she disappears around the corner where the restrooms are.
“Yes, I completely agree. Guys are perverts.” I smirk. He throws the rest of his roll at me, which I catch one-handed and take a bite of it, grinning at him.
We keep the conversation light for the rest of the evening, steering away from anything too serious. By the end of the night, I feel ten times better. Especially after being regaled with stories about some of the antics Tate’s team gets up to.
“Come on, Raindrop, I’ll follow you home and then you can fill me in on everything else,” he announces, letting me know my reprieve is over.
I sigh but stand anyway as he drops enough money on the table to cover the food and the tip. He walks me to my car, winking at the hostess as we pass her, making her blush. Tate watches as I start my car and pull out before climbing in his truck and following behind me.
Pulling up outside my house fifteen minutes later, I park in my drive and wait for Tate before I climb out. I’ll move my baby to the garage when he leaves. He pulls up behind me a few minutes later. I grab my bag, climb out, and make my way to the door, pausing for a moment when I notice the porch bulb is out again.
“Stupid faulty wiring,” I curse.
“What’s that?” Tate asks, sliding a heavy arm over my shoulder.
“The bulb has gone out again. That’s the fourth one this month. I’ll have to get an electrician to come out and check the wiring.”
Tate stops, halting my movements, making me jerk my head up to look at him.
“Go wait in the car, Reign,” he orders, pulling his Beretta from its holster.
“What is it?” I turn to look at the porch again, wondering what has him spooked, when I finally see what I missed the first time, thanks to the light being out.
My front door is ajar.
“Car. Now, Reign,” he says, his words clipped.
I hurry back to the car and lock myself inside like he asked, scrambling for my phone in the process. I dial 911 and fill them in on what’s going on and wait with bated breath as Tate disappears inside.
After ten minutes, I’m about ready to crawl out of my skin when I see the flashing lights of a patrol car pull up with a second one hot on its heels. I climb out when I spot Owen and Johnson heading my way and I rush over to them.
“Tate’s inside and he’s armed, so don’t go in without announcing yourself, but he’s been gone for ten minutes now, and it’s making me antsy,” I admit, even though I know this is what Tate’s trained for.
“Okay, calm down for me. Tate’s fine—” Owen tells me, but I interrupt him.
“You don’t know that—”
“He’s behind you,” Owen points out with a small grin, making me whirl around.
“Jesus, why didn’t you lead with that?” I yell, moving over to a grim-faced Tate. “Tell me,” I order as he grits his teeth and looks over his shoulder at Owen.
“Call a forensics team down here to dust for prints.” He stops talking as another car pulls up.
I turn, ignoring the two other officers leaning against their car and face the two climbing from the unmarked one. Travis and Garrett. Fuck.
“What is he doing here?” I grit out to Owen.
Owen turns at my words but doesn’t say anything when Garrett approaches. Travis pulls me into his arms for a quick hug before pushing me back and looking me over.
“What happened? Dad called to say you made a 911 call. He’s on his way—just to warn you,” Travis says, looking equal parts concerned and pissed.
“Why are you here?” I snap at Garrett, who holds his hands up in surrender.
“Reign,” Travis chastises.
“What? Since when does the captain turn up for a suspected break-in?” I ask him, knowing I need to rein it in but not having the patience to do it anymore.
“Since we were close by on stakeout,” Travis answers, looking confused.
I turn my back on him, not giving a single fuck about how rude I’m being. I look up at Tate with pleading eyes.
“Come on, Raindrop, come sit in my truck for a second while we wait for Dad.”
I let him lead me to his truck, ignoring Travis as he questions Owen about my attitude. I can feel Garrett’s eyes on me the whole time, burning into my skin and stripping me bare, but I