Page 73 of Issued

Lyons’s expression softens. “Your dad looked out for all of us. He protected us even when we screwed up. Like the time I got busted hacking into the school server to change my grade.”

“Yeah, but he also made you paint the entire house over the summer.”

Lyons’s expression grows solemn. “Your dad probably thought he could help Marco, get him out of whatever trouble he’d gotten caught up in.”

I slump in my seat and my injuries twinge, a clear sign I’ll need more painkillers soon. “I just wish we still had those recordings.”

Inara slides onto the stool next to me, lips red with a fresh coat of lipstick from her run to the ladies’ room. “What recordings?”

“Marco mentioned some audio files. My father recorded him and Santoro, but no one knows where they are.”

Lyons places his hand on the top of mine. “When I get back to the precinct, we’ll go through the flash drive. If your dad knew how to use a cloud account, I’m sure he knew how to hide computer files.”

I jerk back slightly, my mouth opening and closing like a goldfish with no sound coming out as I process his words.

Inara rolls her eyes. “You can hide files on a flash drive by left clicking and changing the properties. It’s kind of like a magic trick. My ex-boyfriend did it with his porn. It fucked up my computer, and I couldn’t figure out how I kept getting viruses. Turns out, Big Booty Bitches is just another name for malware. Who knew?”

I stifle a laugh. Only Inara.

Lyons fights back a smile. “We’ll also check the images. Your father could’ve imbedded the files on one of the pictures.” Lyons pushes back his chair and stands, leaning on his cane for support. “Reach out if you need anything.”

I stand and walk over to Lyons, wrapping my arms around him and momentarily forgetting my broken ribs. “Thank you. Tell everyone when it’s safe, I’ll come up and say hello. Let them know I miss them.”

“Should I be jealous?”

I loosen my hug and turn my head just in time to catch the kiss Jim presses against my lips upon his arrival. He pulls away long enough to shake Lyons’s hand. “Make sure to keep us updated.”

“Will do.” Lyons nods at the rest of the group and makes his way out the door.

Bear and Marge swoop past Jim to offer their own greetings. Bear’s hug is gentleness itself, his large frame dwarfing me in a way that would have been alarming if I hadn’t known what a softie he is. Marge gives me a kiss against the cheek and squeezes my hand for the briefest of moments. Tony and Lucas leave their seats to come join us. As the two of them greet Inara, I spot the customized helmet tucked beneath Jim’s arm for the first time.

I laugh, quirking a brow. “Are you seriously getting your cosplay costume ready for the San Diego Comic-Con? It’s months from now.”

“Maybe. Thought it would go well with the Yamaha YZF-R1 outside.”

I glance between the three bodies. “You bought yourself a new bike?”

Jim shrugs, his casual air ruined by the pride and amusement in his smile. “The Ninja has a bunch of miles on it and I figured it’s time for an upgrade. Think of it as your belated birthday gift.”

I bounce on my toes, ignoring the way my excited motions make me sway. But when I reach for the key, Jim pulls his hand back and tucks it into his pocket. I pout. Of course I can’t ride in my condition, but I desperately want to. With a huff I nod toward the helmet. “So, you’re gonna ride around on my new bike with your costume helmet?”

“Last time I checked, you have a thing for Master Chief.”

“Oh yeah?” The corner of my lip curls up. “If you wear your milnjor armor, you might get lucky tonight.”

“I’m already lucky.”

Bear and Marge roll their eyes in unison.

“I told you they were geeks.” Bear holds out a hand, and grumbling, his wife pulls a ten from her purse and shoves it into his open palm. Smiling, he leans down and puckers up for a kiss, but Marge scowls at him and stalks off.

Inara laughs, nudging me with her shoulder before leaning in. “You guys actually manage to make this marriage thing look like fun. Maybe I’ll give the program a shot next.”

As if summoned, Tony sidles over and grins down at her. “Why do that when perfection is right in front of you?”

Inara’s sigh is all of her lost patience rolled into a single sound. “You’re worse than an STD.”

If anything, Tony’s chest swells with pride. “If by ‘STD,’ you mean resilient, adaptable and sticks around after sex unless heavily medicated, then call me herpes.”

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