Page 22 of Black Heart

“I’m not a babysitter and I don’t want the job,” Tristan bit out, looking incredibly pissed.

“Then, you’re back on full medical,” Hank said, shrugging it off as he gestured to Marty. “She’s the only reason why I’ve decided to bring you back early.”

He left Tristan to think that over and turned his attention to Marty. “You will work Tristan’s shifts. His doctors and physical therapist informed me that his arm and shoulder are not at full use yet. I need you to take over his typing, help him with any of his office needs, drive him to appointments and anywhere else he needs to go.”

“I can drive, Hank,” Tristan cut in.

Hank merely shook his head. “You’re not currently covered to come back. Right now, you’re not allowed to drive. So, Marty will do that for you until the doctors say otherwise, which means that you won’t be responding to any calls since she isn’t an officer.”

Tristan cursed inventively while Marty cleared her throat. “So, basically, I’m his chauffeur and assistant?”

Hank nodded. “Among other things. We can’t afford to be down by one detective and his injury isn’t so extensive that I would request another detective to transfer here only to ask him to leave in a few weeks. So, since I have other things that I need you to do and I need him back, I’m going to combine your workloads so that I have my lead detective back full-time, you get your training, and we don’t fall behind.”

Marty looked thoughtful as she took it all in. Hank turned his attention back to Tristan, who looked ready to kill someone. “If I find out that you’ve missed one single physical therapy, doctor’s visit or therapy session, then you’ll be back on full medical,” Hank promised.

Tristan ground his jaw but nodded once. He wasn’t happy about this, but he would play along for now if it meant getting off medical.

* * *

“Good.Now, I expect you both back here bright and early tomorrow morning,” her father said with a satisfied sigh, sounding pleased with himself as he stood up and left the room.

Marty looked back at Tristan to find him glaring at her. “Well, it’s good to know that you’ll never have to lift a finger as long as nepotism is still alive and thriving,” Tristan bit out coldly as he stood to leave.

“Yeah, you would know,” Marty said, watching him pause by the door.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tristan demanded.

“Are we really going to pretend that you don’t have any idea what I’m talking about? Really?” Marty asked, blinking up at him.

She watched as he closed the door behind him and folded his arms over his chest. “Enlighten me.”

“Fine,” Marty said, pushing to her feet. She walked over to the desk and leaned back against it, never taking her eyes off him. “How do you think you got this job?”

“I earned it.”

“Did you really, though?” Marty asked in a pitying tone, mostly to piss him off.

He took a menacing step towards her as he said, “Listen, sweetheart, I’ve been busting my ass since I was fourteen, taking summer and evening courses. I had my first bachelor’s degree by nineteen and my master’s by twenty-one. I graduated in the top position at the academy and had the highest test scores. I’ve earned my place on the SWAT team and I’ve earned this, so don’t try insinuating anything else.”

She knew about the night classes and summer courses that he took when he was fourteen, but she didn’t about the rest. She was also well aware that she was being given this part of her job because of her father, but having it thrown in her face byhimwasn’t happening. So, of course, she had to keep pushing him.

“You don’t find it odd that you’re only twenty-nine, but you’re in charge of two detectives? One of them fifteen years older than you and has been on the job longer?Andyou have your own office?”

He took several more steps until she found herself nose-to-nose with him, but she wouldn’t back off. If she did, he would know that he could push her around and she knew better than to ever let that happen.

“You don’t know shit. I’m lead detective because I have the highest rate of solved cases, the highest education, and I put more hours in than the two other detectives combined. I also have my own office,Princess, as you will soon find out because I am the biggest asshole you will ever meet. I give you a week before you go beggingDaddyfor a new job.”

She kept her gaze locked with his, even though, inside she was trembling. From his words? She didn’t think so. Deciding to ignore her disturbing reaction to him, she bit out. “And I give you a week before you give up and go back on full medical. If you think you’re going to push me around like everyone else, then you have another thing coming. So, you better cut the shit and stop trying to push me around or I’ll push back until you leave here crying for your mother,mama’s boy.”

Oh, shit…

Perhaps she went just a tad too far with the “mama’s boy” comment judging by the homicidal glare he was sending her, but in her defense, he really pissed her off. She opened her mouth to backtrack when he leaned in, placing his mouth next to her ear.

“Better get a change of panties and a box of tissues, sweetheart, because you’ll be leaving here in the same fashion as your predecessor,” Tristan whispered harshly in her ear, sending a tremor throughout her body that had nothing to do with fear.

CHAPTER8

You can do this,Marty kept telling herself as she walked through the station Monday morning. Her arms were filled with boxes of pastries and donuts, making walking through the security door difficult.

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