31. Chapter 31
Chapter thirty-one
SEBASTIAN
The last several hours this morning have been a little too easy.
I woke up more refreshed than I have in a while, wrapped around Noah, steadying the chaos that’s been clawing at my gut.
Maura then proceeded to stuff us with pancakes before shoving a grocery list into Logan’s hands and sending us out for food.
And now I’m leaning on a cart, this moment feeling wildly domestic as I push through the small store.
It feels like we’re buying for our last dinner together, as if something is going to go monumentally wrong, something we won’t be able to fix, especially since we’re getting no push or pull from our superiors to yank Noah off that deployment clock ticking down to Monday.
Noah brought up the ringing in his ear, saying that we could use it as a last resort but that would drag Carl into this and risk his medical license. Not to mention, if the wrong person digs far enough, they’ll find out about the alcohol and then Noah would also lose his.
So we’re stuck, at a loss, grasping at nothing while the deadline looms. Still, I try to shake it off, to enjoy this sliver of peace as I steer the cart past cans of soup and bags of rice, my shoulders brushing the shelves in this cramped space.
Logan’s ahead, playing the dutiful son, snagging everything on the list with a focus that’s almost funny.
“Potatoes, check,” he mutters, tossing a bag into the cart, and I smirk, nudging Noah beside me.
“He’s gonna ask for a gold star next,” I tease.
Noah’s quiet, has been all day, but he cracks a small smile, his eyes soft, and it’s enough to loosen the knot in my chest.
Declan’s on his other side, restless as always, his hand brushing Noah’s arm, then his back, like he can’t help himself. “You think Maura’d notice if we swapped the carrots for candy?” he asks, grinning, and I snort, rolling my eyes.
“She’d notice when you’re bouncing off the walls at dinner,” I shoot back, and Noah chuckles, the sound faint but real.
We turn into the next aisle, Declan’s patience snapping. It was like yesterday opened something between the four of us, Declan much less hesitant when it comes to Noah. I’m not complaining.
He grabs Noah, pinning him against a shelf of cereal boxes, his hands framing Noah’s face as he kisses him hard, messy, like he’s starving for it. I stop the cart, leaning on it, watching them with a mix of amusement and warmth, the need to reach down and adjust myself growing.
Noah melts into it, his hands gripping Declan’s jacket, and I catch the flush creeping up his neck. “Maura is gonna ban us from her house if you can’t keep your hands to yourself,” Noah murmurs when they break apart, breathless, and Declan laughs, loud and wild.
“Let her try,” he says, pulling back just enough to look at him.
“I love you so goddamn much, Bunny.” Noah’s smile widens, the man whispering something back that looks like those three words we’re all desperate to hear but I’m mildly distracted by two police officers lingering at the end of the aisle.
They’re not browsing, not shopping, just watching, their eyes tracking us a little too close for comfort.
My grip tightens on the cart as the ease of the morning sours fast. I glance at Logan, who’s still fussing over the list, oblivious, then at Declan, who’s too wrapped up in Noah to clock it.
“Hey,” I say, my voice cutting through their bubble. “We’ve got company.”
Declan turns, his arm still slung around Noah’s shoulders, and frowns, spotting them. “What the fuck?” he mutters, his grin fading. Noah stiffens, his smile dropping, and I see the flicker of panic in his eyes, the same one I’ve been shoving down all day.
They approach, stopping a few feet away, their eyes scanning us, and the taller one steps forward. “Which one of you is Noah Strong?” he asks. My chest locks up, and I glance at Noah beside me, his face paling, his hands twitching at his sides.
I step closer to Noah, my bulk a shield, but the shorter officer speaks up. “We’ve got some questions that need answering down at the station. Noah Strong, right?” He nods at Noah, who’s staring wide-eyed, his breath shallow.
“Am I under arrest?” Noah asks, his voice cracking.
The tall one tilts his head, his eyes narrowing. “We can take you into custody if we have to, but we’d prefer this to be a peaceful transaction. Come with us, answer what we need, and we’ll see where it goes.” His hand rests casually on his belt, but the threat’s there, clear as day.
I don’t think, just move, my hands cupping Noah’s face, pulling him to me.
His skin’s warm under my palms as I kiss him hard, my lips pressing into his with everything I’ve got.
“Don’t say a fucking word,” I whisper against his mouth, a command I need him to hear.
He stares at me confused before fixing his expression, the taller officer stepping in, taking his arm.
I let go, my hands dropping to my sides as I watch them cart him away, his head turning back to us.
The aisle empties out fast, shoppers scattering, making this moment just a little too real.
“Fuck the cart,” I growl, shoving it aside, the wheels rattling as it crashes into a shelf. Logan’s already moving, Declan right behind, and we bolt for the exit and pile into the truck.
The ride to Maura’s is a blur, Maura shrieking as we burst through the front door, a coffee mug halfway to her lips. “What’s wrong?” she says, standing fast, her eyes darting between us. “Where’s Noah?”
“Things just got worse,” I say, cutting straight to it. “Police took Noah for questioning. We don’t know what they’ve got, but it’s bad.”
Maura doesn’t say anything, just puts a few things in a small bag before throwing it at me.
“Food. I know damn well you three won’t eat while trying to save him and you’ll need the energy.
Go figure out what’s going on and then you can come back to visit like you’re supposed to.
” She’s forcing a smile onto her face, the woman stronger than we all give her credit for.
I pull her into a hug before rushing upstairs to grab my bag, the other two already waiting for me as we pile back into the car.
The badges were from our city, not Handelbrook, which means they’ve carted him back home.
Declan cuts through the silence as I peel out onto the street.
“There’s no fucking way he’d be taken down to the station for questioning unless Heath or Kurt gave up his name. No one else has shit on him.”
“I’m pretty sure we know who did it. Kurt’s probably waltzing around, free as a bird, hoping that all of his shit lands on Noah.
” My hands flex around the steering wheel, itching to wrap around Kurt’s neck, to squeeze until he feels half the panic I do.
That report, the whispers, Noah’s ear—it’s all Kurt, every fucking piece, and he’s playing us like pawns.
“What are our fucking options?” I say, the frustration boiling over.
“I’m not sure,” Logan starts. “I’m gonna see if Mom’s still got that lawyer on speed dial. She used him a while back—good guy, sharp. Might buy us some time.”
Declan leans forward, his elbows on his knees, and tries a grin but it feels forced. “Hey, at least this’ll postpone his deployment, right?” The joke lands flat, a dead weight that none of us bite.