The New Detective

Chapter 21: Unannounced Visitors, Unspoken Things

Samantha's POV

Voight was still in my kitchen.

Still cooking.
Still limping.
Still pretending he wasn't limping.

And still giving me that look - the one he didn't seem aware he was doing, but everyone else definitely was.

He slid a plate in front of me.

"Eat," he said.

I took a bite. "Okay, this is actually good."

He narrowed his eyes. "You sound surprised."

"I am."

He shook his head. "You're trouble."

"And you're dramatic."

He pointed his fork at me. "Don't start."

I grinned. "Too late."

He tried not to smile.
Failed again.

The air between us felt... warm.
Comfortable.
Charged in a way I didn't want to think too hard about.

I was about to tease him again when-

A knock.

A loud one.

Voight froze. "Stay here."

"Voight, it's probably-"

He was already halfway to the door.

He opened it.

And there they were.

Kim.
Ruzek.
Atwater.
Alejandro.
Mateo.
My parents.

All standing on my porch like they were about to stage an intervention.

Kim blinked. "Oh. He answered."

Ruzek elbowed her. "Pay up."

Atwater smirked. "Told you he stayed."

Mom gasped. "Mi hija! Are you okay?"

Dad squinted past Voight. "Is that... breakfast?"

Voight stepped aside, jaw tight, clearly regretting every life choice that led to this moment.

"Come in," he muttered.

They filed in like a parade.

Kim spotted the two plates on the table. "Oh wow. He cooked?"

Ruzek whispered loudly, "He cooked for her."

Atwater nodded. "He's gone."

Alejandro smirked. "He's been gone."

Mateo added, "Since the building."

Voight glared at all of them. "Enough."

They did not stop.

---

Voight's POV

I should've known they'd show up.

The second I opened the door and saw all of them standing there like a search party, I knew I was in for it.

Kim walked straight to Samantha, checking her bandage. "You look better."

Ruzek leaned in. "You look alive. That's good."

Atwater crossed his arms. "You eating? Hydrating? Resting?"

Samantha laughed. "Guys, I'm fine."

Kim pointed at me. "He's staring at her again."

Ruzek nodded. "He hasn't stopped."