Beau dragged his gaze to Quinn.“Hmm?”
Dash spied Eliott while Quinn repeated what he’d said to Beau. His cheeks were flushed red, his eyes wide and glassy. He stared at his hands, breathing roughly. Was that from the damage to his lungs? When Eliott’s gaze lifted to stare at Beau, a wave of recognition hit Dash. It reminded him of the first time he’d met Emerson.
“Sure, yeah, yeah,” Beau replied to his brother as his eyes slowly traveled back to Eliott.
Dash scoffed. Maybe Eliott would get that filthy rich alpha after all.
But what would he do without Eliott?
“Let’s get down to a more interesting question than buildings blowing up,” Tanner said.
Dash’s focus turned to Tanner. “And what’s more interesting than that?”
Tanner leaned closer to Dash, resting his chin on his hand. “Why do you have a bed in the omega ward, cousin?”
33
Emerson stood outside the hospital, the night air holding a bit of a chill. The hum of the nearby freeway told him that life had returned to some semblance of normal after the explosion. Most people had gone back to life as usual, the chaos a minor blip in their day. They’d complained about the traffic nightmares and the inconvenience to their day, never once thinking about the lives impacted. The first responders would be dealing with this for weeks—and those inside the building might take much longer to recover, physically and mentally.
Jumping headfirst into the flames had been a double-edged sword. Terror had gripped him with his mate trapped inside it, but returning to the field with the adrenaline pumping through his veins—he’d realized he sorely missed being a firefighter. He’d gone from hero to desk jockey, filling out forms and answering insurance adjusters questions all day. That’s not what he signed up for. He’d agreed to help Harrison at his father’s request, never realizing how boring the job really was.
Maybe that’s part of the reason he’d ended up outside alone instead of going to Randall’s room after Dash had kicked him out. His head was a jumble of thoughts, and he wasn’t fit forpleasant conversation especially with his family who likely had more questions than he had strength to answer.
His father had clearly noticed his alarm and attention to Dash. He’d seen it in the man’s eyes before he’d leapt into the back of the ambulance with Dash. Had his father asked Harrison about them? Had Harrison broken down and answered?
If his father knew the truth, his days working with the fire department might be completely over, in every capacity. How would he support himself—or a family for that matter? A family? He scoffed, shaking his head. He might not have that, either. Might not have a mate, either, not after breaking Dash’s trust. Hopefully Dash would come to realize ithadto be done for their safety and forgive him. That’s the only reason he’d walked away with little argument.
Dash needed time alone.
Maybe he did, too.
Emerson glanced to the side and noticed a small pagoda positioned in a quiet corner not far from the entrance. He strolled closer, but as he was nearly there, he saw Dash’s father, Daniel, sitting inside it, smoking a cigarette and froze. Light from a nearby lamppost washed over the man. Not strong enough to be completely sure of his notice or reaction to Emerson’s presence.
He couldn’t walk away without acknowledging him yet maybe he hadn’t seen. Hewasfarther from the light, so maybe it was best to simply leave. Daniel hadn’t been able to look him in the eye since learning he was Dash’s mate.
Emerson slowly backed away a couple of steps.
“Just going to run away, Walker?”
Emerson froze. He knew Daniel a little from dropping off evidence at the crime lab. They were pleasant with one another during those brief moments, but he hadn’t been there long enough to develop any kind of relationship with the man.
Daniel met his stare and took another drag. After he blew out, he scoffed. “Don’t tell my mate I was out here smoking.”
Emerson slowly sauntered closer and leaned on one of the entry posts of the pagoda. “My lips are sealed.”
Daniel took one more drag before smashing it out on the ground. “Filthy habit. I quit forever ago, but days like today make me want one so bad I can’t see straight. I haven’t had one since…” He chuckled, the sound hollow. “Well, since the last time Dash’s life exploded.”
“When he retired?”
“Forcedretirement,” Daniel said, scorn in his tone. “He was a decorated officer, promoted five times in a decade-long career—and they had the nerve to call him a danger to their operation?” Daniel scowled. “He’d put his life on the line for the Palatinate time and time again. And for what? To be pushed out over nothing.”
“I don’t know that I’d call it nothing,” Emerson said.
“You agree that he should’ve been forced out?”
“I didn’t say that,” Emerson said. “But what he learned about himself was life-altering. Definitely not nothing.”
“Life-altering,”Daniel muttered, disdain on his face. He crossed one leg over the other, staring past Emerson at a taxi rushing up to the entrance. An alpha got out of the rear driver’s side and ran around the back. He opened the rear passenger side and leaned in. A loud wail sounded before a pregnant omega emerged, breathing hard. Pain hit Emerson in the chest as he watched them, a team headed towards a new adventure. The alpha gently led his mate towards the front door, the omega wobbling as he walked—and the taxi pulled away.
