“You. Are. Absolutely. Stunning,” he said in between their kisses that heated more and more with every nibble or stroke of tongue. He leaned down and kissed her throat. A soft moan escaped her lips when he gently nudged his knee in between her legs.
Bree’s ringtone from somewhere on the couch brought her out of her lust-induced daze.
“I’m so glad you could make it early today,” she said.
Her phone rang again and Declan stepped aside to let her retrieve her ringing phone.
“I have to tell you about something that happened this morning,” he said before she could answer her phone.
She looked at her screen. Cait was calling her.
“Did something happen to my sister?” She instantly turned to Declan to gauge his expression.
Declan swallowed. “Not in that way, Love. Your sister is fine. I just checked on her. Well, she’s fine physically…”
“Tell me what happened? Is it something you can share? Or are there others involved?”
Bree knew some things that happened on the job couldn’t be discussed at home. It had been this way with Cait, and with her sisters Kera and Gwenn during their deployment. Bree was getting more or less used to it.
“You better sit down for this,” he said.
“You’re scaring me, Dec.” Bree sat down and placed her palms on her thighs. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress. It all seemed so silly getting worked up about which dress to wear…
“Your sister and I had a call about a situation this morning. It was a very intense situation where Cait had to intervene and make a quick judgment call. She saved the lives of two people today. But she also did it in a way I.A. most likely will not approve of.”
“Is Internal Affairs starting an investigation?” Bree rubbed mindlessly on her wrist.
“Yes. I’ve checked on Cait before I came here and she told me she’s suspended while waiting on the outcome of the investigation.”
Bree gasped. “Oh, no… her work is her life, Dec. You know this better than anyone! They can’t do this to her! Can’t you do something about it?”
“I’m sorry, but they have already decided. And you know I can’t elaborate too much, but I think it’s even for the better. I told your sister she should seek counseling.”
“I’m calling Cait.” Bree stood from the couch and walked circles in her pocket-sized apartment with her phone against her ear.
“Hey, sis,” Cait’s voice sounded gloomy, and she slurred her last word.
“What in the world is going on?” Bree said.
“Hasn’t Dec told you already?”
“No? He said something had happened, but he couldn’t tell me anything.”
Cait let out a humorless laugh. “Ah, so Dec’s being Dec. Tell him he doesn’t need to protect his crazy ex-partner anymore. I’m done.”
“Have you been drinking already? It’s three in the afternoon!”
Cait hiccupped and said, “It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve tried to shoot a bastard down when he threatened to kill his own daughter. I’ll never forget the look in the little girl’s eyes, Bree. Those eyes will haunt me for the rest of my life…”
“I’m coming over,” Bree said.
“No need, Bree. Kera is here, and she’s driving us to Mom’s house, so I’m going to take a nap now. Sleep the alcohol out of my system…”
Bree looked over at Declan while shaking her head. She mouthed, “What the fuck?”
She almost missed her sister mutter under her breath, “And I need another drink tonight when I tell you all about our brothers and sisters.”
“What did you just say?” Bree held still mid circle and eyed Declan, who’d been following her one-sided conversation like a hawk.