Vince Romano was back to texting on his phone. Was he gloating to someone? Placing a bet? God knew and Shane didn’t care. His own phone had buzzed not long after the bastard had come into the courtroom, then twice again, and Shane smiled. He hadn’t bothered looking because he knew the texts were just meaningless memes from Charlie. What mattered was the pattern in which they’d come in. One text, a pause, then two sent quickly meant that she had seen Romano arrive and had successfully put a tracker on his vehicle.
He owed her big time. Then again, if Ben actually went through with asking her out after Shane’s pep talk, that would make them even.
If Ben didn’t, well, Shane knew what Charlie liked. He grinned.
His grin disappeared when Vince looked back at him. He wasn’t looking so cocky now. Maybe he had placed a bet on his phone and lost. Or, maybe he thought the judge would side with April.
This might have worked in our favor after all.
Shane patted April’s lucky purse beside him.
Minutes ticked by. Vince stood and stretched, said something to his lawyer, and turned. He got three steps away from the plaintiff’s table when a siren tore through the courtroom, followed by an automated announcement telling people to make their way to the nearest exits.
Shane shot up out of his seat. “The fuck?” People started filing out of the courtroom, herded by the bailiff.
“Don’t worry, folks. System’s been acting up. Please do not push or shove. Please do not open umbrellas until you’re outside.”
Shane looked at the door leading to the judge’s chambers. It stayed closed. He started walking toward it when the bailiff stopped him.
“Wrong way, sir.” He pointed toward the back of the courtroom.
“My fiancée’s in there with the judge,” he shouted over the damn siren.
“They’ve got their own exit. She’s probably already outside.” He pointed again. “Now please exit the courtroom.”
“Fuck.” Shane grabbed April’s purse and tried to make his way through the crowd to his brothers and friends way ahead of him. His head was on a swivel looking for Vince. He spotted himbriefly, then the crowd swallowed him back up. Shane caught up to Ben who gently but effectively cut a path through the crowd like a cruise ship through the ocean. The siren blared in the halls outside the courtrooms where more people spilled out. Dammit, he didn’t want April outside without him. He pulled out his phone and sent off a quick text to Charlie.
You outside?
She texted back almost immediately.
No, I went in and sat at the back.
Shit. He’d hoped to send King looking for April before the crowd outside got too big. He didn’t want Vince or his lawyer fucking with her.
Gabriela’s with her though. She won’t let that shit fly.
The gray clouds from the morning had let loose with a steady downpour, which only made it that much harder to find anyone in the sea of people and umbrellas. Thank God for Ben, who had started a group text. He directed everyone to a spot under a cluster of maple trees across the street from the courthouse. The trees offered them some shelter from the rain, which was slowing at least.
April was on the text thread, but her phone was currently in her purse hanging off Shane’s arm. When Shane regrouped with his friends, he told them, “Everybody keep an eye out for April and Gabriela. April left her purse behind so she’s not getting texts. They took the exit out the judge’s chambers. Find Romano, too. I don’t want him fucking with them.” At least if he decided to leave, they could track his car.
Shane listened as rumors spread through the crowd that it was a false alarm. That it was a bomb threat. That the entire basement was on fire. Aliens from DIA, someone joked. Shanewas in no mood to laugh. Fifteen minutes had gone by and no April. Fire rigs and paramedics had shown up about the time he’d gotten out the door. Elias was texting, seeing if he knew any of the crew, and Waylon had gone to his truck to check the scanner.
Bear stood like a mighty redwood, Star sheltered from the weather in a baby harness on his massive chest and Ellie pressed up against his side. He had one arm around his wife and the other cradling his daughter. The sight made Shane’s chest go tight. He should have been home with April and Kevin, not fucking around in this bullshit.
“Shane!”
Finally. Shane turned at the sound of Gabriela’s voice.
Except Gabriela was alone. And she looked worried.
“Where’s April?” Shane demanded.
“I don’t know. We got separated in the smoke?—”
“Smoke?” His heart lurched.
“In the hall behind the judge’s chambers. I tried texting but she’s not answering.”
