I turn to see our boss, nervously shuffling three feet away.
Yep, he heard that.
Alena blushes. “Hey, Paul. We were just, uh?—”
“Dad!” Paul’s daughter runs over, oblivious to our mortification. “Emma got mint chocolate chip, but you said it wasmyturn to pick the ice cream.”
“Just a minute, Paige.” He resists his daughter, yanking his hand toward the crisis, asking us, “You two, uh… home for a while? No more trips? Think you’ve used all your PTO.”
“Yeah.” Alena straightens. “Think we’ll save the rest for our wedding in May. For sure this time.”
But something odd twists Paul’s face. He’s always struck me as a family man. A good man, but… “Yeah, sure,” he doubts darkly. “May? Looking forward to it.” He raises his free hand. “Well, have a good night. Sounds like you will.”
He lets his daughter lead him away, but an eerie feeling remains.
“That was weird,” I mumble to Alena.
“Uh,yeah.” She grimaces. “He just busted LuvPounder and DirtTGirl making plans to toss our salads.”
“No, I mean, remember when you said you told Paul about Sasha? You followed the chain of command and trusted he’d tell the rest of the station?”
“Yeah.”
“You ever wonder why he didn’t?”
Her brows pinch. “I figured he forgot. He had a lot on his plate with the last hurricane and—” Her shoulders sag. “Shit. Oh fuck, you don’t think he’s crooked, do you?”
I glance up and see Paul with his daughters, headed to theregister. “No, but I know when you love someone, you can be compromised.”
That night,I invite Wilder and Remi down to our cabin. We meet outside.
Yeah, it’s like summoning demons to dinner, but they’re dark souls I can trust.
I don’t protect Alena from my suspicions either. I’ve learned the hard way that that’s not love; it’s a liability.
“So, you think the head ranger is shady?” Remi leans against his Harley, his tatted arms crossed. “He’s sold out to Sheremetev?”
“I think something’s sideways, yeah.”
“Think of it, y’all,” Alena adds. “Paul has daughters to protect, and Sheremetev is a father’s worst nightmare; we know.”
Wilder chews a toothpick. “So, we liquidate him?”
Alena twists her face. “Don’t y’all run a famous brewery?”
“Yeah.” He grins.
“Eww.” Alena’s disgusted.
But Wilder scoffs, offended. “Darlin’, I don’t mix brews and bodies. That’s a waste of good beer.”
“Shut up,” Remi mutters.
“Just watch him.” I take over. “Watch Paul, and maybe we’ll catch Sheremetev poking around.”
“Speakin’ of pokin’.” Wilder twirls his toothpick. “When are LuvPounder and DirtTGirl posting something new?”
Remi rolls his eyes, swinging his leg over his saddle. “Goddamn, I can’t take you anywhere.”
