Page 11 of Memphis Heat
When Officer Butch Carson and his rookie trainee, Regan “Sundance” O’Malley, are caught between the MPD and the Russians, they have no one they can turn to but each other.The more they learn about being werewolves, the tighter their own bond becomes.And the more determined they are to stop the assassins who nearly added them to the growing list of victims.
Chapter One
“Nothing says white trash like a street brawl.”
“You think we should stop them?”
Butch Carson munched on his steak sub, not overly concerned.“Hell, no.I’m betting on the redhead.”
Regan winced as the shorter blonde woman fisted the redhead’s braid and yanked for all she was worth.“We should call the cops.”
Butch arched an eyebrow at his new partner.“We are the cops.”
“You know what I mean.Kiddy cops.Child Services.We’ve got to do something.Look at that poor little boy.He doesn’t need to see this.”
Butch sighed.“You ever worked with Child Services?I don’t think that’s necessary.He can’t be as traumatized as he would be with a visit from Child Services.”
Regan turned to give him that look -- the one with the brows all squished together and the lips getting thin.A look like that had led to his last divorce.“You don’t want to do the paperwork.”
“What makes you think I’d do the paperwork?That’s what rookies are for.I’ve got seniority.”She didn’t laugh, so he sighed again and stuffed what was left of his sub back in its paper.“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”He pointed at the couple in the alley.“You know what that kid looks like to me?”
She wrenched the door open, hand on her radio.He jumped out of the car, running after her, but the rookie was already in over her head.“Requesting backup, South Main and Vance,” Butch keyed as he ran after his partner -- and the couple retreating down the alley.The dead-end alley.Out of sight of the main street.“Fuck.”Some days he hated being right.
“Butch?”He knew Regan saw the trap now, too.She was trying to keep the fear out of her voice.“What -- what do they -- what does he look like to you?”
All pretense of their scuffle gone, the blonde and the redhead turned to face them, dropping down on all fours, lips furled back to reveal wickedly sharp teeth.The little boy dropped to the asphalt between them, bawling his eyes out.Another, older wolf moved through the pack that had appeared out of nowhere, surrounding them, scooping the kid up to whisk him out of harm’s way.
Butch crouched low, pistol at the ready.“Bait.He looks like bait.”
Regan’s voice went stiff and formal.“It’s been a pleasure serving with you.Even if I did get the Sundance nickname all over the precinct because of you.”
“Fuck that,” Butch swore.“I’m not going down without a fight.Whatever the hell they are, they breathe.They can still die.Aim for the eyes, and don’t stop till you run out of lead.”
“Well, at least we won’t have to listen to any more Sundance jokes.”
* * *
“You’ve stumbled into a turf war,” Snorrasan drawled.“Memphis is ours.We don’t know why the Russians are here, either.Yet.But we will.So the question is, cop, whose side are you on?”
Jarod looked down at Belle, pulling those FBI sweats back over her head.“That’s easy.Mine.”
From behind the big blond Alpha, another, shadowed figure stepped forward.Jarod’s world turned upside down again.“Colonel?”
Snorrasan’s lips peeled back in a snarl.“You FBI, kid?Or are you still Memphis PD?”
Jarod shook his head.“Memphis PD, born and bred.MPD will always come first.No one asked me about this FBI gig.Just shoved it down my throat.”He glanced back at the colonel, wishing someone would tell him what the fuck was going on.
Colonel Roberts grinned at him.“Welcome to the Fraternal Order of Police.Memphis style.”
“But… Snorrasan.”Jarod glanced over at the grizzled wolf shifter.“I arrested you.”
“Undercover.Need to know.You didn’t.Not then.”
“And now?”
“Now there’s a lot you two need to know.Let’s get down to work.”
* * *
