Chapter Fourteen
Atlas
Myteethgroundtogether as I clenched my jaw. The man staring back at me from my computer screen was not my father. Again. I let out a long sigh and clicked out of the window and opened the list of names of people who had the potential to be my father. I deleted yet another name, ruled out by the photo ID I’d just been sent.
I didn’t know much about the man who shared my blood. We were kept strictly on our property as kids, and my father wasn’t home much. When he was, we tried to steer clear of him. I never even knew his real name.
Through the years, I’d come to remember bits and pieces of things. Like seeing mail with my father’s name on it. I couldn’t read back then, but I’d been able to put together a list of names of who he could be.
The list was getting ever shorter, but I was beginning to think I’d never find him. Maybe that was for the best anyway. I’m not completely sure why I wanted to find him now after all this time. There was some part of me that wanted closure on that part of my past, I supposed.
“Damn, who shot your puppy?” Colton sat down at the desk across from mine, holding a cup of steaming coffee.
I glared at him. I wasn’t in the mood for his smart mouth today. Usually I found him entertaining, but it had been a long few days. Knowing I wasn’t any closer to finding my biological father hadn’t made my mood any better.
Colton leaned back in his chair, holding up a hand. “All right, all right. No need to pin me with that death stare. I’m just saying you look grumpier than your usual state of grumpiness.” He took a sip of his coffee, watching me with a weighted, appraising stare.
Colton might act a fool most of the time, but I knew he meant well. Colton was a good officer. We’d gotten close over the years on the force. He was sharp, noticing things most people didn’t, and he was caring. He was the closest thing I had to a real friend.
Besides Wren.
Thinking of her had me gritting my teeth again. I clenched my hands into fists. For some reason, I didn’t like thinking of her as simply my friend. Yet, that’s exactly what she needed to be. My friend and nothing more.
Colton brought his mug down on the wood top desk so hard, the thud almost made me jump.
“Seriously, Atlas. Are you doing all right? You look tired.” He sounded genuinely concerned.
Guilt stirred in my chest.
I ran a hand through my hair. I felt tired. Exhausted to my very core, but also…something else. My mind thought back to last night, to Wren taking my hand as she turned out the lights. There’d been hardly any fear as she held onto me. And then, she’d been so close. I inhaled slowly, remembering her sweet scent—like vanilla and the fresh air blowing over the river.
I shook my head, my skin hot at the memory of her. Damn. This was becoming more complicated than I thought.
I glanced at Colton, who frowned, a mix of confusion and worry on his face. He picked up his coffee, taking another drink as he waited for my response.
“I punched Ty in the face,” I said, voice tight.
Colton coughed, sputtering his coffee and sending it sloshing down the front of his uniform.
He cursed as he half laughed, half choked, trying to clear the hot coffee from his lungs.
When he’d gotten himself under control, he looked at me. “You punched him? Like, really punched him?”
I nodded slowly. I wasn’t proud of it. Quite the opposite, actually; I was deeply ashamed. I’d never put my hands on my brother like that. I’m still not sure what came over me.
Colton wiped at the coffee dripping down the front of his shirt. “Well, shit. I wish I would’ve been there for that.” He grinned, but it faltered as he studied the miserable expression on my face. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine.” We hadn’t made a scene of it in front of Wren, but he hadn’t spoken to me since. I hadn’t sought him out to apologize either.
Colton nodded. “So, that’s what’s got you all high-strung? Your pain-in-the-ass brother?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. Ty usually was the problem since our parents passed, but it wasn’t just him this time.
“I have a tenant renting out my guest house.” I shrugged, playing like it wasn’t a big deal.
Colton sat up straighter, his gaze narrowing. “A tenant? Since when do you rent out that shed you call a guest house?”
“Since a few days ago.”