Sawyer really couldn’t help but like Fray, and he loved that he and Ciaran were close. Sawyer could guess that being the leader of the group might be alienating sometimes, and Ciaran had admitted to shouldering the responsibility, so Sawyer was grateful for Fray.
“Anything happen in the past two days I should know about?” Ciaran asked, taking the mooring rope and expertly rounding it off over a post.
Fray concentrated on edging the boat as close to Tobin’s jetty as possible as Ciaran tied off the rope, and Fray cut the engine. “Kellan spoke to Beau,” he said.
Ciaran stopped and stared, clearly not expecting that news. Sawyer had no clue who Beau was or why he could feel Ciaran’s surprise and distaste.
“Fuck,” Ciaran whispered, scrubbing a hand over his face. He looked out at the Cove, the pier, the picturesque little town. “Do you know what about?”
“Beau called him. Said he was sorry for how things played out. They’ve relocated to somewhere on the coast of Queensland. He said half of them aren’t happy and things are tense.”
Ciaran made his own unhappy sound. “Hm, yeah well,” he said. “I guess that’s something.”
“Kinda feel bad for them,” Fray said. “Dirk’s such a piece of shit.”
Ciaran frowned, and Sawyer could feel his mixed emotions.
“You okay?” Sawyer asked.
Ciaran nodded and released a sigh. “I just... I don’t blame him. I mean, I do. He’s a fucking coward. But I also get his need to protect his consortium. He’s just doing what he thinks is right for his family.”
“Well,” Fray said, “what he thinks is right is being a cowardly piece of shit. Iftheywere in trouble, you’d be the first in line to help.”
Ciaran almost smiled, and Sawyer could feel the warmth of pride he felt, and damn if Sawyer didn’t feel proud of him too. Of course Ciaran would help. And being reminded that Ciaran, his mate, was a good leader, a good man, made Sawyer’s heart swell.
Ciaran shot Sawyer a questioning look, clearly sensing what Sawyer was feeling. They smiled at each other, and the emotions between them intensified.
Until Fray, oblivious to their moment, clapped Ciaran on the shoulder but looked at Sawyer.
“Ah, Sawyer, my one and only favourite brother-in-law,” he said. “You should know, the police phone has been ringing a lot, and so has your mobile. You didn’t take it with you, which is probably just as well. Anyway, I turned it off and put it in your desk drawer. The screen said HO. I dunno who Ho is, but he tried calling a bunch of times.”
“Aitch Oh is Head Office,” Sawyer explained. “My boss.” Then Sawyer thought about it.... “Did you break into the police station, Fray?”
He grinned and lifted his hand, which shimmered into the form of a blue tentacle. It wiggled and, changing shape, became long and thin. “Built-in antilock device.”
Sawyer couldn’t help it. He laughed. Also, the brother-in-law comment made him ridiculously happy.
Ciaran joined in, too, his smile warm, but it faded slowly. “Your boss....”
Sawyer looked at them both. There was no hiding anything now. “Yeah. I can’t be one hundred percent sure, but I think he knows about you. About your kind. He fronts the Specialist Unit. Which is basically like the X-Files. He put me here after I ran into Dylan that day in Hobart. So yeah, I think he knows, and he sent me to here to spy on you guys or keep tabs at least. I’m supposed to report in, but I keep losing track of days.”
They both stared at him, and Sawyer could feel the stab of unease that shot through Ciaran.
“I’m not gonna tell him,” Sawyer said. “No fucking way. I’m just gonna string him along for five years, and then I can retire on a full pension. But not before I tell him Tenebrae doesn’t warrant having a police station. I’ll make sure no other cop gets posted here.” Then he looked directly at Ciaran. “I will protect you and your consortium with my life. I promise.”
“I know,” he whispered. “It won’t come to that. I won’t let it.”
Sawyer felt so many things—his own heartfelt honesty and sincerity, mostly—but he could also feel Ciaran’s concern. It was cloying and rich and aimed directly at Sawyer. He was about to say something else, but the entire point of them coming back early from the hut was to discuss everything and work out a plan to make sure Ciaran and his consortium were safe, so...
He picked up his duffel bag and gave Ciaran a nod. “Let’s get started.”
Sawyer hadunread emails and missed phone calls from Inspector Hadeom, but that wasn’t his first priority. He’d have to call him later for sure, but right now, they had more pressing concerns.
As soon as he had tossed his duffel bag near the washing machine and switched on his coffee machine Salem came sauntering in, meowing his ire at being abandoned for two days. “I know Aurin feeds you,” Sawyer said, but he put some food down anyway.
Ciaran was leaning against the doorjamb, smiling at him, looking all kinds of gorgeous and gazing at Sawyer like he wanted to devour him.
Sawyer could feel just how much Ciaran wanted him, and that was a heady thing, knowing—reallyknowing—that he was so desired.
