Page 110 of Burning for Alexander
“Steve Hinton?” I guessed. But then I shook my head. “I don’t follow, though. He accidentally parked his car back here and got blocked in? Why wouldn’t he tell someone so they could unblock him?”
“A great question.” The sheriff and Judd exchanged another look, and Judd’s arms squeezed me more tightly. “But Folger was right that something seemed off, so I did a little digging. Turns out Hinton just did a stint in Salinas Valley State Prison in California for aggravated arson, and he’s out on parole. Which means he shouldn’t have left the state without permission from a judge.”
The wordCaliforniamade my eyes widen, andjudgemade my jaw drop.
Tavo.
My eyes met Judd’s and I saw he’d made the same connection. His big hand was warm and soothing as he caressed my jaw. “Tell me you’ve got this guy in custody, Elias.”
The sheriff nodded. “I sent a couple of my people over to the Grumpy Bear just to have a word. And wouldn’t you know it, Mr. Hinton started bleating about how we couldn’t prove anything, and he only, quote, ‘set a little fire to scare him and flush the kid out,’ and he ‘made sure the bar was closed first.’ Then he told us we should call a…” He consulted a note on his phone. “A Judge Kirk Miller in San Francisco, who supposedly told Mr. Hinton he would ‘make all this bullshit go away’ if Steve just ‘did Judge Miller a little favor.’” His eyes met mine. “The name Kirk Miller ring any bells, Alex?”
I swallowed hard. I knew Judd wouldn’t approve of my decision to keep quiet. He’d want me to cooperate fully and immediately, by the book, and I understood why. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell the sheriff anything until I knew Tavo was safe and had agreed to make a statement.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I don’t… um… I can’t really…”
Judd’s boots scraped along the pavement as he twisted slightly, blocking me with his body. “Alex has been through a lot tonight, Elias.” He spoke the words softly, but there was a distinct thread of steel beneath them. “Why don’t you let him have a minute to think about it, and we’ll both come talk to you first thing in the morning?”
The sheriff glanced between us and nodded slowly. “Alright. Alex, I have enough with the parole violation to keep this guy locked up till morning. But I’m going to need you to come in first thing and help me out with some of this, okay?”
“Absolutely. Thank you, Sheriff.”
“Welcome. Tomorrow, then,” he said, raising an eyebrow at Judd.
Judd inclined his head.
When he was gone, I looked up at Judd’s face. Streaks of soot marred his brow and collected in the creases at the corner of hiseyes. Under the bright lights the crew had set up while battling the blaze, he looked as tired as I felt. And still, he hadn’t hesitated to back me up.
Fuck, he was a good man.Fuck, I loved him.
“You didn’t tell him.” The words came out like an accusation. “You didn’t say anything about Tavo to the sheriff.”
Judd cupped my cheek and ran his thumb along the skin there. “Of course not. I figure you can call and talk to Tavo in the morning, let him know what’s happening, and ask your family to help you find an attorney to protect his interests and identity. The sheriff’s going to want him to make a statement, if his lawyer agrees, baby.” He took a deep breath and added, “And I think that would be a good idea if he wants this judge to stop coming after him. But that’s his call.”
Warmth and love swamped me. “You’re willing to protect Tavo, even if it means causing the sheriff a harder time with his case?”
“Family comes first, Alex,” Judd said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “My friendDrunkenPoettold me that.”
I remembered a night when I’d messaged him about spending hours working alongside family, to haul in the harvest a few days early due to an unexpected frost. I’d missed a concert, and I was pretty sure my sisters had both canceled dates to stay and help, but even at the time, I’d recognized there was something wonderful about being part of a team.
It had been part of my explanation about how deciding to leave the family fold wasn’t an easy one. I loved my family. They were everything.
But I loved the man in front of me every bit as much.
“I love you,” I sighed, pushing myself against him. “Thank you.”
Judd lowered his head so his cold nose rubbed against mine. “Always, Alex. Now, how about I check in with the crew to makesure everything’s under control. Then we can head back to my house, and?—”
“Yes,” I said quickly.
His eyebrow rose. “Just like that? You’re supposed to hear the whole offer before you?—”
“Yes,” I repeated.
Judd laughed out loud. “I might have been saying ‘Let’s head back to my house and read some fire code manuals,’ you know.”
“And I’d be okay with that.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my fingers in his hair. “I have this strange new kink where I find fire codes sexy,” I confessed. After a brief kiss to his lips, I added, “Or maybe it’s just that I’m wildly in love with this grumpy fire chief who likes toignorethem.”
He pushed me into the back seat of his truck and kissed me so hard my lips tingled. “What are you going to do when your fire chief isn’t so grumpy anymore, Firebug?” he demanded against my lips.
