ECHOES OF US | 18+ ✔️

CHAPTER 31

DANTÉ

Stepping into the precinct, everyone's happy to see me after three weeks of paid vacation. I decided to extend it with another week since Mia fell ill and we were blown away by the good news that we're having a baby. Even though she's twelve weeks along, there's not even a sign of a baby bump to confirm her pregnancy.

Although the news wasn't up her alley when we found out, since she wasn't ready to become a mother yet, she's quite ecstatic now that it has sunk in. As for me... it's a dream come true. I always wanted kids with her. And now that we are married, everything seems to fall into place with what I've always wanted with Mia. I'm just working on the Sal nightmare to give us that freedom we deserve.

Not long after I step into my office at the Organized Crime Department, my second-in-command, Deacon, follows close behind. He's always punctual, dependable, and full of energy, even at this ungodly hour.

"Good morning, LT," he greets with his usual upbeat smile, though his gaze flicks over me with a touch of surprise. "Wow, the vacation did you good. You're all tanned and..." His words trail off as his eyes widen, and he suddenly freezes in his tracks. "Holy shit... and married!"

I pause mid-step, glancing down at the platinum band wrapped around my finger. The weight of it feels both new and natural, a reminder of every whirlwind moment with Mia in the Caribbean. A subtle heat rises in my cheeks as Deacon stares, a mixture of amusement and shock playing on his face.

"Yeah, about that..." I begin, trying to suppress a grin, but it's no use. The memory of Mia slipping the ring on my finger, the warmth of the Caribbean sunset, and the feeling of her hand in mine surges back like a tidal wave.

He arches a brow, his body relaxed as he leans against my desk, arms crossed. The smirk tugging at his lips is all too familiar, as if he knows what's going on in my head. "You've got some explaining to do, boss."

I straighten my posture, allowing the smile to fade as I replace it with the calm, collected expression my team knows well. "Not at all," I reply, my voice firm, keeping any hint of amusement at bay. "My personal life is private. Now, let's get back to business."

As I glide behind my desk, the leather chair creaks softly beneath me, the cool surface of the desk feeling grounding as I switch on my computer. The soft hum of the desktop fills the room, a steady rhythm in the background, while he lowers himself into a chair across from me. His demeanor shifts instantly—the smirk gone, his eyes sharpening, ready for the task at hand. I admire his ability to switch from playful to serious in a heartbeat. It's one of the reasons we work so well together—when it comes to the job, we're always in sync, a finely tuned machine.

"Well... while you were on vacation, Xavier requested to speak to you, but—"

"When was that?" I cut in, my voice tight with sudden urgency.

"A little over a week ago," Deacon answers, his tone calm. "But I didn't want to ruin your vacation with work."

The information sends a flicker of anxiety down my spine, but it's tempered by an unexpected surge of gratitude. I'm desperate to talk to Xavier Hernandez, but I'm relieved he kept this from me. Had he told me, I might have been pulled away, tempted to jump on the first flight back and handle this storm instead of being wrapped up in the arms of my wife.

Wife.

The word lingers, warm and comforting, like the weight of the ring circling my finger. A quiet joy stirs in my chest, and I catch myself before I start grinning like an idiot, lost in thoughts of her.

I exhale softly, pulling my focus back to the present, the familiar click of the keyboard under my fingertips grounding me.

There's work to do.