Page 8 of One Step Sideways

“Gray works for you,” I said, remembering that Katy had served with him.

“Yes, but he’s married to a rockstar and said rockstar is about to go on tour. It’s a huge deal because Seb has a scar in the same place you do, and he’s got permission to fly. He’s also got three European countries wanting to host him.”

I absorbed that and then we were pulling up outside a large house in a private gated community. Rawlings already had to show ID twice just to get in. Then the cops didn’t want to let him through until a young woman—Katy—pushed her way through the sea of uniforms and grabbed Rawlings’ arm. I just stuck close to them. We both had to give our names, but then Katy dragged us into a small home office area and promptly burst into tears.

Rawlings wrapped his arms around her, and I just stood there like an idiot. But then she was done and pushed herself back. “These are angry tears,” Katy declared, and I was pretty sure neither of us would have dared to disagree. Katy then seemed to realize Rawlings wasn’t on his own and held out her hand. “Katy Peterson.” She glanced at Rawlings. “I never changed my name, but Rain is a Saunders.”

Rawlings nodded. “Okay, I know you’ve been through this a shit ton of times already, but we need it from the top.”

Katy nodded, but before she could start a guy in a suit opened the door without knocking and walked in. “Mrs. Saunders—”

“It’s Ms. Peterson,” Katy snapped, and the entitled ass just waved his hand like it didn’t matter.

“I’ve already said that despite your insistence, we don’t recommend civilians getting involved, and that they can be an actual threat to us retrieving your daughter.”

“Really?” Katy arched an eyebrow. “That’s the same daughter who up to an hour ago you were arguing would be at one of her friends’ houses? I believe the word you used was ‘sulking.’”

I watched his jaw harden.

“You really need to leave it to the professionals, ma’am.”

“Diesel Rawlings is very professional,” she insisted.

“I’m sure,” and he glanced at me. I knew then he’d run my name. “But did you also know that Mr. Rawlings’ companion is Kane Diaz, who was released only yesterday after serving seventeen years inside because he tried to murder his father?”

I hadn’t done what I was accused of, but right that moment I was willing to do another seventeen to wipe the smile off this fucker’s face.

Chapter Four

Kane

I watched Katy glance at me, but to her credit, she didn’t look alarmed. “I can wait outside,” I said to both of them, but then Katy stepped in front of me.

All five-foot-six, and one hundred and twenty-five pounds of her. I tried not to gape like an idiot. Rawlings simply grinned, openly enjoying the ass-hat detective’s discomfort.

“Do you have an update for me, Detective?” Katy asked.

He glanced at both of us in annoyance. “Not yet. We’re waiting on CCTV footage.”

Katy nodded, then went to the door and held it open for him. “If you’ll excuse us.”

“Ma’am, I’m only watching out for your safety, especially—” He glanced pointedly at me. “Especially as we have no idea if his abilities are controlled.” She didn’t bother replying, just waited for him to leave. I watched as the detective stalked out.

“I really can wait outside,” I added.

“No. Diesel trusts you, or you wouldn’t be here.”

“Right, Katy.” Rawlings got out his phone. “You’re on speaker with our tech expert, Danny.”

She nodded and took a breath. “Rain’s always been a daddy’s girl. You know how it is when you get deployed. You spend half your life not being there for your kids.” She paused. “To be honest, my marriage was over a long time ago. I came from a small town and Patrick was this rich older man who completelyturned my head. I was twenty when we met while I was on leave and I got pregnant a year later. He was very manipulative, and I was even considering leaving the service early like he wanted me to. I got orders, and we were given special leave before we flew out, so I turned up at his offices to surprise him.” She winced. “Not sure what sort of dictation involves the exchange of bodily fluids with his assistant, but you get my drift.”

Danny interrupted to get Saunders’ business details and confirm some dates, then Katy continued. “I had to deploy again as I had no choice, but we were just coming to the end of our four months and I got a call to say he’d been arrested. I came home.”

“We can find the trial transcripts, so you don’t need to go into that,” Rawlings said.

She nodded. “Rain never forgave me. She seemed to think somehow I was responsible for getting her father arrested.”

“Does she know what he was arrested for?” I asked.

---