“Hold on, you’re going to have to go over that with me again.You found the arsonist?”
“IthinkI did.”Austin hesitated, but he trusted West, and West was a dragon shifter like he was.He could defend himself.
Not that Caleb couldn’t.He wasn’t a dragon, but he was a wolf, while Tate was human—or at least, Austin thought he was.He hadn’t gotten close enough to get a good sniff, but the scent that had been all over Tate’s car pointed to him being human.Austin couldn’t be a hundred percent sure until he faced the guy, but he was going on the assumption that he was right.
“I think the guy is a firefighter with the one twenty-eight,” he added.
“Shit.How can you be sure?”
“He was acting weird at two of the scenes, and when I went through his car trunk, I found a map with all the businesses he burned down and stuff that smelled of accelerant.”
“When you went through his trunk?Austin, what the fuck are you doing?If this guy really is the arsonist, he’s dangerous.”
“I know.That’s why I didn’t tell Caleb about him.I didn’t want to risk him getting hurt.”
“I bet that didn’t go over well.”
“He stormed out.I’m just trying to protect him, West.You’d do the same for Jonathan.”
“I wouldn’t get Jonathan involved in an investigation when I’m not a cop, but yeah, you’re right.”
“You know as well as I do that this was the only way to do this.It’s not like we can tell anyone about us.”
“We could.”
Austin groaned.“I don’t mean the team.There’s nothing any of them could do, anyway.We’re firefighters, not cops.”
“Which is why you shouldn’t have been investigating this to begin with.This guy is dangerous.That’s why you don’t want Caleb to be involved.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s human, though.I didn’t smell any kind of shifter in his car, anyway.”
“Okay, that’s good at least.But if he’s human, Caleb should be able to take him on, right?”
“As a wolf shifter, he should, but what if the guy takes him by surprise?I could defend myself, but Caleb’s wolf form is much smaller.”
“You could defend yourself up to a point.I don’t like any of this, Austin.I didn’t realize how serious you and Caleb were about it because if I had, I would’ve tried to stop you.Both of you are going to get hurt if you dig deeper.”
“That’s why I asked Caleb if he knows any shifters in the police force.I thought I could hand everything over to someone who can actually do something about this and let them take care of the arsonist, but I’m not sure Caleb will talk to me again.He stormed out of my apartment.”
“Look, I’m not saying I’m an expert in relationships because I’m definitely not, but you and Caleb need to talk to each other.”
“Weweretalking.”
“Okay, but did youlistento him?Did you actually listen to what he was saying, or had you already made your decision that he needs to be protected?Because I know you.You’re convinced you’re doing the right thing, and maybe you are, but he has a say in this, too.If the two of you really are working together, you can’t keep him in the dark just because you’re scared.”
West was right.Austin didn’t like to admit it, but he was.“Will you tell him that when he comes over?”
West snorted.“You’re on your own there, buddy.I’m not telling him anything except that you called and that you know that you’re an idiot.I’m pretty sure he already knows that, though.”
“This relationship shit is scary,” Austin bemoaned.
“That’s because you’ve never loved anyone as much as you love him.It’s worth it, though.You’ll see.”
Austin knew that West was right.That didn’t make it any less terrifying.
* * * *
CALEB HAD A KEY TOJonathan’s apartment, but these days, it was always dangerous to walk in without knocking.West was there more often than not—and Caleb had walked in on him a few times, but thankfully, he and Jonathan had always been fully clothed when he had—so Caleb wasn’t surprised when he was the one who swung the door open.West didn’t seem surprised to see Caleb, either.He arched a brow, and Caleb shook his head, pushing past him.
