Page 37 of Vermilion Desire

Not adopted or blood-related, but she might as well take his last name since he has been taking care of her since she was young. No, I don’t want that. The only name chance she is allowed to have is with mine when we get married, and if she thinks that I didn’t catch the slipup from her meeting with Berkshire Senior, then she is sorely mistaken.

“She’s your future wife,” he remarks, a teasing grin on his lips before it’s hidden behind his coffee cup.

“So,” I test out the boundaries. “I have your blessing?”

He scoffs, mimicking my voice to repeat what I said. “What century are you in? Of course, I’d rather you be her husband than anyone else. I had approved you to be her pseudo-uncle when she was sixteen, a friend when she turned eighteen, and I’m approving husband material right now.”

Cal doesn’t mess around when it comes to Scarletta. When he’s protective, not even I can come out of this fight without losing my limbs and my dignity.

I’m glad this man is my partner and the future head of the department. With Scarletta in the picture, I have to start thinking about my future too. When I was sure where we would go because I had practically cockblocked myself into thinking she’s too young, so I can’t have her.

She’s mine now, and it’s time to look into the future with her being more than my friend.

“Y’all ever think about the comfort of a man in the middle of his fifth divorce?” Our captain cocks an impassive eyebrow with a purse of his lips. The sass on his face is surreal.

“Sorry, captain.” Cal salutes him with his cup. “Divorce comes with the job.”

“Says the man who has never been married,” the captain splutters back.

Cal slaps his hand on his chest, just over his heart and pats proudly. “Giving my love to one woman is selfish.”

“Don’t let Scarletta hear you; you’ll cry and accuse you of playing favorites.” I lean my weight against my desk, going over the pile of files that need to look through. Crime doesn’t stop for anyone.

“That’s a different heart,” Cal says offhandedly, waving his hand, and finishes his coffee. “You should worry about yourself. If you break her heart, I’ll tear yours out.”

“Don’t bother,” I reply. “I’ll do it myself.”

The captain’s throat gurgles in disgust. “You guys are… extreme.”

We ignore his commentary, but Cal still has something to say. Why couldn’t he wait until we are the comfort of our own home to have this father to son-in-law talk? He’s Cal, a dramatic bastard, that’s why.

“Make her cry,” he threatens vaguely.

I flash him my dark eyes. “Likewise.”

“Honestly,” the captain once again chimes in with a grimace. “Young women these days are free. You might not know it, but she could be an experienced free-fall skydiver. You guys don’t have to keep her under intense supervision.”

“Oh, hell no,” Cal snaps, shaking his head. “My baby red does not do dangerous stuff like that.”

“Right?” He turns to me, eyes demanding that I agree with him to soothe the fatherly instinct to protect his baby girl. “Tell me you didn’t take my baby to a paintball gun range either. I’m against guns!”

“You’re a cop,” the captain deadpans.

I add in for the sake of my ears. “She’s a rare disease researcher; danger comes with the territory.”

“So, you did take her to a paintball massacre!” He points an accusatory finger at me, lips open wide in shock.

Some of our fellow officers stop their typing and phone calls to look at his outburst before returning to their work. Cal is known to have a big mouth and talks loudly, so not a soul here is concerned.

“I didn’t,” I adamantly deny. “A lot of things happened since you dropped her off with me; we didn’t even have much time to settle in before this happened.”

Cal is about to retort when Scarletta and the district attorney comes out of the room. She makes a beeline to me, goofily giggling into my chest while the captain politely pretends that he is watching the time on the wall.

My partner huffs and lowers his open arms when Scarletta dodged him. I shoot him a smug smirk, making sure he knows that he isn’t Scarletta’s favorite anymore, but she still loves him.

“Detectives, please come into the room with us.” The lawyer secures the folder in his hand and heads towards the interrogation room.

Scarletta holds my hand, the tender touch and the bright smile on her face are enough for me to momentarily forget about Braxton in the room waiting for us to grill the shit out of him.

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