Chapter 26
SPENCER
“What did that steak ever do to you?” a voice asked from behind me, scaring the shit out of me.
Spinning around, I came face to face with a grinning Derek holding a six pack. He’d obviously heard. “Did you smell dinner from your place?”
“Yeah.”
“Bullshit.”
“I may have also heard you knocked Jared ass over tit at training tonight, so when the SOS text came, here I am,” he said with a wicked gleam in his eye. Instantly I knew who had the big mouth. In the mood I was in, I found myself wishing I could kick something. Hard.
“You eating?”
“You offering?”
I just nodded and tossed a couple more sausages on the barbeque. I’d already been cooking enough to feed a small army and now thankfully I wouldn’t have much waste. Derek cracked open a beer and handed it to me. He didn’t need to know about the three I’d already downed in the past half hour. Tonight was just one of those nights.
For a while we just stood staring at the grill, entranced by the flames as they licked and caressed the meat. The smell was intoxicating. My stomach grumbled loudly in appreciation, causing Derek to chuckle loudly. He opened himself a second beer and flopped down into the patio chair before turning his attention back on me.
“So, you gonna tell me?” he began.
“Tell you?”
I wasn’t dumb. I knew exactly why he was there. It didn’t mean I had to make this easy for him, either. I wasn’t a criminal on trial, but I knew at some point he’d use all of his police training to get what he wanted. For now, while I had some semblance of control, I’d make him work for it and enjoy every minute of it.
“Don’t play dumb, Spencer. It doesn’t suit you.” He laughed gruffly at his own joke. “What happened tonight? I mean, I know you’re tough, but you’re supposed to be tough against the opposition, not beat the shit out of your own team mates at training.”
“They pissed me off.”
“How?”
“Usual bullshit.”
“So they were mouthing off, slacking off, and generally having a good time?”
“Yeah, that’s about right.” I knew I was being an asshole. I wasn’t giving away much. It was just more fun this way. Flipping meat provided me with an excuse to avoid his harsh, direct gaze.
“Isn’t it supposed to be fun?”
“Winning is fun.”
“Spencer, cut the crap. It’s just me. No one else will know. So stop trying to be tough and mean and tell me the God damn truth. What the fuck is up your ass?” Frustration rolled off him in waves. I grinned inwardly. I’d managed to push his buttons faster than I’d ever achieved before.
“It’s nothing,” I dismissed casually.
I knew exactly why I was pissed off. Hell, I’d been a monster all week. Knowing it and saying it out loud were two very different things. Part of me?the sensible part, the part that was thinking rationally?knew as soon as I said it out loud it would be real. It was as scary as hell. I didn’t get to be scared. It wasn’t a luxury I could afford.
“Fuck off! It’s nothing. Spit it out,” he half growled. I spun around fast. Too fast. I almost toppled from my feet.
It took me a moment before I was steady once again and my focus snapped back. “Zoe,” I half barked, half moaned.
“Zoe?”
“Yeah.”
Now I’d put it out there all the fury was back with a fucking vengeance. That girl would be the death of me?or her. Right now if I could have gotten my hands on her there was a strong chance I’d wring her perfect little neck. Okay, I probably wouldn’t have, but damn, it felt good just to imagine.
