Sonny’s hand dropped. “Say what now?”
“I just think it’s ironic that he’s always telling me I’m violent when, based on what you’re saying, he’s the violent one.”
Sonny took a step back.
“One thing League was born to do is assess a situation. If he says you’re violent, I got to believe it. It’s probably not you, but there’s this syndrome his women go through. I’m sorry, he’s the only one who can deal with you now.”
“Wow, I thought you were here to rescue me from him,” she said, feigning hurt.
“I don’t know you. Sometimes good food makes me act overly familiar. Sorry.”
“Good thing I’m able to rescue you, Deputy Te Awa.”
She looked at Santiago and shook her head. “Got all these people believing your foolishness. I’ll be in the office gathering my things. When you’re done swearing in Deputy Can’t Do Right, I’ve got a situation that requires your personal attention.”
“That’s the shit I’m talking about,” Sonny muttered uncomfortably, refusing to look in Lauren’s direction. She winked at Santiago as she walked to his office.
He watched the jiggle of her ass until it was no longer visible.
“Come to the kitchen so I can make breakfast and debrief you on what you’re stepping into.”
“I’ve been walking between worlds for a long time. I don’t imagine there’s much in this town worse than that.”
The changes in Sonny within a couple of years weren’t stark. No significant weight changes, still well-muscled, standing at sixfive; no new wounds seemed to mar his visible flesh; no vacant dead snake eyes. His light brown skin though, despite his Pacific Islander heritage, had a paler slightly ashen quality.
Roan was right. He should’ve brought Sonny in a long time ago.
In the kitchen, he pulled the steak he was going to cook last night from the fridge, gathered eggs, tortillas, a can of black beans, cheese, butter, and seasoning and began to make carne asada breakfast burritos.
“This is a town of about three thousand people…”
He told him about the changes facing the community, the cases they were facing—which reminded him he needed to talk to Lauren about her visit to Bailey Joe’s—the political landscape, and the tensions within the department. “You think you can manage that?”
“I can handle it, League. I won’t let you down again.”
“Let’s finish brunch then head to the station. If we don’t feed the she-wolf soon she’ll come for our throats.”
“Screw you, Stillwater,” he heard Lauren yell from down the hall. “I will come for your dicks!”
Sonny blanched.
“Why would she say that?” he said low, as if he was afraid she’d hear him.
Santiago shrugged. “Because she’s violent as shit.”
Santiago sent Sonny back to the station with paperwork completed and orders in hand.
“Now that we’re alone, can I tell you something you probably won’t like?” Lauren asked, slipping the strap of her bag over her shoulder as she prepared for the walk back home.
Santiago placed his coffee on the table and folded his arms across his chest as he regarded her silently.
He took a deep breath, held it, then exhaled slowly.
“Let me have it.”
“Even if it’s going to make your job more difficult?”
“Even if.”
