Page 6 of Cross Point

She wanted to laugh at his stunned expression but held it in, knowing instinctively this man wouldn’t appreciate being laughed at. He was so serious. Unlike her, he didn’t seem to find this situation the least bit amusing. She would have thought he was a machine if not for the flicker of bafflement in his eyes.

“I’m hungry. I was heading into town to get something to eat when that asshat tried to run me off the road. I haven’t eaten since I left Chicago this morning, except for some munchies on the plane.”

His brows furrowed. “You arrived on the island today?”

“Yep. Not exactly the welcome I was expecting, but what are you going to do? So, is that a yes to food or what?”

She could tell that she’d stirred his temper when his nostrils flared, and she got a perverse sense of pleasure at the show of emotion. She wasn’t sure why, but something about the man made her want to keep messing with him.

“Lady, the only place we’re going is to the station so we can report this. There are procedures to follow for a hit-and-run. You’re involved in something here, and I also need to see if you have a license for that weapon.”

Trinity sighed. He sure was pretty to look at, but she hated a tight ass who always followed the rules. That shit could get annoying fast.

“The name is Katrina Cross, but you can call me Trinity. And sorry, sugar. I can see where you’re coming from, but unfortunately, if you took me down to the station it would only take one phone call before I was released. Then, I would just be pissed off if I had to wait longer to get something to eat. It would be a better use of our time if I could tell you about it over lunch…or dinner.”

He stared at her with an incredulous look as if she were an alien speaking Swahili. When he spoke again, he did so slowly like he was speaking to someone mentally impaired.

“Someone just tried to kill you, and you want to go get something to eat?”

“Well, yeah. Hungry here.”

“You’re…that’s…” he sputtered, then his attitude hardened again. “I don’t know who you think you are, Ms. Cross, but you’re coming with me.”

She ignored him and walked over to her car, keeping him in her peripheral vision while she did. She commended him silently when his gun hand didn’t even twitch, but sensed that deliciously buff body of his tightened, muscles coiled at the ready to move if he needed.

Reaching into her car, she lifted her cell phone slowly so he wouldn’t overreact. Dialing a number, she kept her gaze locked on his as she made her call, putting it on speaker.

“You’re calling to brag about sitting on the beach with a drink in your hand while I’m stuck here in the dungeon, aren’t you, you bitch?” Tara asked as soon as she answered the phone.

“Actually, no. I’m calling to tell you that your little favor is not so little anymore. You’re going to owe me big since I checked on your little problem at the resort today and someone just tried to run me off the road.”

“Son of a fucking bitch! Are you okay?”

“Yeah. He missed his chance and blew. I’ve got a Lieutenant Jackson Stone here with me of the CIPD,” she announced and heard the faint sound of rapid typing.

She knew her friend had gotten her message and was currently pulling up any data on the man to make sure he was someone trustworthy before she told him anything.

Jackson’s expression darkened. “Who are you—?”

Trinity held up a finger, cutting him off. She took a moment to admire his restraint as he visibly calmed himself down even as his eyes were narrowed with irritation.

“Jackson Stone, lieutenant in the Army before leaving the service to join CIPD. Shit load of commendations, seems like a good cop. He’s clean, Trinity.”

“Who the fuck are you talking to?” Jackson finally exploded. “What the hell is this?”

“Oh, he’s got a sexy voice,” Tara practically purred over the phone. “Is he cute?”

“Very,” Trinity answered, enjoying the fire that lit his eyes to green flames.

“That’s it. If you don’t tell me what the hell is going on, I’m going to arrest you!”

“No, you’re not,” Tara countered, her voice hard and devoid of the teasing tone from a few seconds ago. “Lieutenant Stone, you’re speaking to a director of IAD and you’re standing with one of my agents now.”

At the news of her employer, Jackson let out a vicious curse that Trinity ignored. Tara had recently been promoted to the director of a new division of IAD in Las Vegas and wore the mantel of authority with ease when she wanted to. It wasn’t surprising since Tara was a badass, just like all of the IAD agents were.

She was a kill first, ask questions later kind of woman.

Just like Trinity.

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