pocket and grasped her phone. Before she could talk herself out of it, she called up his number, the one she'd been given when she in-processed to the team. She punched the numbers and prayed it would go through to voicemail. Chicken shit at best, but this was one hell of a bullet to eat.
"King."
Damn it, her hands were shaking. "Brody, this is Amber." And so was her voice.
"Standby." The clipped comeback didn't bode well. He obviously wasn't in a good mood, and yet she heard laughter in the background, both men and women. A quick glance at the clock confirmed she'd probably caught him at his parents for Sunday supper. It was a tradition. One she’d used to enjoy. Brody's family had always been so welcoming. Well, except for his mom. She’d never understood why Hannah had always seemed disappointed in her.
"What?" Sharpness edged the question.
"I need to talk to you. Face-to-face."
"I'm not agreeing to a meeting unless it's work related." He bit the words off, his anger a tangible thing. It pooled between them like lava flowing from a fissure.
She pushed the words forward in a rush, "I need ten minutes. Ten minutes, Brody. If you never want to talk to me again after that, I'll shut up, and you'll be rid of me. I'll even ask for a transfer from JDET." She prayed he wouldn't make her leave. The DEA's travel made the JDET's hours seem like a nine-to-five job even though it wasn't. It was more stable than what she had now, which is why she’d put in for the job.
"Where are you?"
"I'm at Dawn's. Do you remember where––"
A harsh laugh cut her off. "Not likely to forget that address."
Defeated, she hung her head without saying a word. His words stabbed like a knife into her chest. She’d never escape the guilt.
"Never mind. I'll be there in a half hour. You'll have ten minutes. Use them wisely." The connection was cut.
She drew a shaky breath and immediately called Dawn. "Where are you?"
"On my way home. Why, do you need me to stop and get something?"
"No, but could you come straight home and stay with Gage? I invited Brody over. I'm going to tell him the truth, and I need Gage preoccupied if he wakes up."
"Damn it. Yeah, I'll be right there. I never thought you'd do it."
"You were right. It's not fair to Gage or Brody."
"Well I hate when I'm right. It isn't going to be easy for any of you. Gage needs to come first. Whatever angst you and Brody are going through needs to stay away from that boy."
"Yeah, I know." She'd fight tooth and nail to make sure Gage wasn't hurt by anyone, especially Brody. Not that she thought he would do anything to jeopardize a relationship with Gage. Well, the man he was before wouldn't. This Brody? That angry, bitter man, she wasn't too sure about.
"I'm about five minutes away. I'll see you soon." Dawn hung up, leaving her staring at the wall of her bedroom.
Brody's heart beat a bit faster as he drove through the intersection a half mile from the house of Amber’s sister—the intersection where his truck had been obliterated by a drunk man driving a delivery truck. Fragments of memories still haunted him. The concussion of the hit, the truck rolling, the sharp jarring and breaking of his body, the stabbing pain and the sparks as the fire department cut the metal from around him. He’d woken up in the hospital two weeks later. His mom, dad, brothers and sisters surrounded him—everyone he cared about—except Amber.
He drove down the quiet street and slowly drove up in front of the little house. Even though it was sprinkling, he didn't turn off the truck. He wasn't going in. If she wanted to talk to him, she could come to him. That's exactly what happened. She jogged to the street wearing jeans, a t-shirt, white tennis shoes, and a lightweight windbreaker. She opened the passenger side door and slipped inside. He made a point to look at his watch, turned his head to her, and raised an eyebrow.
She drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her hands were fisted so tightly her fingers were white. Whatever she had to say was important, at least to her. "This isn't going to be easy, and if you stop me to ask any questions, I won't be able to finish, so don't, okay?" She opened her eyes and glanced at him.