Title: Fire and Hail
Series: Carlisle Cops #5
Genre: M/M
Contemporary Romance
Release Date: Jan 16 2017
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Brock Ferguson knew he might run into his ex-boyfriend,
Vincent Geraldini, when he took his first job as a police officer in Carlisle.
Vincent’s attitude during a routine traffic stop reminds Brock why their
relationship didn’t last.
What Brock doesn’t expect is finding two scared children in
the trunk of a Corvette. He’s also surprised to learn the kids’ mother is
Vincent’s sister. But his immediate concern is the safety of the two children,
Abey and Penny, and he offers to comfort and care for them when their mother is
taken into custody.
Vincent is also shocked to learn what his sister has done.
For the sake of the kids, he and Brock bury the hatchet—and soon find they have
much more in common than they realized. With Abey and Penny’s help, they grow
closer, until the four of them start to feel like a family. But Vincent’s
sister and her boyfriend—an equal-opportunity jerk—could tear down everything
they’re trying to build.
“It’s okay, sweethearts. No one is going to hurt you.” He
pushed the lid all the way open, and a little girl in a pink sundress and
white-and-pink-striped tights stood up. Brock guessed she was about three. “We
need assistance at Harrisburg Pike near East. I can confirm two children in the
trunk. They seem okay so far.” He kept his voice as calm and level as possible.
A boy, about five years old, carefully climbed out of the
trunk. “Mama,” he said, pointing to the woman who had been driving the car.
Brock glared at the woman. He had trouble imagining how
anyone could be so heartless and cruel as to lock two small children in the
trunk of a car on one of the hottest days of the year and then go out joy
riding. Not only was it a miracle that they weren’t hurt from being tossed
around inside the confined space, but it was lucky they hadn’t been injured
from the heat.
He escorted the children onto the grass and into the shade
of a nearby tree, then knelt down so he could be more on their level and less
intimidating. “I’m Brock. What are your names?”
“Abey, and this is Penny,” the little boy answered and then
pointed to the car. “It was scary in there.”
Penny had her thumb in her mouth and stayed close to Abey.
“Is Penny your sister?” Brock asked, and Abey nodded. “Did
you take care of her while you were in there?”
“Yes. I held her when we rolled around.”
“You were a very brave big boy.” Brock didn’t know what else
to say, but Abey nodded. “Can you stay right here with Penny?” Brock asked as
he heard cars approaching. He stood to watch the scene but stayed close to the
children.
Two other police vehicles stopped nearby. Both Kip Rogers
and Aaron Cloud got out of their vehicles. Aaron was the ranking officer and
he’d probably take charge of the scene. Brock stayed where he was as Kip helped
Carter handcuff both women and get them loaded into the back of separate police
cars. Then Aaron made his way toward Brock and the kids.
“Did you find out why they were in the trunk?” Brock’s heart
went out to both children as Aaron stepped away a few feet.
“The car belongs to the passenger, Brenda Weaver, and
apparently she’d just bought the car and drove it over to show Rhonda
Geraldini. Rhonda wanted to take the car for a spin, and since there was no
backseat and she didn’t have a babysitter, she put the kids in the trunk and
the women decided to go for a ride.”
“My God,” Brock said softly. Vinny’s sister. Sometimes it
was a small, sick world.
“Her excuse was that she thought the kids would be fine and
that they weren’t going very far or very fast. Oh, and that there was no
backseat in the car for the kids to ride in anyway.” Aaron rolled his eyes.
Brock turned back to the kids and forced a smile. “This is
Abey and Penny. Abey held and protected his sister while they were in there so
that she wouldn’t get hurt. He’s a very good big brother.”
“Where did they take Mommy?” Abey picked at his sleeve,
swaying from foot to foot.
“It’s all right. She shouldn’t have put you and Penny in the
trunk, so the officers are going to talk with her.” He turned to Aaron,
floundering.
“Carter called for some help, and his husband, Donald, is on
the way.”
Brock nodded. “I’ve met his family.” That was a huge relief.
Donald would know exactly what to do and how to help make sure the kids
remained calm. “I’ll stay with the kids here in the shade if you want me too.”
“Perfect. We’ll handle the rest.” Aaron left them, and
shortly after, Penny pulled on Abey’s sleeve.
“Penny has to go potty,” Abey said.
“Okay.” He caught Aaron’s eye and motioned to the gas
station next door. Then he took each of their hands and gently led them across
the grass and into the store. There was just a single bathroom, and Brock
waited outside while Abey took Penny inside. He kept watch and listened for any
issues. Soon the heavy door moved, and Brock helped open it. They came out,
Abey holding Penny’s hand.
“Did you wash up?” Brock smiled when they both nodded, and
he led them back through the store. At the register, Brock bought two boxes of
animal crackers and handed one to each of them. He also got some bottles of
water, then walked the kids across the parking lot to where Donald was waiting
for them. “Abey and Penny, this is Mr. Donald. He’s going to be your friend and
he’ll help you. I promise. He’s a very nice man.”
Abey’s lower lip quivered, and Penny stepped behind her
brother. Brock suspected that all this was way more than they could handle and
fear was really setting in.
“I’m going to take both of you to stay with a friend of
mine. Okay?” Even Brock found Donald’s voice soothing.
Abey shook his head, turned to Penny, and put his arms
around her to shield her from Donald. “No strangers. Mama says so.”
“Am I a stranger?” Brock asked, and Abey turned to look at
him but didn’t move away from Penny.
“Yes,” he answered. “But you’re a nice stranger.” He turned
and held his box of cookies close to him, and Penny mimicked her brother.
Brock wanted to cry right there by the side of the road. He
blinked and had to turn away. Damn it, he wasn’t supposed to get emotional when
he was on the job. Take whatever you see, bury it, cover it up, and make it
stay there. That’s what he was supposed to do. But how in the hell was that
possible when he was looking into two pairs of wide, frightened blue eyes?
“Do you want me to go with you?”
Abey thought a second, screwing up his face in a look of
concentration, and then finally nodded. Abey seemed to trust Brock, at least
initially.
