“Fuck, Nicki…” he sighed.
He suddenly seemed to notice the officers standing around us and he stepped back a little, giving me a bit of breathing room, but leaving his arm wrapped protectively around my shoulder. Bishop stood next to his brother, his eyes locked on the detective. Something seemed to pass between them, and Bishop broke the standoff to examine me, his golden-brown eyes assessing me quickly before locking glares again with Micah.
Kaine was dressed in cutoff shorts and a t-shirt, but Bishop was shirtless, wearing only jeans and sneakers and his hair was still wet, as if he’d jumped out of the shower and into his car. I couldn’t help but compare our bodies. My skin was pale, white, and scarred while his golden skin rippled in the sunlight. Fuckingrippled. I sighed. No wonder the detective was staring at him.
“I’m fine!” I said, a little testier than I intended when Kaine started asking me more questions. I was tired of being afraid, and now that I was getting my second wind, I really didn’t want to look weak in front of my two friends. When Kaine looked at me dubiously I insisted, “Really.”
Bishop leaned forward, not so subtly shielding Kaine and I from the detective. I saw the detective hide an amused smile at the protective gesture, but he allowed it to pass unremarked as he turned away to speak to the uniformed officers.
“How did this happen?” Bishop asked quietly, looking down at me, his eyes searching my face. “Were you hurt? Did someone hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine. I don’t know what happened. I just came out to go to the grocery store. Vivian said we needed milk and bread, so I was going to run down to the corner store. I came outside, stepped on the glass and saw— this,” I said, waving at the wreckage that remained of my bike.
“Glass, huh?” I heard the detective’s voice say. I looked over and he was giving the porch ceiling and broken light a considering look, then asked “Any idea when that happened?”
My forehead furrowed as I tried to remember. “I think it was working yesterday morning. I work the early shift at a breakfast place, but when I came home last night, I remember the light wasn’t on.”
“I remember it was out whenwe dropped you off last night. I had a hard time seeing the building number,” Bishop said. “Maybe it was just some kids?”
“Kids wouldn’t think about taking the light source out so they couldn’t be seen,” the detective answered, walking back to the stairs. “At least, not most kids. Why don’t you guys take Nicki inside and let us take a look around out here.”
I walked the guys back into the apartment building, electing this time to take the elevator rather than the stairs. I thought my heart had endured enough action for one day.
We sat in my apartment, not really saying much. One of the uniformed police officers came up with the detective and asked me some questions.
No, I wasn’t involved with anything illegal. No, I didn’t have insurance. Did I know of any reason anyone might want to hurt me, or threaten me?
“No, no reason,” I whispered and shook my head. I avoided looking the officer in the eyes while I answered his questions. Therewasno reason anyone would want to hurt me. No logical reason, at least.
I saw Kaine pause at my prevarication. He knew my tells, and knew I was lying. I didn’t think the detective believed me either when I answered, though, because I saw his eyes narrow slightly at my response.
The uniform had just finished taking the report and given me a piece of paper with the report number on it.
“Nicki, let me take you over to the house,” Kaine offered. “You could stay with us for a couple of days.”
“What? No, Kaine, I’m fine. It’snothing! Really! It was probably just a bunch of kids with too much time on their hands,” I insisted. It’s what I wanted it to be.Neededit to be. “We moved here sight unseen. Maybe it’s just not a great neighborhood.”
“Well,Ilive here, it can’t beallbad,” The detective teased, and I found myself smiling. I saw Bishop snap his eyes back to the detective, and it reminded me of a cat who had their tail stepped on.
“You certainly didn’t prevent this from happening in the first place,” Bishop growled in response to the lighthearted teasing.
“I was working a double, Devereaux. I just got home a few minutes ago. I may be multi-talented, but I can’t beeverywhereat once,” the sexy detective answered sharply.
“Wait, you two know each other?” Kaine asked, looking in confusion from his brother to the detective.
The two locked eyes again, with neither saying anything and the tension ratcheted up. Enough was enough. As fun as it was to see someone get Bishop riled up,someoneneeded to act like the adult.
“Thank you, detective, I appreciate your help. Kaine, I appreciate the offer, but Vivian, my roommate, is due home this evening. I wouldn’t want her here by herself,” I said. “Especially after this.”
“I understand your concern. Well, as luck would have it, I’m off work the next couple of days, so I can keep an eye on you… both, and the place,” Micah offered. I could swear he was baiting Bishop deliberately, because he took the time to look me up and down in what I could only describe as a lascivious manner. Which was utterly laughable, I mean, c’mon! I was no competition for Bishop. There was some definite history between the two of these guys, though!
Bishop took the bait, though. He glared defiantly at Micah for a moment, and I couldn’t help but see something more in their interaction. Something beyond Bishop’s normal protectiveness was in that gaze. The look between the two of them was hot and cold, like fire and ice. They acted like Kaine and I didn’t even exist.
“You could both come stay with us, Nicki. You know the moms have enough room…” Bishop started.
“Oh, you still live with Mommy?” the detective snorted in derision. “Classic. Is your bedroom in the basement with your video games?”
I saw Bishop’s eyes narrow.
