“Hey, Chief.”
Chief?
Chief Carter?
Conrad Carter?
I reached my hand to Lucia and grabbed her a towel as I helped her out of the icy bath.
“You’re a fucking asshole.”
My attention was still on Scott, but I replied, “I’m aware. Were you expecting him to call?”
“Who?”
“Scott answered your phone and said, ‘Hey, Chief.’ I just wondered if you were expecting Conrad to call?”
“What the fuck is Scott doing answering my phone? And no, I’ve not spoken with Conrad in months.”
She didn’t say it, but I knew she wasn’t much of a fan. She hadn’t ever come out and said why, and I didn’t push. Lucia wasn’t someone you pushed for answers. You had to be satisfied with what info she gave you. There was no wiggle room. Push, and she would clam up like a… well, a fucking clam.
She walked closer to Scott. Curious as fuck, I trailed along behind her.
I’d not heard much out of the chief lately, either. He’d tried his damnedest to get me to join the department when I came home from the Marines. I’d told him I’d had enough of that mindset for a while, but I didn’t want shift work. Not even in law enforcement.
“Here’s Lucia.”
Scott held the phone out to her, and sure enough, Conrad’s name and number showed on the screen. She grimaced but took the phone.
“Conrad?”
Terseness laced her voice. Her attitude toward him had also confused me. Conrad, my dad, and Lucia’s dad had been best friends since we were all little. We’d grown up with him being an honorary uncle.
“Yeah. I can be there.”
Her eyes darted to me and Scott, then to the guys who had gathered around.
“Yeah, they’re all here with me.”
Another pause.
“Let’s see what’s what first. If necessary, I’ll ask them.”
Ask us what?
“I said I’ll be there. If I need to, I’ll ask the others.”
Oh shit. She’s about to lose her cool.
I reached out for the phone, but she swatted my hand away and then said, “Yeah. See you then. Bye.”
She pulled the phone from her ear and smashed her thumb against the screen over and over while growling and mumbling curse words under her breath.
“What’s going on?”
I felt the others move away. They knew to give her space when pushed into this mood. I wasn’t so smart. There was a reason she called me a bull in a china shop.
Lucia stalked off toward the locker room, and I followed her. I didn’t care if she was changing or not. We’d been in the same unit and fucked each other’s brains out on more than one occasion, so it wouldn’t be the first time I’d seen her in the buff.
