sakes, Joel. NO! We never had sex.” She shoves me and slams the door shut in disgust.
“He was talking about his warrant. The statute of limitations is up then. It’s the whole reason he’s a nomad.” Okay, now I’m curious.
“What the hell did he do?” Haven turned the stove on with her back to us, so I looked to Twister for my answer.
“He was a teacher. Word has it he was at the school late grading papers when he heard a girl screaming. He found her being raped and killed the man with his bare hands.” Well, that clears up my worries about his character.
“Yeah, he’s got a home with us.” Haven slams her hands on the counter and spins around to glare at me.
“Twister, leave.”
The man stares from Haven to me before he grabs his shit and vacates the kitchen like his ass is on fire.
“What is your problem? Apex is a good man and deserves your respect.” I hold my hands up.
“I agree with you.” She huffs at me but turns back to stir the eggs in the frying pan.
I move around the counter and hug her from behind.
“I’m sorry if I made you think otherwise. You can’t blame me for not liking the man. He stole my firsts with you.” She sighs and shakes her head.
“Not the important one, or did you not notice the blood on the sheets?” I had, in fact, seen that, but I won’t admit the pride it brought me.
“I was too busy falling out of bed and rushing to Twister’s rescue.” I kiss her neck.
“How sore are you?” She elbows me lightly, which I dodge easily.
“Fuck you.” I chuckle.
“I plan to. Vigorously as soon as you answer my question.” I pour us more coffee when her phone stops playing music and rings.
“Shit, that’s work.” She picks it up and answers it, pinning it between her head and shoulder so she can flip the eggs onto two plates.
“Dr. Demato,” I sip my drink as I watch her listen to the caller.
“Yes. Where? I see. Yes. I’ll be there shortly.” She hangs up.
“Put a pin in that vigorous fucking. I gotta go to work.” I raise an eyebrow ‘cause I know that wasn’t Corvin.
“Morgue?” She nods.
“Yup. Eat your breakfast, and I’ll call you later.” She kisses me and rushes out the door.
Left alone to my own devices, I take one look at my plate and frown. The eggs look like rubber, the toast is burnt, and I think the charred pieces were once bacon that I never once saw her take out of the fridge, let alone cook.
I scrape the contents into the trash and wish I had her devil dog, Diesel, here to eat the food.
“Need help putting away the groceries?” I curse and jump into the air on a sound that he’d better never admit I made.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Twister, I’m gettin’ you a fucking bell. I thought I told your ass to leave?” I grab the counter and white knuckle it until my heart rate returns to normal.
“When your lady ran out of here, I figured it was safe to come back in. I wasn’t only here to restock your fridge and tell you about Apex. We’ve got a problem at the shop.” I sigh.
Of course we do.
“Now what?” I pour myself more coffee and come to the conclusion that my diet today is going to be all liquid.
“Well, someone broke in.” I nod and set my mug down.
Yup. It’s time to switch to whiskey.
“Let’s roll then.” I grab my keys and head for the door.
“Um, Cable?” I turn to look at him in confusion.
“Dude, you ain’t dressed.”
Fucking hell.
I jog up the stairs to the sound of his laughter and a comment that I can’t fucking argue to save my life.
“Damn, if that’s what good pussy does to a man, then I need to get me some.”