Page 125 of Wild Card
Axel:
With my bros. What’s up?
Dalton:
I’ll be there in two minutes. Come outside? This is more of a private conversation.
My stomach tumbled. That couldn’t be good, could it?
“Axel, you okay?” Emory said. “I thought you’d be happy to be doing this?”
“Huh?” I glanced up to see Emory watching me with concern. Gray glanced over from the couch.
“Yeah, I’m happy. Dalton just texted me, and…” I stood abruptly. “I need to go talk to him. I think I fucked up or something.”
“What did you do?”
“I don’t know.” I grimaced. “Probably something stupid.”
“Aw, I doubt that,” Emory said. “You’ll talk it out.”
“Don’t have much choice,” I grumbled, heading for the door.
Sugar and Taz hopped up and followed me outside. Banshee didn’t budge.
I stepped out onto the porch, and Dalton pulled up in his car a minute later. He was still in uniform but driving his Buick Regal.
“What’s going on?” I said. “Thought you had work.”
“I quit.”
My jaw dropped. “Seriously? I know Hale is an asshole, but I didn’t think you’d want to give up law enforcement.”
He joined me on the porch and settled a hip against the railing. “No, I don’t want to do that,” he agreed. “But I can’t keep going like this either.” He wet his lips. “I told the mayor what’s been going on. He wants to help.”
“That’s good, then.”
Dalton continued to look conflicted.
“Right?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “It’s the best option for now.”
Silence drew out. Tension with it. I got the sense this conversation wasn’t over. As much as I’d worried Dalton might be pissed at me, this seemed worse.
“You’re not really going to give up your job, are you?” I burst out. “You’re a good deputy. You’ve got morals. We need that, you know? Hale is a dick, and you don’t deserve to put up with him, but can you really live with washing your hands of it all?”
“No, I don’t think I can,” he said softly, eyes searching mine.
What was he looking for?
“I don’t get it,” I said. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
He blew out a breath and pushed off the railing to come closer. He cupped my shoulders in his hands. “Axel, you know how hard I’ve been pushing for us to date. I care about you.”
I wet my dry lips. “Yeah.”
“So, the thing is…” He sucked in a breath. I waited for the other shoe to drop. I didn’t know what it would be, but I knew there’d be one.
