Hush

◇ Prologue ◇

Fifteen years ago....

"Daddy!"

He'd recognize those flushed red cheeks and bouncing brown curls anywhere. Victoria jumped into her father's arms and squished her little face to his squeezing him tight. It was the best feeling in the world to him and made him feel like he never wanted to let go. "I've missed you so much, little pint."

Victoria giggles a few of her teeth missing, which makes a tug on his heart. When did she start growing so fast? "How was work, Daddy?"

"Eh, you know the usual. Kicking butt,"

"And taking names." Victoria grins, and her dad laughs, giving her a kiss on her little cheek.

"That's right, baby."

Autumn, Victoria's mother, walks over to kiss her husband. She was always a sight for sore eyes, Henry thought no matter how long they'd been together she looked more beautiful every time he saw her. He felt like a lucky man and was thrilled the day his daughter was born and saw that same beauty shine through her as well. "Henry, what are you teaching our daughter?"

"He's giving me good information! I'm going to be a great cop like him someday." Victoria always beamed with pride for her police dad. She thought he was a hero. The kind of man that did what he had to do to save the lives of others, no matter the cost, he would never let people suffer. He would never let anyone down.

He would never let her down.

Later that night, after Autumn and Henry put Victoria to bed, Henry got a call. The biggest case of his life was about to completely unfold, and this was his chance to finally catch that bastard Leonard Pierce in the act. The night he was finally going to put that murderer behind bars.

He quickly got dressed and saw Autumn leaning against the door jam, watching him with worry in those amber-colored eyes. He sighed and held his arms out to her. Autumn had to swallow her emotions and just wrapped her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and said a silent prayer. Because that's all she could do. This was his life, his passion. Who would she be if she took that away from him? Although the fear of losing him was always gnawing at her, tonight, especially a bad feeling settled in her gut, and she held onto him extra tight.

"It's going to be okay." He whispered into her ear, and she tangled her fingers into his hair, taking in his scent of vanilla and bourbon. The same way he smelled when they'd fallen in love in high school.

She takes a deep breath and wipes the tears from her eyes, putting her hands on his cheeks. "Come back to us. You hear me?" Henry's heart always broke for her. Because as much as he loved this job, he knew he could never make promises. Every time he walked out that door, there was a possibility he couldn't come back. God, he loved her. It killed him to see her this way, but he was convinced after tonight that this was it. Once he put that asshole behind bars, it would all be over, and he'd be done. Maybe he'd consider settling down in something that wouldn't worry his family, that would give him a better chance to be by their side for many years the way he was supposed to be. But being an officer, a detective, was what he always dreamed of. And now he's going to do his best damn job to get this done.

Henry held Autums wrist and kissed the inside of it and then her forehead. "I love you. I always have." Autumn knew he avoided answering her for a reason, but she knew better than to push. After all, she had to be strong for Victoria.

Autumn leaned in and rose to her tip toes to kiss Henry, those lips that she had gotten used to over the years, and loved with as much fervor as the day she kissed them for the first time. He kissed her back, placing his cool hand behind her neck. They'd pulled apart, and his gaze searched her face as he did every time he had to leave like this, to remember her face, just in case it was the last time.