Page 49 of Clap Back (Carter Brothers)

She raised her brow at me, catching me in my lie. “Sure, sure. And it has nothing to do with wanting to see Maven?”

I shrugged. “Where is she? Why aren’t y’all open?”

If that motherfucker hadn’t kept his word after I’d stayed away from her, I was going to lose my shit.

“She’s checking out alternate locations,” she said. “Something in a town that isn’t Dallas.”

I nodded, liking that plan.

“Where?” I asked.

Pepper narrowed her eyes. “None of your business.”

I sighed.

I guessed I deserved that.

“How is she?” I asked.

Pepper snorted. “Why don’t you just call her and ask her yourself?”

Because I didn’t want to ruin her life like the chief threatened to do if I didn’t back off.

Hell.

The last week had been full of it.

I’d spent the time working, and when I wasn’t working, I was completing interviews in Sunnyvale to move to a new department where I wouldn’t have to worry about an asshole chief of police.

In between that, I was trying to keep tabs on Maven and Pie Hard.

I was exhausted, and burning the candle at both ends.

I had all of ten minutes to check on Maven, and I’d already wasted five of it.

What was worse was that she wasn’t here for me to check on.

“I guess I will,” I lied. “Have a good day, Pepper.”

“Have the day you deserve, Carter,” Pepper challenged.

I wasn’t sure I liked that comment, but I left it alone and went to work.

When I arrived, I of course ran straight into Scott and Sheldon.

“Gentlemen,” I said as I tried to skirt around them.

Scott maneuvered to place himself in my way.

“Not so fast, Carter,” he drawled. “You didn’t make the meeting last night.”

I nearly rolled my eyes. “I was on shift, Scott. I literally was on a call when the meeting was scheduled.”

“I don’t think you’re as committed to the SWAT team as I think you should be,” he said, glancing at Sheldon.

“I’m as committed as I can be without going full-time,” I pointed out. “And just sayin’, but you don’t have any more full-time positions.”

Because all of his friends were taking them up.

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