Run to Ground(117)

“Sure.”

When he went quiet, Jules smothered a smile. Apparently, he was going to do more listening than talking. She was fine with it, though. That was just Sam.

“I was worried about Tio at first,” she said quietly after a snore from the backseat caught her attention. “He hates change so much, but he seems to be adjusting okay?” She raised the end of the sentence into a question, hoping Sam would share his opinion.

“T’s f-fine,” Sam said harshly, although Jules was pretty sure the rough edge of his words wasn’t directed at Tio. “He knew w-we had to g-g-g…to leave. Sh-sh-she’d st-started l-l-l-looking at T-Ty.”

Her stomach churned, and Jules breathed through her nose, worried for a few moments that she was going to have to pull the SUV over so she could throw up on the shoulder. Swallowing several times, she choked down the need to vomit.

Sam apparently mistook her silence for accusation. “I-I tr-tr-tried, J-Ju! I tr-tried to prot-t-tect th-th-th…” His voice got louder until he cut off his attempt at the final word with a frustrated exhale. In just the dim glow of the dashboard lights, she could see his fists had clenched around handfuls of his jeans just above the knees.

“Shh.” Reaching over, she covered one of his tense hands with her own. “I know, Sam-I-Am. You went above and beyond for them, and they know it, too. That’s done, though. Our life with her is over, and we get to start fresh.”

His hand didn’t relax beneath hers, but he didn’t pull away.

“What’s something you’re looking forward to doing in our new Monroe, Colorado, life?” she asked, trying to lighten her voice to keep it from shaking.

His silence went on long enough that she figured he wasn’t going to answer. Just as she opened her mouth to change the subject, he said, “L-learn to drive. C-Courtney wuh-ouldn’t sign the p-perm-m-mission f-f-form.”

Giving his fist a final squeeze, she returned her hand to the wheel. “We’ll make sure you’re enrolled in driver’s ed at your new school. It’s only the second week of classes, so I doubt you’ve missed much. Probably just the ‘driving is a privilege’ lectures.” She sent him an amused glance. “Besides, you already know how to start a car, back it out of a space, and drive it across a parking lot.”

“Everyth-thing e-except p-p-parking.” A hint of a smile touched his mouth.

“Eh.” Jules waved off that small detail. “You’re probably still way ahead of the other students. None of them have actually driven a getaway car.”

His laugh was husky and so, so precious.

EXCERPT #5

SUMMARY: After a disastrous call at the local militia compound leaves Viggy traumatized, Theo just wants to leave his troubles behind for the evening. Unfortunately for Theo, it is not to be.

Present Day

“You’re taking Viggy home with you.” Hugh held the end of the lead toward Theo.

He couldn’t seem to bring himself to grab it. Instead, he glowered at Hugh, keeping his eyes off the dog half-hidden behind the other man’s legs. Theo had just left Lieutenant Blessard’s office, where he’d endured a half hour of getting his ass chewed, and he wasn’t in the mood for playing nice with Hugh. It’d been an endlessly long day, and there was nothing left inside him to give to Viggy.

Hugh kept the leash end extended. “This isn’t working. It’s been two months, and neither of you has gotten better. In fact, I think you’re both worse. From now on, where you go, Vig goes.”

Having the dog with him constantly would mean there’d be no escape from the guilt. Theo’s molars ground together as he considered his fellow cop, who was wearing his stubborn expression. Even though he was normally an easygoing guy, once Hugh dug in his heels, there was no budging him. With a grumbling exhale, Theo held out his hand.

“Good!” Hugh grinned as he slapped the end of the lead onto Theo’s outstretched palm. “Knew you’d see the light.”

Instead of answering, Theo just made another disgruntled sound as he forced himself to look at the dog. Blessard had been right about one thing. The cowering animal attempting to hide behind Hugh bore little resemblance to the confident, talented Viggy he’d been when Don was alive.

People probably said something similar about him. He knew he’d changed dramatically since the day he’d learned Don had eaten his service weapon. He just didn’t know how to return to his old self—or if that Theo had died along with Don.

“Why don’t you swing by the old Garmitt place on your way home?” Hugh’s suggestion pulled Theo from his morbid thoughts. “Otto saw some people going inside when he passed by there earlier this week. He would’ve checked it out himself, but he was headed to a call.”