Which means more shit for Angel to worry about.
I jab at the screen angrily as I type my response.
That’s bullshit. They know there’s no way it’s Angel’s. It’s a waste of time even considering it.
A few seconds later, Enzo replies.
I know. But they have to look into it. You know that.
Then another text appears immediately after.
They have no proof it’s hers. Especially given the circumstances. Angel isn’t going to be brought up on charges. Even if Kennis tries to push it, we won’t let it happen.
I scowl at the phone. Eager Officer Kennis, all full of himself over his discovery. He’s one of the newer additions to the police department, and I think he’s jumping on this whole drug thing as a way to prove himself.
I stalk across the kitchen, coming to a stop by the window that looks into the backyard. Through the darkness, I can see the tiny red lights of the cameras we installed earlier today lining the top of my fence—the extra security I insisted on once Angel agreed to stay with me.
Glancing back down at my phone, I send a quick reply.
We can’t let it happen. I won’t let it.
Enzo responds right away.
It’s going to be fine. Alec’s combing through the security footage. And he has some from the neighbors’ cameras, as well. We’ll find the evidence to prove who did it. They’ll confess to the drugs. And this whole thing will be over. In the meantime, Angel and Haley are safe.
I release a heavy sigh.
I know he’s right. And if this were any other case, I wouldn’t be stressing about it.
But this is Angel. My Angel.
Because in the last twenty-four hours, I’ve realized that’s what I want.
Not a half-relationship. Not a relationship where I hide things from her. Not a relationship where I’ve always got one foot out the door because I’m too damn afraid to commit to her.
Which means I need to talk to Angel. I need to explain everything. It’s just a matter of figuring out when.
Last night certainly wasn’t the time; not when we didn’t even get here until well after midnight, and Angel looked like she was barely keeping it together.
It wasn’t early this morning, while I lay awake listening to her tossing and turning in the room next to mine, wishingdesperately I could go in to comfort her but knowing I hadn’t earned the right.
There definitely hasn’t been time to talk to her about it today. Our time has been taken up by meetings and logistics with Angel’s house and getting Haley settled in without making her suspicious that anything’s really wrong.
After Alec and Gage stood guard outside the Ryans’ all night, we finally picked Haley up first thing this morning. Angel hated being apart from her, but she also realized that it would freak Haley out if we showed up after midnight to take her home mid-sleepover. The explanation of a plumbing issue seemed to work, and fortunately, Haley was excited to stay here.
Angel, on the other hand? The jury’s still out on that one.
Setting my phone on the island, I walk to the kitchen doorway to look into the living room. The lights are dimmed; low enough so that Haley can fall asleep in the loft upstairs, but still bright enough for her to see if she needs to come down to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Angel’s voice carries softly from the loft, where she’s saying goodnight to Haley.
My heart swells.
It feels right; having them here.
As I’m watching the empty living room, Angel begins to climb down the ladder. Though I know she’s more than capable of it, I can’t help wanting to rush over to help. To stand behind her. Brace her waist to keep her steady. Lift her off the ladder as soon as I can reach her, so she doesn’t have to do any more work than necessary.
I don’t. But I want to.
Once Angel reaches the floor, she stretches, lifting her arms above her head, then rolling her neck and shoulders. Then she turns to see me in the doorway, and, after a brief hesitation, heads in my direction.
