Page 274 of Sticks and Stones
As the Marine handled them, Ethan pulled Gene aside. Honestly, he was worried about him. The man he loved cared about his badge and prided himself on believing in the power of the justice system.
Working in this gray area was going to bother him.
When they were alone, he went there.
“Be honest. Are you okay?” he asked.
They were alone in the kitchen of the man’s house, so Gene took that moment to hold him.
He needed it.
“I’m okay. I’m just so angry for Corbin,” he said, knowing that he absolutely, positively wasNOTokay with any of this.
It was too easy to cross the line.
Way.
Too.
Easy.
Truth be told, he hoped he never had to live in this gray area again. As much as rules sucked, and the courts set these assholes free in catch and release, he liked rules. They kept the country running.
At his words, Ethan could tell that wasn’t the truth. Gene wasn’t someone prone to violence. The only time he’d seen him lose his cool was when Javier started his shit with them.
It took a lot to make him angry to the point where he’d put the law behind him.
That’s what made him a good Fed.
Only,Phillymight be this man’s breaking point. It was probably a bad time to have promised a third year here.
“I love you,” Ethan whispered, his head on Gene’s shoulder as the man came back in for the second guy.
Gene was damn grateful for that too.
Seriously.
Where would he be without him?
“We’ll get through this,” Ethan admitted as his hands were moving up and down the back of Gene’s Kevlar. He couldn’t feel it, but he’d know he was touching him.
As for being okay…
Gene wasn’t so sure of that. Once more,Philadelphiafelt like it was closing in on him.
Along with death.
* * * Blackhawk & Cantrell * * *
Saturday Evening
Cantrell And Blackhawk’s
Home
Greyson had a million things on his mind, but one of the most important ones was the man not far away.
Corbin was silent.
