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Chapter Two
Dalton let himself into the station, and his stomach grumbled. He’d just left a grueling meeting with the fire chief and was in a foul mood.
Budget cuts.
That was all he ever heard, that they would have to tighten the purse strings and start limiting overtime.
Like that would fly over well.
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue was a vital part of the city. There wasn’t much room for cutting down on the budget when the city needed the men and women who served their community.
Laughter filled the station, and he bit back a snarl. It wasn’t his men’s fault that he was pissed. He would have to figure out a way to inform them of the meeting with the chief.
Dalton was tired and beat. When he’d pulled into the driveway, he had noticed a broken-down car on the street in front of their building. They would need to call for a tow. The owner was nowhere to be found outside.
If they needed to rush out of the station on a call, the car was parked close to the edge of the drive. It would be clipped by a fire engine.
Before joining his men for dinner, he’d change his clothes and wash up prior to eating. He was on call for the station and would be sleeping here for the night.
From the smells in the air, the guys had broken out the grill. Dalton’s stomach growled, signaling it was ready for him to eat.
With a sigh, he entered his office and shut the door. He tossed his duffle bag down on the chair in the corner and made his way toward the washroom attached. He paused.
Someone had been in here.
It wasn’t uncommon for one of the guys or dispatch to stop in and snag something from his desk, but his gaze was drawn to the picture frame that held a photo of him and his brother, Dallas.
It was out of place by about three inches.
His gaze roamed the room, and he didn’t see anything missing or out of place.
Walking over to it, he pushed it back to where it was supposed to be.
A smile came to his face at the photo. It was taken the night before Dallas had married Candi. Dalton had been shocked his older brother had found a woman who was able to tame him.
Candi was perfect for Dallas.
Their parents instantly loved her. She fit right into their family.
Dallas was the last person any of his family thought would get married and have children. Their first child, Daniel, was three months old.
Dalton grinned, just thinking of his nephew. He couldn’t wait for Danny to get older. Football had been a favorite pastime of Dalton and Dallas’s while growing up.
He looked forward to getting the little guy out there to toss the pigskin around.
Relaxing a little, he went into the bathroom. Within minutes, he’d exited, feeling a bit better.
He’d donned a dark LVFD cotton t-shirt and sweats.
Leaving his office, he made his way toward the dining room where laughter and joking grew louder.
A smile instantly appeared on his face.
He’d wait until tomorrow to share the news with the squad. They were apparently in a jolly mood, and he’d be damned if he ruined it.
“Y’all fuckers better have left me some food,” he announced, stepping in.
Manly cheers went around.
