Page 97 of Love Me Fierce

“How long until we get the burner phone intel?” Zach asks.

“If all goes smoothly, a week,” Ballard says.

I cringe while Zach huffs a full breath, puffing his cheeks.

“You guys have furthered this case more in the last hour than we did in the last year,” Ballard says. “We’re getting closer to this guy.”

“Let’s get even closer,” Zach says in a tense voice. He collects the two evidence bags and the charging cord. “Later, Ballard,” he says, and slips from my rig.

Ballard and I end the call. I turn on my engine but sit a moment longer, the wiper blades swishing.

The Lamberts have waited over a year for answers.

But now that more of the puzzle pieces are falling into place, I don’t think those answers are going to bring them any peace.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

VIVIAN

“What’s wrong?”Sepp asks the second I come through the door.

I’m tempted to open my mouth and let all my worries loose. But then I’ll have to say that awful word out loud. I’ll have to admit to my messed-up feelings for his brother. The ones that are slowly shredding my heart.

“I had kind of a rough night,” I say.

“Will this help?” He lifts a tall paper cup and gives me a kind smile. “I can go back for donut holes if you need those too.”

Hot tears prick my eyes. I turn away and hang up Everett’s wet coat. “You’re too good to me, Sepp.”

When I turn around, he’s standing there with his arms open.

I step into one of his soft hugs. The crisp cotton of his dress shirt is soft against my cheek, and his subtle citrus aftershave grounds me. I soak up the little dose of strength his embrace is bringing me.

“I’m okay,” I say to him, exhaling a deep breath.

“You need anything, I’m here.”

“Thanks.”

By lunchtime, I’ve thrown myself into work so deeply that I’m startled by Doug’s hello to Lisa out in reception.

When Doug enters the clinic area, he gives me a warm smile. “Vivian, so great to see you again.”

“Hi,” I say, my forced enthusiasm making it sound like a chirp. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this when my mind is a thousand miles away and my lack of sleep is making me edgy.

Doug reaches over the counter to shake hands with Sepp. “Nice to see you, too, man,” he says.

“Thanks for bringing lunch,” Ava says, rushing from her office. “This is so nice!”

We follow Doug to our little break room, where he sets out special-order sandwiches from The Dame and Drake, Finn River’s best lunch café, a pretty fruit plate with strawberries and pineapple and melon wedges, and an assortment of gourmet kettle chips and drinks.

We spend several minutes adding food to our plates. Lisa joins us and soon we’re seated around the table together.

It’s lively with all of us here, but when everyone starts sharing what they did over the weekend, emotion clots in my throat.

“Matty and I went to the park,” I manage when it’s my turn.

Sepp sends me a concerned glance, but the conversation moves along. I poke at my food while Doug talks about the new medications Pfizer is developing. Dr. Greely has several Type I diabetic patients and Pfizer is promising a better delivery system than the current patch adhesive. It’s potentially life-altering for kids with the disease, and I’m grateful no input is required of me because just eating is taking all of my focus.

---