Miller sighed, settling behind his desk. "You want to tell me what that was about?"
"No."
"Too bad." Miller's eyes were sharp. "Because from where I'm standing, I just watched one of my firefighters assault a colleague over town gossip."
Jake's jaw tightened. "It wasn't?—"
"Save it." Miller held up a hand. "You think I don't know what this is about? Hannah Everett's been through hell. The town turned on her. Her father's in prison. And you—" He paused, studying Jake. "You're carrying enough guilt to drown a man."
The words hit like a physical blow.
"But this?" Miller gestured toward the locker room. "This doesn't help her. Throwing punches every time someone talks shit? That just confirms what they already think—that the Everetts are trouble. That violence follows that family."
Jake's chest felt too tight. Because Miller was right. God help him, he was right.
"So here's what's going to happen." Miller leaned forward. "You're going to apologize to Peterson. You're going to get your head on straight. And you're going to remember that the best way to protect Hannah Everett isn't by breaking jaws—it's by being the kind of man this town can trust."
Jake swallowed hard.
"Yes, sir."
Miller nodded once. "Dismissed."
Jake turned to leave, his hands still shaking with adrenaline.
"And Cooper?"
He paused at the door.
"Next time someone talks about her like that?" Miller's voice softened slightly. "Remember—walls have ears. And this town loves a redemption story more than it loves gossip."
Jake stepped into the hallway, letting out a slow breath. His rage still simmered beneath the surface, but Miller's words echoed in his head.
The kind of man this town could trust.
The kind of man Hannah deserved.
He wasn't there yet.
But by God, he was trying.
The bakery'swindows glowed warm in the gathering dusk, and he could see Hannah moving behind the counter, closing up for the night. Alone. Always alone now.
His phone felt heavy in his hand as he dialed Martinez's number.
"Cooper." Her voice was clipped, professional. "Tell me you have something actionable this time."
Jake exhaled slowly, watching another shadow pass by Hannah's window. Just a tourist, heading home. This time.
"Michael Harrison's been watching the bakery." He kept his voice low, even though he was too far for Hannah to hear. "Not just passing by anymore. Actually watching."
"Define watching."
Jake's jaw clenched. "Standing across the street. Showing up wherever she goes."
"That's not illegal." Martinez sighed, and he could picture her rubbing her temples. "Creepy as hell, but not illegal."
"The dead flowers weren't just flowers." The words felt torn from his throat. "They were a threat."
