I also didn’t admit how fuckin’ great it’d felt having her in my arms.
When I led her inside, we didn’t stop to talk to any of the front office ladies who manned the desks behind the glass partition. Nor did I give anything but a nod to each person I passed.
Well, I tried to, anyway.
Lock, better known as Lachlan Downy, Junior, stepped in front of me and stared.
“You look rough, motherfucker,” he said. “Are you dying?”
“He has the plague,” Royal supplied helpfully.
Lock’s eyes went from me to Royal, and I could see the shift in his features as he looked like he came to a decision.
“Mine,” I growled.
Lock’s lips twitched. “Of course, she is.” He let his gaze linger on our joined hands. “How’s the undercover work going?”
That was when it seemed to click in Royal’s mind.Chapter 8
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you don’t need to go to Target today.
-Royal’s secret thoughts
Royal
I wasn’t sure how the hell I found myself in the situations I always found myself in, but Jesus Christ. The one I was in right now was a doozie.
“Of course, she is,” the redhead sighed. “How’s the undercover work going?”
That was when everything just fell into place.
The authority that I could always feel practically oozing off of him. The way he held himself. The way he was always so watchful.
Then, more recently, to him walking straight into a police station and inputting a code that only other cops would know.
He wasn’t an informant. He wasn’t just a mechanic.
He was a cop.
Fuck. My. Life.
The man I had the hots for was a cop. I had the hots for a cop!
“Swell,” Justice answered his redheaded friend. “I’m done now, though. I’ll be back to my regular schedule tomorrow.”
That was when he started coughing again.
“Ummm,” the redhead said. “You should probably get that checked out.”
“I told you,” I said, feeling slightly disconnected from my body. “The plague.”
The redhead’s mirth-filled eyes met mine. “Noted.”
I slammed my hand down on Justice’s back, knowing that it likely wasn’t helping, but wanting to touch him anyway.
God, he had muscles on top of muscles.
“You can stop now,” Justice said.
That was when I realized that he was no longer coughing.
“Oh.” I yanked my hand away. “Sorry.”
His eyes met mine for a few long seconds, and he looked like he was about to say more when an annoyed, “What the fuck?” was heard.
I turned to see an older man that I’d seen before standing in the doorway of an office just a few feet from where we were standing. He had his hands on his hips as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.
“Captain Morgan,” Justice said. “Nice to see you.”
“Why are you here?” he asked, his eyes flicking from where Justice still had a death grip on my hand to him and back.
“Long story,” he said. “I have to go talk to the Chief and Tellings and then I’ll come explain.”
Captain Morgan’s eyes came to me, and they narrowed.
“Why do you look familiar?” he asked bluntly.
“Because you get drunk with my father every other month.” I shrugged.
Captain Morgan nodded. “Ahh. How’s your father doing?”
“Still an asshole, last time I checked.”
I wouldn’t really know. I didn’t make it a habit to talk to him when I didn’t have to.
In fact, I hadn’t talked to him since my brother had come home from the hospital.
“Your brother?”
I smiled. “A little bruised still, but ultimately a lot better. Thank you for asking.”
Captain Morgan sighed. “I leave in two hours. Better make it in here before that.”
With that last comment, he disappeared into his office and shut the door, leaving the three of us standing there looking at each other.
“Well, I’m out,” the redhead offered. “Have a good one. See you tomorrow.”
Justice grumbled something under his breath and the redhead laughed.
“Go fuck yourself, Lock,” Justice growled.
The redhead, Lock, grinned wickedly. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
I didn’t say a word to him, making him smile all the wider.
“I like her.”
With that parting comment, he hauled ass toward the exit.
“In a hurry?” I asked as we watched the man practically run.
“It’s supposed to storm later,” he said. “I’m sure he just wants to get home before the bottom opens out and he’s caught on the back of his bike with nowhere to go.”
“Hmm,” I grunted.
Then I sighed.
“Yeah,” he said. “That means we might be getting wet.”
At least it was summer, I guess.
“Let’s go,” he urged. “They’re having a team meeting right now, and I might as well discuss this shit while they’re all there to listen.”
And that was when he led me to a closed conference room door on the right at the very end of the hallway.
My eyes widened when he pushed inside without knocking.
They widened even more when I saw the chief of police sitting at the head of the long table, followed by the assistant chief of police.