Dead of Winter (Cold Case Psychic #15) - Pandora Pine Page 0,79

proud look.

Ronan was pretty impressed too. He’d spent so much of his law enforcement career being a hothead. He really had mellowed out over time. “Ten and I are going to the gala tomorrow night. Lisa will be there and so will Kyle. I want to get a feel for how the two of them operate around each other.”

“What about Fitz and Jude? Are they going too?”

Ronan nodded. “Jace is big into philanthropy. He and Kevin were planning on going anyway. Jude and Cope are coming, and so are Carson and Truman.”

“Carson, our murderer?” Cisco laughed.

“He and Truman don’t get out much. When it comes to having psychics in on this case, the more the merrier!” Ronan studied Cisco for a minute. “What about you and Luca? Are you going too?”

“I’m not sure.” Cisco sighed. “I want to show him off to the world, but I’m worried about being seen as a cop at this thing. Any other year, I’d take him in a heartbeat, but I think you guys can handle this by yourselves. I’ll be available to assist if you run into any trouble or gunfire.”

“I’m always armed when I’m working a case.” Ronan set his right ankle on Cisco’s desk. He gave his pant leg a tug to reveal a small holster loaded with a handgun. “Is this a problem for you? I’m pretty sure Kevin and Jude are carrying too.”

“No, it’s absolutely not a problem. I wouldn’t have brought you all into this case if I didn’t trust you to handle yourselves.”

Ronan nodded but stayed in his seat.

“Something else on your mind, Ronan?” Cisco leaned forward in his chair.

“It’s good to be back.” A ghost of a smile appeared and was gone.

“But?” Cisco prodded.

“But Ten is hating this. I’ve never seen him so irritable on a case before. He says it’s the people we’re dealing with, but I’m not so sure.” Ronan knew his husband well enough to know he was hating every second of working on a murder case again.

“We all know how spouses of law enforcement officers worry about us when we’re on the job. I’ve gotten an earful from Luca from time to time over my own close calls in the line of duty.” Cisco rubbed his thumb over his wedding ring. “You’ve been out of the game for eighteen months. Tennyson has gotten used to not worrying about you when you leave the house every day. Now, all of a sudden, you’re back in the thick of things. Witnesses are being murdered, and you’re gearing up for some kind of final confrontation tomorrow night.”

“Then there’s Everly,” Ronan half-whispered.

Cisco’s eyes flicked to the framed picture on his desk. It wasn’t of him with Luca, it was him and Everly. “With both of you working this case, this puts her in jeopardy of losing both parents.”

Ronan nodded. He wanted to go back to work in the worst way, but not if it meant Ten was on edge and put his little girl in danger of growing up without him. That was the reason he’d retired in the first place. “Jude and Fitzgibbon mentioned starting our own P.I. firm.”

“That’s interesting. I know it’s Jude’s thing, and I think it would work out well for you and Fitz.”

Ronan nodded. “I’d been on the fence about it before you called about the Washington case. I figured the hours would be better, and it wouldn’t be as dangerous as working with the Salem PD.”

“As much as I’d love to have you working with me, I understand where you’re coming from. Luca has been reading up on the adoption process, and he’s waiting for me to give him the go-ahead to get the ball rolling.”

“What? Cisco, that’s great news. I think the two of you would be amazing fathers. Everly is crazy about both of you.”

Cisco’s eyes went back to the picture. He picked it up and turned it to Ronan. “I’m good at being Uncle Cisco. When she shits herself or gets crabby, I just hand her back to you and Ten. What if I can’t soothe my own child? What if he or she won’t love me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. All of the kids love you. I do too.” Ronan shrugged when Cisco’s eyes widened. “I like to give you shit because we’re so much alike. Brothers from another mother, as Greeley would say. You’re going to be a great father because you’ll be all in.”

“I appreciate you saying that. All of it. I know we’re friends, but