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I don’t expect it, and it startles me. She’s focused in on the movie though, so she doesn’t notice. Her fingers interlock with mine, like she’s done this every day for her entire life. She holds on tight. We’re at the hide-and-clap scene of the movie, which freaked me out the first time I saw it, I won’t lie. Now that I know it’s coming, it’s not so bad. The peak of the scene is about to hit, and just as it does, Raewyn lets out a scream before slapping her hand over her mouth and laughing. We laugh too, and Forge tightens his arm around her.

She let go of my hand to stop the scream, but she seeks it out again. This time she tugs on it, and I get the hint. I move closer, exactly how I’d imagined doing. She’s tucked between us, and there’s no place safer for her.

Raewyn is fast asleep in her bed, even after spending the day watching scary movies. The rain has calmed to a steady drizzle, and I think most of the storm has passed.

“I’m surprised it rained so much today,” I say as I unbutton my shirt.

“Me too,” Forge agrees. He’s already in bed, lying in his boxer briefs and no shirt. My gaze drifts to his chest, trying not to focus on the light pink scar that brings back horrible memories. I almost lost him that day, and it terrifies me but I don’t like to dwell on it. So I move on, taking in the rest of him.

The man is hot as hell. Toned in all the right spots. Curved in all the right spots. I catch Raewyn checking him out. Not that I call her out on it, because I don’t want to embarrass her. But I get it.

“I need to talk to you about something,” I say, tossing my shirt into the laundry. I pull off my undershirt and toss that too, then grab one of the grey shirts I sleep in. I prefer to sleep in clothes, while Forge likes to sleep in just his boxers.

“What?” he asks, his eyes on me as I finish undressing.

My pants go next, and I pull on cotton sleep pants.

“I was looking through the reports today, just going over everything, and I saw a name on there that I didn’t recognize.”

“That happens all the time. There are plenty of people who check in and out. Could have been one of the cops on scene.”

“That’s the thing,” I say, sitting on the edge of the bed. “They weren’t one of ours. They were out of district.”

“How do you know that?”

“I looked them up.”

“What made you do that?”

“Forge, does it matter?” I ask, my annoyance getting the better of me. “Isn’t there enough going on yet for you to agree with me that something is wrong?”

“I do agree with you.”

“Then why does it feel like you’re arguing every point I make?”

He sits up and scoots closer to me. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to do that.”

His words are sincere and I believe him. Not that I have an issue with believing him or trusting him. He never has a problem telling me the truth, even when I don’t want to hear it. Forge can be honest to a fault. He doesn’t consider people’s feelings. He says what’s on his mind, what he believes, and you either accept it or you don’t.

“Can you just… try a little harder to see things the way I am? With Raewyn being involved with us, it’s so much more important that we take this seriously.”

“We always take cases seriously, Pierce.”

“I know, but this feels like we need to do better.”

He nods, then leans in to kiss me.

“Okay. I’ll do better.”

“Thank you.”

I sigh and crawl under the blankets after turning off the light.

“So what do you think it means?” he asks.

“I’m not sure. I just know that it feels off.”

“What do you want to do about it?” he asks, shifting so he’s facing me.