Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Richard’s expression turned considering. “What’s your relationship with DJ?”
“I’m his husband,” he snapped. “And I’m not letting this asshole or anyone else hurt him again.”
“Husband?” Richard said in surprise, his eyes widening. “Why didn’t I know you were married?”
Seamus took a deep breath and rubbed his palm over his beard. “Nobody knows.”
“Why would you keep your marriage a secret?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Gotcha.” Richard looked at him skeptically. “Regardless, you can’t come along with me to arrest someone. I’ll be working in my official capacity, not acting as your backup to beat someone up. Neither of us is going to break the law here.”
“How about I meet with him first and then you come?”
“Seamus, I’d like to make only one arrest that day. Don’t get involved.”
“I won’t touch him.”
He arched his eyebrows disbelievingly.
“I won’t,” he insisted. “I’m not a violent person. I just want to talk to him.”
“If someone did that shit to the man I love, I wouldn’t be able to keep myself in check, no matter my intentions. Stay away from him and let me handle it. You have my word that I will deal with him and end this.”
“Fine.”
“I mean it.” Richard looked him in the eyes. “Don’t force me to arrest you. Everyone’ll run me out of town, and I like it here.”
“You could look the other way when I talk to him.”
“Seamus.”
“I know. I’ll call you right away and let you handle it, but you need to keep me updated on every detail. If I have to keep DJ locked down for longer, I need to know.”
“Keep him locked down?” He looked amused. “I’m sure that’s not what you meant to say.”
“It’s exactly what I meant to say. I had him call off work this week. He’s upstairs right now resting and I’m looking for any excuse to keep him that way as long as humanly possible.” He took a deep breath and then another. DJ ran himself ragged and that had to stop. Seamus would figure out how to get him to slow down and enjoy his life. The first step was eliminating the most dangerous problem.
“You need to take it easy.”
“You should see what he did to him. It can’t happen again, Richard. It can’t.”
“It won’t, but you need to think about what you’re doing.”
“What am I doing?” He furrowed his brow.
“You’re controlling your husband.”
“I’m protecting my husband.”
“You can’t lock him up.”
He blinked. Did his friend actually think he had taken someone prisoner? “He isn’t literally locked up, Rich. I just meant that I told him he needs to stay at home.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“Um, what?”
“Hey. Am I interrupting?” The sound of DJ’s voice in the closed bar stopped the weird conversation.
“Why are you out of bed?” Seamus immediately got up and rushed to him. “You’re supposed to be resting.” He gently curled his fingers over DJ’s shoulders and looked him up and down. “How’re you feeling?”
“It’s been five days.” DJ set his hand on Seamus’s forearm. “I’m fine.”
“Let me see.” He reached for his shirt hem, but DJ stopped him.
“You looked me over this morning. Nothing’s changed. And I’d rather not give local law enforcement a peep show.” He looked pointedly at the sheriff, who was walking over to them.
“Hello, DJ.” He held his hand out. “I’m sorry we’re meeting under bad circumstances.” He cringed. “Again. I owe you an apology for the other night. And I owe you for that pizza.”
“What other night? What happened?” Seamus hadn’t heard anything about the two of them meeting.
“It was just a…misunderstanding,” DJ said. “Don’t worry about it and Todd already Venmoed me for the pizza. How is he?”
“He’s fine. He’d probably enjoy spending time with you again.” Richard cleared his throat. “I’m going to get going, but Seamus, remember what I said and call me.”
“I will.”
“DJ, you can call me too if you have any trouble.”
“Thanks, but Seamus is taking the lead on this one.” He winked at Seamus. “He insisted and he isn’t taking no for an answer.”
“I see,” Richard said, frowning at him. Then he turned to DJ. “You can call me or the station or even Todd if you need to reach me. Don’t hesitate.” He raised his hand in a wave and walked out.
“Your friend’s a little weird,” DJ pointed out.
“Not usually, but yeah, he was being strange.” He walked over to the door and locked it. “Let’s get you upstairs.” He wrapped his arm around DJ’s shoulders and steered them toward the back. “I’ll get you settled on the couch with something to eat. I need to come back down and take care of a few things, but Laura’s going to open so I’ll be able to take care of you after she gets here.”
“Seamus, I’m fine. You don’t need to take care of me.”
“You can be fine while you’re lying down.”