I wonder what it would be like to let it all hang out and tell the truth.
“What’s going on in that head of yours, Kitten?”
Ryker is staring at me.
“Nothing, why?”
“That was a pretty heavy sigh for such a tiny person,” he smirks, then turns back toward the windshield.
We’re waiting for the mysterious Drum to appear at his house. We don’t have to wait long. A tall, brown-haired guy walks up the sidewalk to the front door, glances around, then shoves his key in the lock. He’s inside the house lickety-split.
“Damn,” I tap my medallion. “He seems paranoid.”
“I’d be too if I helped two serial killers run free,” Ryker snorts. “How do you want to play this?”
I sit back and consider what just happened. Ryker asked for my opinion. And he didn’t call me Kitten, either.
Curiouser and curiouser.
“I think he’ll open the door to me. Thelittle ladydoesn’t look threatening,” I shimmy out of my suit jacket and shoulder holster, tucking my gun into the back of my pants. “You slip in through the back door.”
He quirks an eyebrow.
I hold up a hand. “And if you’re about to say ‘that’s what she said,’ please note that I’ll slap the snot out of you. Again.”
Ryker bites back a smile. “Fair enough.”
“I’ll give you a head start,” I shove his shoulder. As if I could move that solid piece of man. But, he quietly exits, and within two seconds, disappears.
I sit up and look around. Where the fuck did that Native American Ninja go?
He’ll have to teach me that trick after our partnership is over.
A pang of regret hits me in the chest. I have no idea what’s causing it, and before I can dwell on it too long, I get out of the car and mosey up the sidewalk to Drum’s house.
I knock three times before he yanks open the door. His gray eyes go wide. His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline.
“Cat?”
Before I can utter awhat the entire fuck?Drum - who knows who the fuck I am - doubles over, grabbing his stomach, and falls to the ground in front of me. Blood blooms between his fingers. I hop inside the house, ducking behind the wall and pulling out my gun.
“Ryker! Taking fire out front!” I yell, hoping my partner can hear me.
Bullets are pinging past the open doorway and into the house. I hear plaster crack and glass break. My left shoulder is on fire, probably from a shard of something but don’t dare look behind me. It doesn’t matter what the fuck is going on in the house. The shooters are out front.
I check my weapon.
Thirteen bullets.
I don’t have extras.
My shoulder burns.
“Kitten?”
Ryker is suddenly beside me, reaching for my shoulder. “What happened?”
“Ambush,” I grit my teeth as he yanks the fabric of the sleeve away from my shirt.
