Page 26 of Crossing Lines

Ethan, the baby Stella had rescued, was a precious child. He ate really well, taking a full bottle when he’d feed. He liked to sleep too. He slept most of the night, which from what others had said was not the typical cycle. He was fussy when he was hungry or needed to be changed. Other times, he was all smiles and cute baby noises. The little dude was just chill. When he woke at night, whether to be fed or changed, he was content just to be held afterwards. Stella would sit in the rocking chair, holding him against her chest so they didn’t disturb my sleep.

As if I could sleep through her leaving the bed. I’d silently watch them, reveling in the new changes in her.

The moonlight had a way of wrapping her in its glow as she softly sang to him. It was something I was more than thankful to watch. I loved my hard-hitting, foul-mouthed angel. God, I loved her more than words. She had been my salvation.

This baby was becoming that for her too.

Watching her and the baby had become one of my favorite pastimes. So much so, I hated leaving them sprawled out on the bed. Ethan had been fussy after a bottle this morning, so she’d laid down with him, and they were both out in no time, his little body curled up on her chest. I’d fought with myself to stay after pulling the blanket over them. They looked so peaceful.

I wanted to stay, but I couldn’t. I needed to meet Chip and Tank at the bar. The FBI was still on our asses for fucking uptheirop, but let’s face it, that shit show was all on them. They’re the ones that allowed bounty hunters in. They made no move to stop us. If we’d been given all the information, we’d have gone in and shut them down before they knew anyone was there. Wedidn’t just run in with guns blazing. They were the reason we had lost the fuckers.

I got out of Carter’s truck and waved as he pulled away. I’d be glad when I could drive again. Shaking my head, I moved to the front door of the bar. My crutches make it tricky getting in and out of doors by myself. It sucked.

“Hey, my man, what’ll you have?” Brayden asked as I took in a frustrated breath. Damn crutches.

“Beer, whatever’s on tap.” I moved to the bar and shook his hand. “Good to see you. How are the girls?”

“They’re good. I’m missing them like crazy. Katie is trying to convince her mom to come home for a little bit.”

“Think she will?” I inquired before taking a drink of my beer.

“Not a chance. I think it would do her good to see that no one here is upset with her. Hell, I’d say ninety-five percent of Burke still has no idea what happened. They just know Stephen was killed and that Carole left town. They kept it off the news, and no one has mentioned it since it first happened.”

Katie, Brayden’s fiancée, had taken the baby, Natty, to a doctor in Houston a few weeks ago to have some tests done on her little heart. As far as I knew, she was doing well being here surrounded by family. From there, she was spending some time with her mom. Carole still didn’t have the heart to face the people in Burke. As Brayden said, no one here blamed her for what had happened with her husband. It wasn’t her fault he was a psychotic serial killer.

But it didn’t matter to her. Houston was as close as she would get. She’d fly in from Hawaii, if she were coming from home or from whatever event her publishing house had her at, park it a few weeks, let her family come to her, and then leave again.

“How do you not go crazy being away from Stel? I know I’m new to love, but am I nuts? I feel like I’m climbing the walls. The next three days are going to feel like years.”

I chuckled. “It gets easier at times. Harder at others. Three days will feel like nothing. They’ll be back before you know it.”

“I hope so.”

“Well, looky what the cat dragged in.” I turned to see Chip and Tank coming in the door. I gave him the one-fingered salute, picking up my beer and taking two big gulps.

“Boys, how’s it hanging?”

“Long and to the left,” Tank replied.

I snorted. Asshole was posturing like a rooster.

“Enough with the pleasantries, let’s find a table.” Chip ordered more beers and carried them to the table. I hobbled along behind him and took the first chair I got to and dropped into it. I pulled another chair over and propped up my leg.

“What did you find out?” I asked, taking my beer when he set it on the table.

“The FBI has an open case. There was another man they were after that night. A man named Kurt Bohlen. He wasn’t on the property. They’re saying we let him escape, but shit went up in flames so fast, I wouldn’t know if angels came down to bless us that night.”

“Should have had me with you,” Tank grumbled. I was still letting the name roll around in my head. I knew that name, but I wasn’t sure from where. Then, it hit me.

“Son of a bitch! Did the others find out who we were?” I asked, sitting up straighter, pulling my phone from my pocket.

“Why? What do you mean?”

I dialed the station.

“Burke County Sheriff’s office, how may I direct your call?”

“Anna, it’s Trace. Is boy wonder in?”

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