Page 44 of Black Bird

Sarah scoffed. “Or …nottaken? Yes.”

“Pay a little more attention. Whatever this snake is up to … we’re gonna cut the head off this … quickly.”

Sarah looked at her and then down at her fingers that were wringing together in her lap. “Thank you, Rhaena. For everything.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

“No, no … I know all that I just … I really do appreciate it. And I don’t want to cause a rift between you and Kane, either.”

Rhaena bristled but slid into that calm place. She reached over and took Sarah’s hand. “Listen … full disclosure? This is the first time I’ve ever seen him like this. Earlier, when you got upset? I nearly choked when he put his arms around you. Kane doesn’t do that. He hates being touched. It’s a rule.” Every time she put another piece of this together it stung, but Rhaena almost felt relieved. She wasn’t sure why. “A rule he’s broken several times since he’s met you, Sarah. You’re not coming between anything. He’s a close friend that’s understood me when no one else did. What we have? It’s just sex. You’re a big girl, I feel like you understand what I mean when I say it. After what I saw today at the precinct, and again at the bar … I don’t feel like it’s my place to be the one he goes to for anything physical anymore. When this is over … I’m rootin’ for ya.”

Sarah smirked and squeezed her hand. “I understand you, Rhaena. You take that however you need to.” She winked and released her hand, opening the truck door and sliding out. Rhaena rolled down the window when she paused and turned back. Sarah dipped her head into it. “It was a pleasure … kicking ass with you tonight.”

“Ha!” Rhaena laughed. “Anytime you wanna come hit some bags … you let me know.” She grinned as Sarah backed away, nodding. Rhaena found herself much lighter as Sarah disappeared into a side door by the coffee shop. She smiled to herself as she backed out of the parking space and glanced up at the window over the shop. Sarah peeked out, letting her know she was safe and waved.

How in the hell did this happen? Befriending the girl that was going to likely take her place. What kind of love triangle bullshit was this? And why the hell was she okay with it? She couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Athan. Now he was going to be dealing with a team of females to drive him up the wall. Maybe it was just the fact that for years, all she’d had was Athan … the loneliness she’d been feeling may not have been just in male companionship at all, but just general social interaction. Someone to get her. Someone that made the days a little brighter, instead of just a quick release of sexual tension. Maybe this was what had been missing. That’s what life was like for a lone wolf. With no pack to keep her grounded, who even was she these days?

Rhaena tapped the screen on her dashboard, dismissing the GPS and pulling up a number. It started ringing.

“Jenkins.”

“Hey, Brandon.”

“Give me a reason not to whoop you, Northwood. These three assholes you two arrested are gonna have us here all night.”

“Us? So, you got people helping?”

“Uniforms that brought ‘em in, yeah.”

“Then how about I give you a reason to go take a break?”

“I’m listening.”

“Let’s go out.”

“Bullshit.”

“No, I’m serious. Let’s go out to Ray’s. Nachos and beer on me.”

“Ha … say less, I’ll meet you there in fifteen.”

“10-4.”

She ended the call and turned left, smiling as she raised her straw to her mouth and sipped on her water.

He would have killed them. All of them. Athan hoped Rhaena had the good sense to take Sarah’s statement in the car, as well as keeping him from reading over it. He’d heard enough over the phone to make him want to blow a gasket. Just the thought of someone doing that to a woman was bad enough, but to put his filthy fucking hands onher?The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to walk back to holding and rip the bastard apart. The things he’d said to her … the way she fell apart when Athan had held her. He couldn’t help but cringe at the notion that he was the reason she was in this position. Sarah was slowly falling apart, and no matter what he was starting to feel for her … this was still his fault. He couldn’t decide if what Tony had said held any water, or if it was the fact that he’d fed on her that made him feel so protective, but he couldn’t explain away his need to have her against him or how his heart nearly stopped at how good she felt in his arms.

His pen hovered over the mountain of paperwork left behind from the incident at the bar, and he dropped it to rub his face with both his inked hands. Captain Foley approached Rhaena’s empty desk and Athan glanced up at him as he thoroughly looked him over. He hadn’t changed his blood-spattered shirt yet.

“What the hell happened out there tonight, Kane?”

“Well, sir … our vic put three murderous rapists behind bars. That about sums it up.” Athan ran a hand through his hair.

“Is she alright?” Foley asked, crossing his arms.

Athan nodded and blinked. “For the most part, sir. She called my phone while one of them were putting hands on her … left it sitting on the bar and I called Northwood. She got there before I did. The rest is history.”

“And the press?”

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