Page 40 of Urban Justice

The tousled man with a Deadpool t-shirt came to his feet. “We talked earlier. I was the person on the other end of the phone.”

Luke shook his hand. “Thanks for your help.”

“No problem, it’s one of the things I do here. I’m still working on your request by the way. Should have an interesting list for you soon.”

The other man sitting by him stood. Tall, dressed in a tailored three-piece suit, with his dark brown hair slicked back, and a thick well-groomed beard, he looked out of place compared to the warriors training there. The man offered his hand and when he took it, Luke’s attention went to the black glasses.

“Yes, I’m blind. Normally, we’d exchange names before I go there, but as you’re clearly staring, I prefer to get it out of the way.”

Luke felt like a little boy surprised with his hand in the cookie jar. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Devin chuckled and the stranger smiled. “I’m playing with you. I’m Ben. I know when people are staring, and the black glasses are a dead giveaway. Artificial light tends to annoy me, but I see when it shifts, or someone blocks it.”

Luke was curious and wanted to ask what Devin and Ben did in this group of men and women but thought that waiting for the information to be revealed would be a wiser move.

Devin swiveled and his chair. “Sloane is headed down.”

As if on cue, Sloane appeared from the elevator, on high alert, until she finally spotted Luke. Only then did her shoulders relax and she came forward. Her pink hair a complete mess, dressed all in black, the jeans hugged her curves like they were painted on her body. Her top was a soft-looking sweater, revealing just a hint of her cleavage, where he remembered taking a lick, the taste of her skin on his mind. Even with the last discussion they’d had, his entire body still craved her. Not only her body, but her presence. When those blue eyes set upon him, it became virtually impossible to look away, not that he wanted to, at least for the time they had together.

Ignoring everybody else, Sloane came to his side. “Damn, couldn’t you just tell me you’d decided to come downstairs? I almost lost my shit.”

Before Luke could answer, Devin snickered. “Whoa, Sloane. You know nobody can get in or out without us knowing. Don’t you trust the guy?”

Luke found it fascinating to see the woman in her natural environment, surrounded by people she trusted with her life.

“Of course I do, dumbass!”

Devin didn’t seem to like the name calling, and was clearly about to retaliate when Ben intervened. “Please, can we focus here? It’s clear that Sloane trusts Luke. She was just worried about him, his health, but also how he’d be welcomed if he came down here without her.”

Ben touched Sloane’s arm before slapping Luke’s shoulder. “As everything seems under control here, I think I’ll retire. I have work to do. It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Luke.” Ben took his white cane, but didn’t use it as he moved away, stopping by Lance for a few moments before heading to the elevator door. If he hadn’t been told Ben was blind, Luke never would’ve suspected it by the way he moved.

With a sigh, Devin swung his chair, touching his bright sneaker to Sloane’s boot. “Sorry, Slo. We’re all a bit on edge, especially since what happened to you in that tunnel. I’m upset at you, professor, for going alone. Scratch that, I’m fucking angry. That was a stupid move.”

Luke crossed his arms. “It wasn’t my intention to put myself in danger. I had to act quickly. How long have you been looking for those tunnels to stop them? Yes, I’m a scholar, but I’m also a former Marine. I know the danger and how far I can push with the skills I have.”

He’d said it a bit louder than he’d intended, not just for Devin’s edification, but also for the four people in the training area. As Devin nodded, Luke felt Sloane’s hand on his back in a show of support, and he realized how much he’d needed her touch.

Devin smiled. “Man, if Ben vouches for you and Sloane wants you around, who am I to say no.”

“Ben vouched for me?”

Sloane shrugged at the question. “Ben is a profiler.”

Another surprise, which added another layer to this unusual group. “Well, if he can evaluate someone in seconds, he’s an exceptional profiler.”

Devin nodded, turning back to his screens. “He thought that because Sloane was too close and Lance was too pissed, he’d need to give his professional opinion on whether it was a good idea to kill you or not.”

Not sure if Devin was joking or being serious, Luke turned to Sloane who winked at him. “Lance wasn’t happy, but he trusts us.”

Luke looked at the warrior still fighting Sam. “Is Lance in charge of Noctem?”

Sloane continued to swirl her fingers on his back in an enticing connection. “He’s the founder. Lance and I have been friends for a long time, and when he founded Noctem, I came with him.”

Lance’s reaction made more sense now, how protective he’d been of Sloane and the secrecy around the Vigilante.

“Now that the introductions are over, while you were catching up on your sleep, I was working. Again.”

Sloane tugged at his wild hair playfully. “You never sleep, Devin, that’s common knowledge.”

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