Unspoken (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3)(14)

“Two,” someone answered. “I’m told it was their store. Someone pumping gas saw the old man on the floor through the window.”

*

Chase had taken his car down some back roads where he could drive fast. He’d even taken the top down, hoping the frigid air would help him think of how to get his ass out of the sling he’d gotten himself into.

As his motor roared he recalled something his dad had told him years ago. Chase had thrown a ball and accidentally broken his next door neighbor’s window. The old man who lived there had been a grumpy ol’ ass. Chase hadn’t wanted to face him. His mom had agreed to do it, but when his dad found out their plan, he hit the roof.

When you make a mistake, son, you face it.

He’s gonna yell at me, Dad.

Well, yeah. You broke his window. He has the right to yell.

Chase turned his car around and headed back to Shadow Falls.

He parked his car. The lights were off in the office. Burnett was probably at the cabin he and Holiday shared. He walked through the gate, knowing the alarm rang.

When he stepped up on their porch he heard Holiday talking, no doubt trying to calm her husband down. It seemed that was the woman’s mission in life.

He knocked.

“Be smart and leave!” Burnett’s words and anger carried through the door.

“I’m not leaving,” Chase said.

The door swung open. A bright-eyed Burnett stood there.

“Can I come in?” Chase asked.

“I’d prefer you didn’t,” he said, but shifted back.

Chase stepped inside. Holiday rushed in from the hall with Hannah, her dark-haired little girl, in her arms and placed the baby in Burnett’s arms.

“What are you doing?” Burnett asked.

“You asked me to not let you kill him. I figure you won’t kill him if you’re holding Hannah.” The woman’s green eyes looked determined. “Plus, she needs changing and it’s your turn.”

Burnett cradled the small sleepy body against him. “I still have one free hand.” He looked at Chase. “Why are you back?”

Chase swallowed the lump in his throat. It wasn’t fear, it was pride. “Because I remembered something my dad told me. When you make a mistake, you face it. I made a mistake, sir.”

“If you mean coming back here, I agree.”

“No. I made a mistake trying to force your hand. You demand respect, and believe it or not, I do respect you. What I did was probably the most disrespectful thing I could have done. I’m asking you to overlook my stupidity. Let me stay here.”

“Because of Della?”

“Yes. But not just that. I want to work for—”

“They can train you.” Burnett’s tone was colored with anger.

“I don’t just want to be an FRU agent.” He met the man’s stern gaze. “I want to be a damn good FRU agent. I want to learn from the best. And you are the best I’ve seen. Della has told me that you take risks and will break rules to do what is right. That’s the kind of agent I want to be. I’m asking you to take me under your wing. Teach me how to do this. To work within a set of guidelines and still be true to yourself.”

Burnett stood there, his eyes still hot. His daughter looked at Chase with a toothless grin. The contrast between the two looks alone made the moment feel awkward.

“I’m asking for one more chance,” Chase said. “Let me earn your respect. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Burnett’s expression lost some heat. He looked at his wife. She nodded. Her husband exhaled, looked back at his daughter and frowned, then glanced back at Chase. “Anything?”

“Anything,” Chase said.

“Do you know how to change a poopy diaper?”

The smell hit Chase’s nose and his Adam’s apple trembled. He took a step forward to do his duty. “I can learn.”

“Not on my baby,” Holiday said. “It’s your turn, Daddy.” She pointed down the hall.

Burnett glanced back at Chase. “But I need—”

“To change a diaper. It’s my turn to talk.” Holiday motioned for her husband to leave.

Burnett walked away with his smiling daughter in his arms. As he left, Chase heard him say, “Hannah, how can you be so sweet and smell so bad?”

“Thank you,” Chase said, sensing Holiday’s nod earlier meant more than he could guess.

“Don’t thank me.” Holiday moved closer. “What you said was powerful.”

“I meant it.”

“I believe you.” She looked down the hall to where Burnett and Hannah had disappeared. “You know my husband might be hard as nails on the outside, but on the inside he’s the most decent man I know. He’s taken an oath to never cause unnecessary harm. He follows that. Although a few times I’ve had to remind him of it.”

Chase nodded. “He’s very lucky to have you.”

“Me, on the other hand,” she continued. “I never took any oaths. And Chase Tallman, if you hurt Della one more time, I’m going to remove your boy parts, grind them up, and feed them to the hungry rats and scorpions. Is that clear?”

Chase nodded. He would have said, yes, madam, but he’d about swallowed his tongue. It wasn’t just the removal aspect of what she’d said, but the hungry rats and scorpions. Those two words should never be used in the same sentence with boy parts.