“Seventeen years, hmm? And you only made it to Lt. Captain in all that time?”
Emerson lifted a brow. “And you’re insinuatingwhat?”
“Your twin ended up leading Fire Investigations years ago, if I recall my research. He started with the department at the same time, right?”
“He did.” Emerson chuckled, but there was little humor in it. “I’m considered the irresponsible twin.”
“Are you?”
“My family thinks I spend my free nights carousing and sleeping in random omegas’ beds.”
“Why?”
Emerson sighed. “Because that’s what I’ve told them. To cover who Ireallyam.”
“I suppose it’s not too far from the truth. Exchange omega for alpha.”
“I don’t carouse,” Emerson said.
“You were at the Dragon tonight, likely in hopes of getting an alpha in your bed tonight, I’d wager.”
“And lo and behold, I did.”
Dash narrowed his eyes.
“Yes,I go out on occasion. And I sometimes bring someone back here for some fun,” Emerson said. “I’m a man in my prime. Should I live like a monk?”
A pained look crossed Dash’s face.
“Is that what you do? Live like a monk?”
“Close,” Dash admitted. “It’s safer than being caught.”
“Which is why no one that matters knows I still have the boat nor that I spend most of my nights away from the station here, quietly. It keeps them from showing up and catching me on the off chance I’m not alone.” He shook his head. “At least, they didn’t. Harrison recently figured it out and caught me one morning not too long ago. I covered it. Not well, mind you, but I gave him a half-assed story.” Emerson sighed. “I think he suspects, but I didn’t tell and he didn’t ask. No idea if he’s said anything to anyone.”
“Randall seemed pretty surprised to see you tonight. I’d wager Harrison has kept your secret. So far. How much longer that stands, who knows? Now that Randall knows, too.”
Emerson sighed. “I never admitted to anything nor did you. He might have suspicions, but nothing concrete. Neither one of them knows for sure.”
Dash lifted a brow.“Randall knows.”
Silence fell between them.
“If we’d been caught tonight by the wrong Guardsman, I would’ve lost everything. I could tell the world I was just there for an investigation,which was the truth, but no one would believe me.” Dash ran a hand through his hair before pacing the length of the salon. “I’d be shunned. No one would hire an alpha-attracted alpha to run security for them.” He spun to face Emerson. “And you… you could loseyourjob. The respect of your family. From the look on your brother’s face tonight, you may have already lost his.”
Emerson winced. “At least he protected us.”
“For now, but what if he reconsiders?”
“He won’t.”
Dash sneered. “You can’t be sure of that. And I’m not his brother. He has no reason to protect me.”
“My brothers aren’t like that. None of them,” Emerson said.
“And you’re completely sure of that?”
Emerson could only hope that Randall would keep his mouth shut. Nothing was for certain.
