“Really?”
“I’m glaring at her shit family who made it so hard for her to open up to other people.”
“Okay, grumpy… Well, Aldo and I came to tell you what’s been decided.”
He nodded and watched as Chief Campanelli used his handkerchief to dry Harmony’s tears.
Crois had always respected the man in action. And he knew the people at firehouse Twenty-Nine would follow him into aninferno on faith alone, but it wasn’t until that moment that Crois really appreciated the man as a damn good human being.
“I just came from a meeting at CCPD headquarters.”
Crois nodded and reached out his hand for Harmony.
She stepped up to his bedside and put her hand in his.
The Chief continued. “Captain Catalano is stepping down from his position and retiring from the force.”
A question rocketed through Crois’ head but before he could put it into words, Kate has his back.
“He doesn’t have his full time to retire with the full package but Commissioner Zerbe agreed that this was for the best.”
Meaning that the captain didn’t have a choice.
“He will also be paying for your hospital bills, rehab, and home care until you’ve recovered enough to return to work.”
The Chief looked at him and Kate added in. “If you want to change jobs, like remaining in the office or-”
“I’ll be going back to my job in the streets when I’m cleared for duty.”
Kate’s grin said she’d expected that answer all along.
Chief Campanelli turned to Harmony.
“Beside the fact that you’ll likely get a commendation for what you did for Crois, the CCFD agrees to let you do your shifts carrying for Crois… at home.”
A whole slew of emotions crossed her features and he felt her hand squeeze and flex around his.
“Who will cover my shifts at Twenty-nine?”
Crois gave her an encouraging smile. “You don’t have to stay with me, Honey. I-”
“Don’t put words into my mouth.” She stopped short a moment later covering her mouth with her hand. “I didn’t mean it to sound like that.”
Crois lifted the hand he still held in his and kissed her palm. “I know, Harmony… I know. Everything will work out, Honey. You and me, we’ll figure it out.”
She leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.
Crois knew how much that meant, especially with other people in the room.
When she leaned back, he was dazzled by the look of determination in her eyes.
“Yeah,” she smiled. “We will.”
TWENTY-ONE
HARMONY
It tookover two weeks for the doctors to sign off on Crois leaving the hospital. The kidney that had been injured by one of the bullets had to be removed. And then they had to make sure he’d heal from that, too.
