Cross stepped forward and took my hand. “Dodds was the one who took Haynes out.”
Oh. “What? Why?”
He smiled. “Because that’s what Internal Affairs does, ma’am.”
I smiled at the irony and relaxed against the cheap hospital mattress with Jessica on one side and Cross on the other, the two flanking me protectively. “You certainly took your role to heart, Detective.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’m sorry you got shot Ms. Vanderbilt but I didn’t have a clear shot without hitting the girl. I did my best, and then you jumped, and well, the rest is history.”
“No apology necessary, Detective. You had a job to do and I’m glad you took it seriously.” I felt myself getting drowsy ag
ain when it occurred to me that I probably had a concussion. “Wow who would’ve thought?” I groaned and squeezed Cross’s hand.
“Beau?”
“I’ll take care of him, sweetheart. Get some rest.”
Sweetheart.
“You know, it’s too damn bad you’re not over your wife yet, ‘cause I love you.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cross
Too damn bad you’re not over your wife yet, ‘cause I love you. Even a week later Moon’s words kept replaying in my mind over and over like a song I couldn’t get out of my head. I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or bad.
Moon said she loved me and I knew she didn’t make that declaration lightly even if it had come at the oddest fucking time. I knew she wouldn’t have said it if she didn’t mean it, which meant I needed to figure my shit out. I knew how I felt about Moon—I loved her too—but I also didn’t know if I was the best thing for her. Or Beau.
Especially after I told her what I came to say.
“Cross, why are you standing out here by yourself?” Beau opened the door and looked up at me with a quizzical expression on his face.
“I guess I was lost in thought. Can I come in?” Instead of answering, the kid grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.
“Mom will be happy to see you, she’s been kind of sad. And my grandpa is here. He’s so cool. I’ve never met him before, but he’s here now. You want to meet him?” Beau kept up both sides of the conversation as he pulled me through the house almost too fast to notice the large comfortable-looking sectional that now occupied most of the living room. “Where have you been?”
I laughed at his questions. The kid was so much like his mom it wasn’t even funny. “Well, I had to deal with some things before I came by to see you guys. Did you miss me?”
Beau nodded but his recently cut hair no longer fell into his inquisitive blue eyes. “I did. I think Mom did, too.”
I hoped she did, but when I stepped out back and saw a man sitting beside her, I knew all hope was lost.
“Mom look who’s here! Grandpa look!”
Both heads turned to face me and I froze at the older man beside her with the same green eyes as Moon.
“Is everything okay?” This guy was a major player on the world stage and he sat beside Moon like it was the most normal thing in the world.
She smiled and tried to stand but I was at her side in two large leaps.
“Thanks, Cross. I’m fine, just a little sore. Still.” She turned to the man with a wary smile. “Cross this is my father, Les Collinswood. Daddy this is Cross.”
Damn, Les Collinswood was her father? “Nice to meet you.”
He eyed me like I might slide that Rolex off his wrist but his slow perusal turned into a smile.
“Captain Wylie, nice to meet you, too. Thank you for keeping my daughter and grandson safe through this unfortunate event.”