breath.
Even as a hardened mercenary, Declan couldn’t comprehend the depth of this tragedy. His interaction with Vanessa had been limited, but it was clear that she and the captain had a good marriage. Thank god their sons arrived in time to support their mother. When they left the room, Vanessa and Gabby were like ghosts, the men—tight-lipped, faces etched in unfathomable grief.
Gabby shut down, her answers monotone, so Declan gave her space. When they arrived at the house, Theo asked how Mitchell was and all she answered was …
He didn’t make it.
Then she announced she was tired and disappeared into her room. The door closed and locked. At that time Declan regretted fixing the door the day after he broke it. Not that it would have made a difference. She deserved her moment to grieve for the man who’d been like a father to her.
He glanced at the text she sent at nine that evening. Having a drink with the guys. Don’t know when I’ll be home.
The funeral was tomorrow. Declan knew she had to be with her department and he understood that. As a soldier, nothing hit harder than the loss of a brother. The shared grief with the surviving team, shooting the shit and remembering the good times were a way of moving on, getting unstuck from the cycle of grief.
This end-of-watch ritual would be hard on everyone.
Declan convinced himself that seeing Gabby through this difficult time would strengthen their relationship. Still, he couldn’t help the angst that took hold when she wasn’t within his sight. An issue he was trying to ignore.
“Dammit!” Theo yelled. “I’m dead. You win.”
His partner’s chuckle followed another disgruntled groan from the teen. Declan wasn’t much of a gamer; he was damned glad that Levi was.
“It’s past one, you should go to bed,” Levi told the teenager. “The call sheet says you’re due on the set at nine.”
“Yeah, yeah, I need my beauty rest,” Theo said as he stood and stretched, but headed in Declan’s direction instead of toward his room.
Levi announced he was turning in and disappeared to his side of the house.
“Worried about Gabby?” Theo asked.
“Not necessarily a worry, more like a concern.”
“It’s tough being a cop. Tougher being related to one.”
Declan glanced sharply at his son.
Theo hitched his shoulders. “They say it all the time on TV. It’s harder on the loved ones wondering if their cop is safe.”
It was uncanny how Theo had zeroed in on the thing that was bothering him.
“You’re tougher than most men I know,” the teen continued. “Certainly more than Nick and I love that guy.” The teen’s eyes widened as if realizing the insensitivity of his words, but his mouth turned up in a half grin. “No offense, but he’s been like my second dad.”
“Sometimes.” Declan exhaled through his nose because what Theo said hit the bullseye—straight through his fucking heart and then some. “You need a helluva filter on that mouth. I will never, in any goddamned dimension of this universe, be like Nick.”
“Yeah, just calling it as it is.”
“Kid, you’re too young to call it as it is,” he said. “Stop trying to act older than you are. There are a lot of things you don’t know—”
“I know this,” Theo cut him off. “I know you may be the best man for Gabby after all.”
He stilled. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I heard you right.”
Theo laughed. “All I’m saying is it takes a strong-minded man to handle my sister. I can see why you got together in the first place … sparks and all. But can you handle her being a cop? The risks? She’ll always be my sister no matter what, and I’ll worry about her for an eternity, but you? You can walk away now.”
“Now, not later?” Declan asked, curious with his phrasing.
“Before it goes any further. Before one of you gets hurt.”
“I’m not going to hurt Gabby. Not this time.”
“I’m also thinking about you, Roarke,” Theo said. “What if she was the one infected and not the captain?”
“Jesus.” He scraped his face with a hand. The thought did occur to him. He’d had nightmares about it the other night. Gabby with tubes going through her, keeping her alive, blood pouring from her eyes and nose. “I get the risks, bud. I’ve lived the risks before, worked side-by-side with men and women who had loved ones back home.”
Theo nodded, seemingly satisfied. “You waiting up for her?”
“Yeah. Go to bed. You need your beauty sleep.”
His son snorted and clamped a hand