Title: Fire and Hail
Author: Andrew Grey
Series: Carlisle Cops #5
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
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.
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Excerpt:
“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.
~ * ~
Author Information
Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a
father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since
then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He
has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in
information systems for a large corporation.
Andrew’s hobbies include collecting
antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink
(particularly when writing) He considers
himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s
most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful,
historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Author Links:
Amazon Author Page
Barnes and Noble Page
Dreamspinner Press
Facebook
Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey
Goodreads
Twitter @andrewgreybooks
Website
Amazon Author Page
Barnes and Noble Page
Dreamspinner Press
Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey
Goodreads
Twitter @andrewgreybooks
Website
~ * ~
For Other Works by Andrew
Grey
(Please Be Sure To Stop by His Website to See All of His Works)
The ones listed below is for
the Carlisle Cops Only
Fire
and Water (1)
Fire
and Ice (2)
Fire
and Rain (3)
Fire
and Snow (4)
Fire
and Hail (5)
~ * ~
Competition!
Andrew is giving two winners their pick of any of his titles via Dreamspinner Press. So if you're interested in winning one of Andrew's ebooks then make sure you hit the link below and leave an entry on the rafflecopter. Good luck!
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