They were splitting up into teams of three and checking out the locations. They decided each team would stake out the locations for a couple of hours and then report back to the department to discuss what they’d seen, if anything, and who they saw coming and going.
While they had members from the local PD helping out, Lana’s task force thought it would be good to have both the PD and the Sheriff’s department working together because there may be locations or people that the other may not be aware of to look out for. It was how their team worked when they had something major going on.
They would team up with the local police departments in that area to get a better feel, especially if they weren’t all that familiar with the players. There have been a few incidents, although rare, that they have come across a new face that neither side knew about, so they learned together.
Lana was paired with both Kenwood brothers when Jayson growled over the fact that the detective in gangs was going to be assigned to her. Lana just rolled her eyes, along with Rocky, who was laughing at the absurdity of it all.
“Possessive much?” Lana murmured to Jayson as they headed to his SUV they were going to use for their stakeout.
“Very much so. You should know that by now, my love,” Jayson answered sweetly, ignoring his brother’s scoff at his statement.
“Jayson, the fucker is married! Like I’m going to flirt with a married man. Seriously?” Lana defended herself with his statement.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but in my brother’s defense, the said fucker is also a serial cheater with anything and everything he can get to let stick his dick in them. His wife actually left him two weeks ago. He’s just kept quiet about it because he doesn’t want to admit his wife caught him with the prostitute he was arresting.”
“Ugh, gross. Like I’d even considered hooking up with that. Especially when you make damn sure I’m satisfied morning and night,” Lana sweetly told Jayson as she batted her lashes at him.
“Damn skippy. Don’t you forget it,” Jayson cheekily answered as he patted Lana’s leg.
“You two are gross.” Ryan pouted in the back seat.
“You’re just pissed because Jayme isn’t putting out until after the kid is born. Sounds like a you problem.” Jayson laughed as he put the car into drive.
Lana listened as the two brothers traded insults back and forth. She knew the two brothers loved each other with the way they joked back and forth.
She could only pray that the twins remained that close when they got older. The other thing that was heavy on her mind was the twins question they had asked her last night when she wastucking them in while Jayson was taking out the trash before they all went to bed.
They had asked her if they were going back to Texas or if they could move here. They liked it here.
While they admitted they would miss their friends, they were happy here with getting to know their grandparents. They wanted to know if they went back to Texas if their dad was coming with them.
She honestly didn’t know the answer to any of that. It wasn’t something they had truly talked about.
She had agreed they would see how things would go for them while working on this case. Jayson, for his part, had been attentive, not only to her needs but to the twins. He busted his ass to make sure all three of them were happy.
He included her team in family activities because he knew the twins loved them. He had a barbecue in his backyard last night, which included his parents, his brother, Jayme, and her team.
While her team did lots of things together, the twins didn’t have their grandparents, or their father included in the past. Now that they had that sample, they wanted more of it.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Jayson murmured, leaning over to her.
When she looked over at him, she realized they were now parked at the location for their stakeout. She hadn’t realized she’d zoned out that much.
“Just thinking about something the twins asked me last night. That’s all,” Lana admitted, knowing she couldn’t lie to the man if she tried.
“About them going back to Texas or staying here? Jay asked me the same question while you were helping Dani get into her nightgown,” Jayson admitted to her, clasping her hand to his. “You know I want you and the kids here. Mom and Dad wantyou and the kids here. I want to give us and our marriage, our family, a real chance. The decision is yours, Lana. I’m not above begging. But, if you want to go back to Texas, the question is if you want me to move back there with you and the kids or not.”
“I-I honestly don’t know yet. I don’t want to make a decision right now. Yeah, right now everything is going great, but what happens tomorrow, next week? I don’t know.” Her heart rate picked up at the thought of having to make that decision right now.
“Hey. Hey! No one is pressuring you to decide right now. I know it’s a lot for you to do in which way to go. I get you have a life in Texas. Your team…”
“But you have your home and family here in NC, too. Your parents, Ryan…a niece or nephew coming…”
“Lana don’t think about us in that equation. Whatever Jayson and you decide, Mom, Dad, and I will support him. If that means he moves to Texas to be with you and the kids, then he’s with his family.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
