Darkest Hour Before Dawn by Charlie Cochet

Author:Charlie Cochet [Cochet, Charlie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gay Romance
ISBN: 978-1-63533-609-2
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2017-04-25T05:00:00+00:00

“HEY.”

Seb was faintly aware of someone hovering over him, carefully removing the beer bottle from his hand. What time was it? How long had he been sitting here on the couch staring at nothing? The last half of the evening was a blur, a jumble of images and events. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to remember.

Mrs. Palmer.

Seb had apologized again and again. Not that it would do any good. He spewed word vomit at her, pleading for her to listen, to understand. He doubted she had, and he didn’t blame her. Why should she care? How the fuck was she supposed to move on from losing a child? The area should have been secured. They’d been informed it was secure. Why did she choose that exact moment to leave her home? Seb let out a snort of disgust. How many times was he going to ask himself the same questions?

When the gunman emerged, gun pointed at Hudson, Seb reacted to Hudson being in immediate danger, all the while believing the mother and child weren’t targets. In court, it was argued that he’d breached protocol by not preserving the life of the mother and child, but the defense argued that since the intended target had been Hudson and the gunman had aimed solely at Hudson, Seb had done his duty in preserving life. It never occurred to Seb that the mother and child would end up in the line of fire or that the gunman would get another shot off before being neutralized. The court had ruled in Seb and Hudson’s favor, and the agent who’d given the all clear took the fall, but the damage had been done. Seconds. That was all it took to shatter two families.

Once Mrs. Palmer left the grocery store, Seb did the same. He called his mom, and calm as could be, lied, telling her he was sorry, that work had called and they wouldn’t make dinner. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth. No doubt she saw right through him; she always did. But he just… couldn’t. He arranged for dinner to be delivered to his parents from a local restaurant. Then he picked up a lot of alcohol from… fuck, he couldn’t even remember where. Someplace.

The room was blurry, and his head felt fuzzy, thick. His limbs uncooperative. At some point he’d gotten rid of his shirt, too hot and uncomfortable in his own skin. Someone tilted his head back and waved a hand in front of his face. Seb swatted at the shadows with a grunt, or at least he thought he did.

“Shit. Look at you. How much did you drink?”

Curses followed the sound of clinking bottles.

“Not enough,” Seb muttered, scoffing at himself. He patted the cushion next to him. Where the fuck was that bottle? He frowned and squinted at the face in front of him. “Dom? What you doin’ ’ere?”

“You butt-dialed me.”

“I did?” Seb felt his jean pockets. Wouldn’t his phone need to be near

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