Page 33 of Black Bird

“I understand. Thank you.” Sarah patted her hand against Rhaena’s desk. “Is detective Northwood available? I wanted to speak with her as well, if that’s possible.”

“The 12th is at your disposal, Miss St. James. Northwood should be back shortly. You’re welcome to stay as long as you need to. There’s coffee and snacks in the break room.” Foley smirked at Athan. “Detective Kane can show you around.” Athan swallowed hard and rubbed at the back of his neck. “My door is open anytime.” Foley gave her a polite nod and she responded in kind as he turned and walked back to his office.

“Do you mind if I hang around? You can be honest. I’m tougher than I look.” Sarah smiled at him and the whispers in his mind were clear enough to let him know that whoever they were, they didn’t want him to let her leave. He also couldn’t argue that he didn’t want her to go … especially since she was now single.

Christ, what was she doing to him?

“I believe that.” He stood, shoving his phone into his back pocket. “Coffee?”

“Please.”

Thank God for sturdy punching bags. Rhaena couldn’t imagine how bad Athan’s face would have looked had it been that instead. She’d spent her entire lunch hour pommeling her rage into this thing after seeing the photos in that newspaper. No wonder he hadn’t answered her when she’d kept asking where he’d been. He had told her that he’d been in her apartment. He never told her they were there alone, or that she’d hopped onto his bike and snuggled up to him the whole ride there. No matter what he said, he couldn’t argue how flirtatious that picture at the stoplight had looked. At least from their vic, as she couldn’t see his face through that helmet at all. She did, however, see the look he was giving her when they’d shared a cigarette outside her home. Rhaena keptreminding herself of what she’d decided last night after she caved and let him satisfy her every need in that kitchen. That if anything ever did come about between them, she wouldn’t interfere. But controlling her jealousy proved harder than she’d expected … even if she did truly want his happiness.

She felt much better after her quick shower, and her knuckles weren’t nearly as sore when she packed her bag to head back to her desk. She’d been taking the captain’s advice and working on her posture, as well as her contact and the position of her arms when she hit. As Rhaena reached the last step and started into the hallway leading back into the precinct, Jenkins met her and fell into step at her side.

“Did he find out about you tailing him?” he asked. Rhaena turned her face toward him as they walked.

“What? No … why?”

“Well, y’all both seemed pissed before you stormed out. I figured it either had to be that or the fact that your vic looks like he could have picked her out of a fucking catalog.” She scoffed at that and rolled her eyes.

“Yeah … she does.” Rhaena stopped short. “Wait—how do you know what she looks like? Or did you see the papers?”

“What papers?” Jenkins knotted his brows. “She’s here. They’re in the break room.”

Rhaena tried to contain her bubbling temper. “What?”

“She’s—she showed up right after you left. She talked to the captain and said she was waiting for you. I figured maybe you were expecting her.”

“Ha …” She stormed forward and shook her head. “No, I can’t say that I was. Thanks for the heads up.” Jenkins was smarter than he looked. He knew better than to follow after her or continue that conversation. She might need to consider taking that dude out for a drink.

As Rhaena approached her desk, she found both empty, and a black corduroy jacket draped over the crack between the space where the two desks were pushed together. She dropped her bag under her chair and glanced up toward the break room. Captain Foley, Athan, and …Sarah… were talking amongst themselves. Athan perched against the counter staring after her like she was the most enchanting thing he’d ever seen, and Foley seated across from her at the break room table, sipping coffee while they continued to chat. She supposed they weren’t in much trouble, then. Good. But it still didn’t ward off the heat of the simmering anger that was still inside her. Athan didn’t owe her anything. She knew that. But he was always so sharp. Always so dedicated to helping her find the answers and cover up their world and this … this was changing everything.Shewas changing him.

It could have been because he was at fault this time, and maybe overridden with his own guilt, which was very much the case here but … aside from that, the life they had before it happened was gone and she knew it. It didn’t make it suck any less. Rhaena grabbed her tumbler and started toward the break room. She watched Athan the entire walk over. Henever looked away from that girl once. Didn’t even notice her until she was halfway through the door.

“Welcome back, Gloves.” Foley smiled, almost sympathetically. He knew, she supposed. Knew that she had some sort of feelings for Kane that were more than the closeness of being partners. How long he’d known, she couldn’t be sure. He hid it very well. Sarah turned in her seat, touching a hand to her neck when she’d craned it too much.

“Detective Northwood!” Sarah stood, reaching her hand out. “Good to see you again.” Rhaena glanced at Athan first, who watched her like a wolf protecting his pack, and then back at Sarah, taking her hand and shaking it.

“And you. This is a surprise.” Rhaena turned away and snapped the lid from her cup, stepping over to refill it at the water station.

“Well … I got here a bit too late. I initially came to warn you guys about—about …”

“I get it,” Rhaena said, perhaps a bit too dryly. Everyone was silent, the only sound being the splashing of water as it rose in the tumbler. “You seem better.” She finally turned around, facing them and the lid snapped closed … loudly. “I’m sure the Stratford boy is happy to have you home.”

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that … exactly that.” Sarah shifted on her feet and Athan decided to finally break the tension.

“We should go back to the board.” He met Rhaena’s eyes and there was a look in them that she’d never seen before … something predatory, but not in the way she’d known him to look when he needed to feed. This was something else. Something territorial.

She’s marked. I fucking marked her …

It’s like they’re branded to us … forever …

I either have to sire her, or kill her …

Rhaena watched them walk back to the desks. Watched the way he barely touched the small of Sarah’s back as he led her forward. Watched him nearly snarl at any of the uniforms that looked at her when they walked by. Foley broke her concentration with a hand on her shoulder.

“You okay, kid?” he asked. She shook herself out of a daydream and looked up at him.

---