Page 34 of Traitor

I righted myself and faced him. “Um, it’s late, and I’ve got to work tomorrow.”

His face fell. “I thought you could meet Puck. Maybe another night.”

Puck was Jimmy’s adorable chocolate lab—he’d shown me pictures the first time we had coffee. I was all for going to meet his dog, but I still wasn’t ready for sex.

I had to think fast or he was going to think I was friend-zoning him and there was no coming back from that.

I grabbed the front of his shirt into my fist and pulled him down. “Kiss me,” I whispered against his throat. His massive hands cupped my face and his mouth dipped down over mine.

There was a small spark and I almost breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t broken. I could still kiss a man who wasn’t Mike and feel something. I knew that any second now, that spark was going to ignite into a bonfire of lust, breaking the spell I’d been under since January.

The scruff on his face chafed against my skin as I took his lower lip in between mine, nipping lightly, while his tongue fought to gain entrance.

Yep. Any minute now.

Bonfire.

Fireworks.

I was going to be so overcome with emotion that I would beg to be taken back to his house. Puck wasn’t going to get a proper introduction because Jimmy and I were going to be shedding clothes like we were in the middle of a Texas heat wave. Bones were going to be jumped.

Jimmy broke the kiss with a sigh. “Text me when you get home, okay?”

No.

So, my lady-bits were just feeling a little grumpy, I’d been close though. I just knew it. Five more seconds and I would’ve been in that sweet spot.

I tried to hide my disappointment and promised that I’d let him know the moment I got home. I grabbed my keys and scanned the parking lot for any suspicious vehicles near mine. I was just about to unlock it when someone popped up from behind.

“Who is he?”

I let out a small shriek before grabbing my gun. When I realized who it was, I snapped, “Jesus Christ, Mike! What did I tell you about jumping out at people?”

He gave me a lazy grin. “You’re getting quicker on the draw, Darlin’. So, tell me, who the fuck was that guy?”

I shrugged. “We work out together.”

“Oh, he was working something out. Have you fucked him?” I glared up at him and he immediately began backpedaling. “I just—shit. I don’t know how to be friends with you.”

“Obviously,” I deadpanned. “You forced me out of my apartment without talking to me first.”

He at least had the audacity to look ashamed. “I’m doing the best I can. I was stuck interrogating that Ramos guy and I didn’t have a chance to break away long enough to talk to you face to face. For that, I’m sorry. I just thought that if one biker was after you, it wouldn’t be long before others were too.”

I’d known that, hadn’t I?

“So, did he make bail? Should I be looking over my shoulder?”

His eyes flashed with something, but it was gone in an instant. “They came after you because you requested Monica’s autopsy report.”

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. “That means they were tipped off by someone at the police department.”

Mike ran a hand roughly across his face. “Yeah that’s exactly what it fucking means. Someone on the inside is in their pocket.”

“How do we figure out who it is?”

He smirked. “We, Red?”

I stabbed my index finger into his chest. “Yeah, Tex. We. The way I see it, you’ve got a mole. That cop may be the reason my mother got killed. You need my help.”

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