Hello My Angel - Sue Brown Page 0,37

trying to be reassuring but feeling really fucking sad.

The sound of the sirens grew louder.

“Thank God for that,” Cal said. “Between the glass and the cold wind, this is bloody uncomfortable.”

“You could slide off me,” Josh suggested again.

“Not until we get the all clear.”

Josh resigned himself to not breathing for at least another hour.

It was probably nearer two by the time the police had established Chyna or one of her henchmen had disappeared, and the people covered in glass and shaking with cold were, in fact, the good guys.

Paramedics examined all of them. Josh had two minor cuts to his cheek which didn’t require any stitches. Max and Rick were uninjured. Dave had had the luckiest escape, as a bullet had grazed his bicep. Cal had numerous nicks and cuts from the shattered glass, and Gil had cut his hands pretty badly as he crawled across the glass, but neither of them needed stitches or to go to hospital, despite the paramedics’ protests.

The team showered off the worst of the glass and changed their clothes, then retired to one of the offices while the crime techs came in to examine the scene. Josh ordered more food and they discussed what they were going to do next.

“I’ll need more monitors,” Max said gloomily.

“We’ll need a new office,” Rick said. “Unless you prefer working with open air ventilation.”

“We’re moving to another building,” Cal said. “Get your gear and meet back here. We don’t need to take the beds.”

Josh squinted at him. “Where are we going?”

“Not far. I called in a favor,” Cal said, not giving any information away. “I’ll get this boarded up tonight, then we can worry about the glaziers and new carpets and furniture in the morning.”

“That’s a relief,” Dave said.

Josh had a feeling his to-do list was going to get a lot longer in the morning.

By the time they reached the new building, a penthouse suite on top of another office block, Josh was ready to crash. He was so tired he could have slept standing up. He let Cal guide him into the apartment, the others following hard on their heels.

Rick whistled as he looked around the luxurious apartment. “A step up from the office block.”

“Don’t get too cozy,” Cal said dryly. “But at least for tonight you get a proper bed. There are three double beds. You’re going to have to share.”

“It won’t be the first time,” Rick said.

Dave grunted in agreement. “See you in the morning.”

They headed toward one of the bedrooms without a backward glance. Josh made a mental note to sneak in at some point and take a photo for blackmail purposes. Then he caught Max’s wide-eyed expression.

“Share?” he said faintly.

Gil rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, kid, your virtue is safe.”

If Josh hadn’t been so tired, he would have laughed.

“I’m going to bed,” Cal muttered and vanished toward one of the bedrooms.

Gil followed and headed to another.

Max looked pleadingly at Josh, who shrugged.

“You can sleep on the couch.”

They both turned to look at it.

Max grimaced. “I’ll sleep in the bed.”

The couch was designed to look fabulous in the living area. That was about the only good thing Josh could say about it. Max trailed after Gil, leaving Josh alone. For a moment he contemplated working but then he yawned so loudly his jaw cracked. He needed his Charlie and he needed sleep. He put his coffee machine in the kitchen and went in search of Cal.

The bedroom was quiet, dimly lit by a light on the nightstand. Cal was already in bed, barely visible under the duvet. Josh slipped into bed, stifling a groan of pleasure at being in a proper bed. He thought Cal was asleep, but he rolled over, wrapping his arms around Josh. Cal smelled fresh from the shower and Josh buried his nose against his skin to find Cal’s smell. He liked fresh, he preferred Cal.

“What an evening,” Cal rumbled above him.

Josh murmured sleepy agreement. He needed Cal’s arms around him, Cal’s cheek resting on the top of his head.

“Do you want to sleep or talk?” Cal asked.

It took Josh a moment for his sleepy brain to catch up. What did Cal want to talk about? Then he remembered the conversations they’d been having before Moles tried to put more holes in them. He shivered and Cal held him tighter.

“No talking. I can’t hold a serious conversation without coffee, and I need sleep first.”

There were things that needed to be said but Josh just wanted Cal’s arms around him.

“Okay.” Cal