“Jackson asked me to call you, Foster, Heidi, and Celeste.”
My blood ran cold. Foster came on to the team to replace me when my life went to shit. Celeste rarely came out into the field, and with Linc refusing to step into a team leader role and wanting to work with his husband, he’d transferred from the security division to the military division at Holt.
“Declan?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Have you talked to Jackson lately?”
“Dammit, Walker, quit beating around the fucking bush.”
“Jackson met someone.”
“Good on him. I hope she’s good to him.”
“She’s better than Lillian and I could’ve ever wished for.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Do you know the name Katie Carter?”
“Sure. She’s country music’s new princess.”
“And Jackson’s girlfriend.”
“Damn. The boy set his sights on the fucking sun.”
“You know Jackie.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, I do, but you’ve still not told me why you’re bringing in a team.”
“Katie has a stalker.”
“Tell me when and where. I’ll be there.”
“Seattle. We’re heading back there today. I’d like it if you all could meet us there.”
“Do I need…”
“No. I called Daddy. He’s rounding everyone else up, but I wanted to ask you myself because I know you’ve not been doing fieldwork since everything went down with Hayden.”
I hated how even hearing his name set my heart to racing. The man affected me like no other.
“Declan… you still there?”
“Yeah. I appreciate the consideration, Walker. But family comes before my screwed-up love life.”
Or lack thereof.
“Thanks, Declan. The plane leaves the runway in an hour.”
I shut the door on the house and drove back to Mama and Daddy’s to pack. Concern engulfed me. I only hoped I could do the job. Between the alcohol I consumed regularly enough to worry the family and the distracted mess that was my head, I worried I wouldn’t be able to live up to expectations. My own, most of all.
3
HAYDEN
Sweat poured down my body, rolling over me and dripping on the mat under my feet as if I were standing in the pouring rain.
