Page 5 of Trigger

Hechuckled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Or something. You’re indeep shit, and you don’t even know it.”

“Whatthe hell?” I exclaimed, feeling alarmed. “Why? What’s wrong with him?”

“Fromwhat I’ve heard,” Levi said, giving me a pointed look. “A lot.”

Chapter 2

The Reluctant Partners

Carter

“Carter, I think yourpartner just arrived.”

Iignored Adam and answered my phone instead.

“Hey,Vic.”

“Hi,darling. How are you?”

“I’mhaving a shitty day that’s about to get shittier. You?”

“I’mokay, but super busy. Anyway, daddy called and invited us home for Christmas.Aunt and uncle will come too, and perhaps even the Fiches if they return fromthe cruise. Can I tell him we will come?”

Ifrowned. “Christmas is in four months. What’s the urgent urgency?”

“Myparents are making early plans because they’re spending the autumn in Gstaad.Or Monaco? Something like that. So, what do you say?”

Irubbed my forehead. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea, Vic. I don’t fit in withthose people. We will only make each other uncomfortable.”

“Thosepeople are my parents, Carter.”

“Ididn’t mean them. I meant… the rest of them.”

“Mommyand daddy love you, and the others don’t matter.”

I hadto smile because what she said was both amusing and untrue.

“Iwouldn’t say they love me, Vic. They tolerate me, but they would be muchhappier if their daughter chose a banker or a surgeon instead of a lowly cop.”

“You’renot a lowly cop. You’re the best detective in town, and one day, you willbecome a mayor. My daddy will make sure of it.”

“Vic,please.”

Shehad been nurturing this illusion since we met, ignoring my thoughts on thematter. Did I even want to become a mayor? I would rather step on a rusty nail.Did she ever ask me what I wanted? Not really. Vicky could be like thatsometimes. Her parents were filthy rich, and she was used to getting her way.She disliked my job but put up with it because she knew I would never quit. Shetolerated the late hours and canceled dates, hoping that one day I would becomesomeone I didn’t want to be. And it bothered me, even though our relationshipwas mostly harmonious.

Thechuckles in the room caught my attention, and I looked over my shoulder to seewhat caused the upheaval. Bruce threw a pencil at me, mouthing something like,“He’s here,” but I wasn’t sure since he was still chewing on his donut.

“Vic,I’ll call you back,” I said, pushing my chair backward across the floor so Icould have a better view. I took off my reading glasses, only to blink inconfusion at the sight of a mountain of a man striding down the hall. He was atleast six foot three and built like a brick wall, but he moved with agilityuncommon for the men of his size. He was all muscle and power, as if he livedin a gym, but something told me it was Mother Nature’s generosity. And heseemed nonchalant about his size, as if he were unaware of the people movingout of his way to let him pass.

Comparedto his formidable looks, his clothes were atrocious. He wore a tacky Hawaiianshirt featuring palm trees, pineapples, and pink flamingos, which still showedoff his muscular physique. The gaudy shirt suited him like a glove, unlike thewhite, slim-fitting chinos, too tight in certain spaces. (Thighs. Groin area.No explanation necessary.) On his feet, he wore neon green flip-flops.Flip-flops.

I sawhim tucking a strand of chin-length, dirty blond hair behind his ear whilelooking around. Then his gaze lifted, and his eyes caught mine, and it felt asif someone had punched me in the throat. I quickly looked away, fiddling withmy glasses, annoyed that he’d caught me staring. I caught a glimpse of a lightstubble, a strong jaw, and eyes so blue they seemed like contacts.

“Ithink that’s your new partner, Carter,” Bruce said, stifling a laugh.

“Aren’tyou just hilarious?” I muttered, keeping my gaze on the desk to avoidunnecessary eye contact.

“Hedoesn’t look like a Viking, at least not in that shirt,” Shelly whispered.“But, gosh, he’s huge.”

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