Salena nods, staying by my side.
“I’m Milo, and this is Kallie.”
Kallie doesn’t so much as look at Salena, she’s looking at me.
Milo frowns at Kallie and turns his concerned gaze back to Salena, but before he can ask her anything, Kallie cuts in, her tone ice cold and bitchy.
“So what, you called us because someone painted your door?”
My anger at the lieutenant rises, and I clench my jaw, looking at Milo.
“I called it in. Not Salena.”
Kallie's breath comes out in a rushed huff as she averts her gaze. Milo opens his mouth to speak, but before he can get a word out, Salena interrupts.
“It’s blood,” she states, crossing her arms defensively.
My protective instincts flare, seeing her discomfort, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side. She comes willingly. I notice Kallie’s eyes narrow further.
“How do you know that?” Kallie snaps, her tone suggesting Salena had something to do with this.
Milo shoots her a look that readswhat the fuck? But I can tell he also wants to know the answer to that question.
“I can just tell. It looks the same as the cat blood that was smeared on my front door a couple of weeks ago.”
Milo’s brows drop as he glances at me, and I nod.
“I put in the report,” I say, reminding him.
Milo nods. “Right, I’ll take some notes and get a statement, and then we will get forensic out here.”
“Thank you,” Salena says, her perfect, delicate face contorted into a frown as she peers back at the door.
I abhor the sight of it there.
There’s something about Salena that has my protective instincts flaring to life.
I hate that some asshole is targeting her.
Kallie steps toward Salena, her gaze calculated. “And where were you last night?”
“I was home all night. The bar is closed Monday nights,” Salena answers easily.
“Do you have anyone who can confirm that?”
Salena doesn’t even get a chance to answer or even look my way before I step between them, my eyes hard as I look down at Kallie. “She was with me all night.”
Kallie’s face went bright red, and her mouth dropping open. Milo steps forward to save the situation. “And your relationship with Miss Cartwright?”
“She is my girlfriend,” I growl.
Kallie’s eyes widen before she narrows them on Salena. I've seen that look on women before, and I don’t like it directed at Salena.
I can’t seem to stop the words spewing from my mouth. “And I know she didn’t leave the apartment, because we barely slept last night. We were occupied.” I let the insinuation settle between us, and Salena’s hand grips the back of my shirt as she tugs me back a step, her arm sliding around my waist. I lift my arm, fitting her to my side. I peer down at her, and she smiles softly up at me. Her other hand pats my stomach in adown boykind of way.
Milo clears his throat, trying to hide his smirk. “Right, well, I will take a statement, and Kallie, you can make some calls. Get the team down here.”
Kallie spins on her heels and storms back to the cruiser.
