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To his credit, Jamie didn’t object, the former agent understanding and accepting the investigative protocol. “I’m in.”
“Me too,” Farmer said. “And I can do protection detail.” When he still didn’t get the approval he needed from Kwan and Levi, he pitched harder. “Look, not gonna lie, I’m a fan, but more importantly, if his boyfriend is former military, he may take more kindly to another vet on guard duty versus someone he considers less qualified.” When all the nonvets around the table opened their mouths to object, Farmer beat them to it. “Wrong, of course, but ask Marsh or Brax or the SAC how military folk think.”
“He’s not wrong,” Kwan said, then to Levi, “Write up the detail with Farmer.”
Levi nodded, then turned his attention to Aidan. “Which leaves us going back to the house with a crime scene unit, if you’re game?”
Aidan nodded. “Top to bottom since it sounds like local only eyeballed it.”
“I can help too,” Brax said. “Talk to some neighbors while you’re inside.”
“Nuh-uh-uh,” Marsh said. “I’ve got a special job for my best man.”
Brax hung back his head on a heavy sigh, as beleaguered as ever. “Do I even want to know?”
Marsh slung an arm over his friend’s shoulders, grinning. “Moms are due at the airport in an hour. I’m sure Irina can’t wait to ogle the best man’s ass.”
The room erupted with laughter again, including Levi, and after a very early, very long morning, Marsh counted it a win.
Five
The dashboard clock read midnight as Levi pulled the RX into the garage at home. A too-long workday on what was supposed to be a no-work day, but he was happy to do this favor for Jamie, and he was heartened by how his team had stepped up to help too. Including the snoring man beside him. He gave him a gentle shake. “We’re home, babe.”
Marsh lolled his head on the headrest, face tilted toward Levi. “Can I just sleep here?” he grumbled, eyes still closed.
Chuckling, Levi leaned across the console and pecked his lips, then, using the distraction and opportunity, unfastened Marsh’s seat belt and opened his door. “Let’s go, cowboy. I promise the bed is comfier.”
Marsh grumbled some more, but, as Levi had learned about his husband, the siren call of the bed at the end of a long day was irresistible. He followed the lead Levi had left for him, climbing out of the car, grabbing his hat from the back, and meeting Levi at the interior door to the house. Before he got it open, though, the door to David’s room off the back of the garage swung open. Their son looked ready for bed, dressed in a stolen FBI gym tee and wrinkled sleep pants, but the headphones around his neck and the game controller in his hand indicated otherwise.
“It’s past time for you to go to sleep,” Levi said.
“I’m off this week,” David said with an insolent teen shrug. Definitely back to himself. “You two were supposed to be off too.”
“Why?” Marsh said. He pushed off the doorjamb, tossed his hat to Levi, and crossed to David, looping an arm around his neck and dragging him into a sideways hug. “We’ve got the best wedding planner in San Diego.”
David twisted out of his hold and split a glare between them. “Whatever you’re doing, be done with it by Friday.”
“Roger that.” Marsh gave him a salute, then, grabbing his hat back from Levi, flipped it onto his head and disappeared into the house.
For his part, Levi gave his son a less rambunctious version of the hug he’d endured from Marsh. “You good?” he asked.
“Yeah, fine.” David, thankfully, hadn’t withdrawn into himself like he would have done before Marsh had come into their lives, before the cowboy had brought them each back to a place where they could communicate and heal after losing David’s mom. To where they could be a family again. “It was a madhouse here tonight with the grandmas, but Nona and Pop came over, and Brax and I cooked.” An even larger family than either of them could have imagined, Marsh coming with two moms and the Madigans and, by extension, the Talleys and their crew. “There’s leftovers in the fridge.”
“But what about you?” Levi asked again. “How are you? Anything from Reese?”
“Fuck him.”
“Lang—”
David raised a hand, and his green eyes were as fiery as late mother’s. “If there’s a time I’m allowed to curse, this is it.”
He had a point. “Fair,” Levi agreed. “Fuck him. But, truth, how are you?”
“Good.” He rotated back into his room, tossed his game controller in his desk chair, then folded onto the futon, one leg under him, the other hiked, chin resting on his knee. “It’s good having all the family around, even if it is Grand Central here.”
Levi leaned a shoulder against the jamb. “Anywhere you need me and Marsh tomorrow?”
“Not tomorrow,” he said, raking a hand through his ginger curls, a frizzy halo this time of night. “I need you both Wednesday night for the cookout. Trevor will be here, and I cannot guarantee I won’t lose my shit.”
