One of her coworkers—Miller, I think her name spotted me first. “Lieutenant, you got a visitor.”
Halo looked up, confused, then her eyes landed on me. Her whole face lit up.
“DaVinci?” She stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.” I walked toward her, and she met me halfway.
“You’re back early. I thought your flight wasn’t until later this evening.”
“I called the pilot and got something early back. I couldn’t wait.” I reached for her, hugging her like nobody else existed. She smelled like smoke and her perfume, and I breathed it in. “Missed you, Angel.”
“Missed you too, Vinny,” she whispered.
Behind us, someone whistled.
I laughed and pulled back, looking down at her. “You on break?”
“I wish. My shift ends at six.” She glanced at her watch. “Well, it’s supposed to. But they just called and said we’re on mandatory overtime tonight. I get off at two.”
My mouth pressed into a thin line. “Again? And AM? Didn’t you just work three twelve-hour shifts last week?”
I loved what she did, and I respected her for it, but I did not love this job for her. It was dangerous, they were clearly short-staffed, and they leaned on her too hard. Naturally, I worried about her, but I feared her job was going to be the thing that kept me up at night.
“It happens. We’re short-staffed.” She sighed, and I could see the exhaustion in her eyes even though she was trying to hide it. “I just... I don’t know what to do about Brixxi.”
“What about her?”
“She can’t stay at daycare all night. I don’t have anyone to pick her up or a sitter. And I already called Tessa—she’s gotta come in to. Sametra’s on bed rest. If I don’t pick her up by then, they’ll charge me a late fee, and if I’m too late...” She ran her hand over her face, stressed. “I don’t know what to do.”
I could see the conflict on her face. She didn’t want to ask me or be a burden. This was that not wanting to need someone. But she did need someone. And that someone was standing right in front of her.
“What you need me to do?” I asked.
“DaVinci, I cannot ask you to go get Brixxi and keep her. That is a lot.”
“You are not asking, I’m offering,” I said. “Halo, you are running yourself into the ground. Let me help you.”
I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “What’s the address? I’ll pick her up and keep her until you get off, and when you get off, we’ll come and get you.”
Her eyes got shiny, and she blinked fast. “I hate asking for help.”
“I know. But you are still not asking. I am telling you I got it. Give me the address.”
She hesitated, then pulled out her phone and texted me the information. “Her stuff is in the purple bag. Food, toys, and her blanket. They’ll give it to you when you pick her up.” I kissed her forehead. “I got this, Angel. Go save lives. Brixxi’s in good hands.”
“You’re sure? Because I know you have that club thing tonight—”
“I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry about it.”
Shit. I’d forgotten about that.
“Yeah, but—”
“No.” She shook her head. “I can’t ask you to miss that. It’s a contract thing, right? You have to go.”
I thought about it for a second. The appearance was mandatory. But Halo needed me, and I prided myself on being a man of my word. She could always depend on me.
“Then I’ll take her with me.”
