Page 30 of The Finding Series: Vol. 1

“Frank called. I have to go in to the local police department for a random drug screen this afternoon. It’s part of the routine,” he said quietly, the shame in his voice evident.

“Don’t you fucking do that,” Callan snapped as he grabbed Rhys by the arms. “Don’t you act like you have something you should be ashamed of,” he nearly yelled.

Rhys pulled free of him and Callan felt his emotional withdrawal as well. It was like being kicked in the ribs.

“Rhys-” he began.

“I need a ride to the police station,” Rhys muttered.

Callan knew it was a fight he wouldn’t win, so he nodded and said, “Let me put away my horse and then we can go.”

* * *

Rhys couldn’t believe he’d forgotten why he was here. Less than two weeks in the middle of nowhere on a run-down ranch surrounded by dust and horse shit and already he was dreaming of mornings waking up with Finn and Callan wrapped around him after nights of endless fucking. Not once had he thought about the numerous plans he’d made for revenge on the former lover that had destroyed his life and ended four others. No, he’d been letting himself get wrapped up in a dream world that was just that – a fucking dream.

Finn was gone, Callan would never be free enough to be truly out and Rhys sure as hell didn’t want to be sloppy seconds to either man. Sure, Callan had enjoyed fucking the hell out of him this morning, but that’s all it was. Rhys should know better than anyone that a good, hard fuck was just that. It wasn’t a license to give up everything he’d fought for these past two years.

“Stop it!” Callan snapped at him from the driver’s seat.

“Stop what?” Rhys muttered.

“Stop questioning if what we have is real or not,” Callan said as he steered the truck onto the main road.

“What we have?” Rhys forced himself to say with a laugh. “What we have is you giving good head and me liking a nice big dick in my ass,” he bit out.

“Now who’s the liar?” Callan said coldly.

Jesus, he couldn’t take this. Rhys managed to keep his cool on the outside, but he felt his stomach rolling as the distance between himself and Callan grew. “I’ll call Frank and ask him to find me something else.” Rhys’ heart broke when Callan didn’t respond and the rest of the ride was made in silence.

Callan pulled to a stop in front of the police station, then got out of the truck. “You don’t need to come with me,” Rhys said, but Callan slammed the door closed and stalked to the entrance. Apparently Callan had decided to enjoy his complete humiliation, Rhys thought to himself as he climbed out of the truck and followed Callan into the station.Fucking perfect.

* * *

Callan seethed as he waited for Rhys to follow him. He had no doubt in his mind that Rhys was letting his embarrassment about his status as an ex-con cloud his thinking, but it still pissed him off as being referred to as just another good fuck.

Rhys elbowed past him and stepped up to a desk where a young deputy was sitting, his pimply face and crooked teeth pulling into a sneer when Rhys told him why he was there.

“Deputy Rollins, he’s here,” the guy shouted as his beady eyes stayed on Rhys. Callan had to give his lover credit because he stood there, back straight and tall as the kid tried to look down on him. But Callan didn’t miss the slight tremor that went through Rhys’ body as a second deputy appeared from the back.

“Afternoon, Mr. Tellar, what brings you in today?” Deputy Rollins asked, even though he clearly knew.

“Random drug screen,” Rhys muttered, his eyes flicking briefly back to Callan.

“That’s right,” Rollins drawled as he pretended to look through some paperwork. “Heard you and Mr. Henry had a little run-in a while back. Said you threatened him,” Rollins said casually.

“You gonna get on with it, Rollins?” Callan said from his position near the door. Apparently Dare’s finest hadn’t even noticed him standing near the door because he looked up in surprise. The guy might as well be drooling in his eagerness to provoke Rhys into action.

“Mr. Bale, how are you today? Heard you had some trouble with a cut fence in your south pasture last week.”

“That’s interesting that you say that, Deputy. I don’t recall telling anyone my fence was cut.”

The deputy stiffened and the younger officer paled. “Doc Sanders mentioned it,” the younger one said.

Callan stepped up to the desk next to Rhys and softly said, “All we told Doc Sanders was that our calf was injured. We never told him how and he didn’t examine him.”

Rollins pulled himself up tall and said, “That other vet said something about it during his little coming out party at the hardware store.” The deputy looked strangely proud of himself.

“Dr. Winters didn’t say that the south pasture was the one vandalized,” Rhys pointed out.

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