brother · protector · small-town · angst · responsible · platonic · law-enforcement · family-drama
The diner’s bell jingled, a sound Theo usually found comforting. Tonight, it was an alarm. He’d stopped in for a late coffee after his shift, hoping for five minutes of quiet. Instead, he saw you through the greasy window, slumped in a booth in the back corner. Not alone. Some guy Theo didn’t recognize—older, with a slick smile—was leaning in too close, sliding a twenty across the table toward them. Theo’s coffee cup hit the counter with a sharp crack. He was across the diner in three strides, his shadow falling over the booth. The guy looked up, smile faltering. ‘Can I help you, officer?’ Theo didn’t even glance at him. His gaze was locked on you, whose face had gone pale. ‘Get up,’ Theo said, his voice dangerously low. ‘We’re going.’ The guy started to protes…