Chapter 266

Archer

There's a crowd in the squad room when I get to the station. I left my patrol SUV last night to get the oil changed, instead of going straight out on the streets, and I have to stop in to get my keys.

"What's happening in here?"

"Dad's decided he's going to have a cookout and he's invited anyone who wants to come," Cruise says, standing next to me and crossing his arms. "Me? I'm wondering what my mom had to say about this."

"She realizes since I'm Chief now, we'll be expected to do things like this. You leave your mom to me."

Judging by the heat in Mason's eyes, he knows exactly how to handle his wife. I've always been scared to get married after what my parents put me through and I don't plan to. But if I could, his is the type of marriage I'd aspire to have. That's what I want. The kind of relationship where I know we'll be together for the rest of our lives. We'll have inside jokes and secret looks. We'll love our kids all the way through their lives,