“What? A metaphor?”
“She always such a hardass?” Theo asked, his tone sliding toward humor again.
Jake shot him a killing glare, his fists balled at his sides.
The two men stared for a long moment, Theo holding perfectly still, his expression neutral.
At last Jake’s shoulders slumped. “A ball-buster. It’s genetics. Her dad was a New York City cop.”
“Ahhh…” The corners of Theo’s lips lifted.
Sin shot them both a venomous glare and stalked back toward the footpath.
“What about the body?” Jake asked behind her.
“Let it rot until the smell alerts park personnel. We don’t need the attention,” Theo said.
“Why did I think this was a police matter, anyway?” Jake muttered. “Sin was stuck right in the middle of it.”
Sin simmered while she waited beside the car as the two men returned more slowly, their heads bent close, deep in conversation.
After Jake unlocked the doors and they all slid into their seats, he glanced into his rear-view mirror. “Coffee? This gonna be a long night? Or was that the end of it.”
“It’s the end of it for now,” Theo replied. “You can drop me at the station. I do have real work to do. And Sin,” he paused, waiting until she looked back, “you see any more of those guys, do not pursue without giving me a call.”
“No worries there,” Jake answered for her. “If she so much as twitches at another transient, I’ll personally cuff her to the cage.”
“How did I wind up being the chew toy between two goddamn pit bulls? Tell me that?” Sin grumbled.
Soft, masculine laughter filled the squad car.
“I mean, what just happened? All of a sudden you two are best buddies?” she said, pretending deeper disgruntlement than she truly felt. Two big, strong men wanted to keep her safe. What girl could complain about that? Still, she didn’t want them thinking she’d let them wrap her up in cotton wool.
“We both have your best interests at heart, sweetheart,” Theo said.
“Damn straight,” Jake seconded.
“Fucking great.”
Minutes later, Jake halted the car in front of the substation.
Jake let Theo out this time. Since she was still a little torqued at their male bonding, she wasn’t budging from her seat.
Theo leaned into the doorway and gave Sin a reproving glance. “I understand your curiosity, sweetheart, but proceed with caution. If you’re hell-bent on assuming a bigger role in the battle, you’ll get your chance. I’ll be your guide. Tell no one else what you’ve seen.”
She stared through the windshield. “I’m good at lying.”
Theo straightened. “Chappa, make sure she doesn’t get cocky. She has good instincts, but she tends to leap first.”
Sin and Jake stopped for doughnuts and coffee, taking a break before calling dispatch to let them know they were back on call.
Sin stirred her cup, staring as the creamer spiraled then blended. She’d already played with
a thread hanging from her uniform, checked and rechecked the safety on her weapon—anything not to have to meet Jake’s steady gaze.
“Were you even going to tell me?” he asked quietly.
Her long pause had his body tightening. She could see his hands clenching on the table from beneath the fringe of her eyelashes. Time to let him take his pound of flesh off her backside.