“And I still do. So tell me what just went on between you and Frank. He’s not talking to you? This about the K9 Unit?”
“If you want to keep having my back, you’ll stop asking me about him right now.”
“I’m not going to do that, Sylvie. I saw the way he looked at us. Heisthe one who ratted you out, isn’t he?”
Sylvie stiffened, then her shoulders slumped as if she’d given up. “I…I don’t know. I don’t think so, really.” She sighed. “Fine. That’s what I’m trying to figure out. He told me we need to talk and now he’s avoiding me. Plus, I didn’t like Glass’s behavior just now. The man is obviously a hothead, and instead of directing it at Hicks or Frank, he immediately went at his girlfriend or whatever. It’s like he almost relaxed once he saw who was arresting him. But we were there, and that…complicated things.”
“I think I hear what you’re saying, Sylvie. ”
She side-eyed him. “I’m not sayinganything, is that clear? I’m trying to domyjob.”
Alex sighed. He decided this was too important.
“No. We’re not doing this.” Alex turned to Sylvie. “Straight talk. You think Frank and his partner are corrupt?”
“I….think someone is. And maybe Frank knows who.”
“He’s covering for Hicks?”
She gripped the wheel. They were nearing Lyons, its lights twinkling in the shadow of the foothills at the end of the day.
“Dammit, just let me do my job, Alex. Frank is my mentor and I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. For whatever reason, he’s been unable to talk to me. I want to give him that chance before I go accusing anyone of anything.” She looked at him. “And you aren’t going to sic anyone on him in the meantime, understand? For all I know, he’s working undercover, maybe even tracking down the person who sabotaged me. I don’t want to get in the way of that. And I really don’t wantyougetting in the way of that.”
As Sylvie had predicted, Lyons’ main drag was packed with festivalgoers checking out the little town. Sylvie drove carefully, alert for any kids—or inebriated adults—who might suddenly dart in front of the car. Alex let her concentrate until they’d cleared town and were on their way to Watchdog.
“What happens if Frank is undercover?”
“Then I’ll help him any way I can, whether it’s getting out of his way or going undercover myself. I can’t let something like this stand. Not just because of what happened to me, but because it’s wrong. It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it.”
Alex grimaced and gripped the dashboard. There was no talking her out of this.
He closed his eyes.There I go again. It wasn’t his place to do that, either.
“Will you at least tell me if you do go undercover?”
Sylvie drove in silence up the hill to his house. She parked in front of his place and killed the engine, then stared straight ahead through the windshield. Her lips twitched and she sucked in the lower one.
Finally, she said, “I’ll do what I can.”
“That’s not good enough, babe.”
“Then why did you even ask?”
“Because I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I’m a cop. It’s a hazard of the occupation.”
“We both know it’s different if you’re talking about someone in your department.”
He watched her as she considered this. Finally, she nodded. “It is.” She exhaled hard. “It’s a lot harder when you don’t know who to trust.”
Alex grabbed her hand. He ran his thumb over her fingers. “Come inside with me. Spend the night. Let me give you a place where you can feel safe, where you don’t have to watch your back, at least for tonight. You can’t tell me you feel entirely safe going back to your place when you’ve had a target on your back.”
“Alex, I wouldn’t come in with you just to feel safe.” She lifted his hand and kissed it. “I’m coming in because I want to be with you.”
His cock twitched at that.
She continued. “That’s not to say you don’t make me feel protected when I’m with you. Safe enough to let a car come straight at me knowing you have my back. I’ve spent most of my life looking out for myself, even when I have people who love and protect me. But it feels different with you. With you, I can let down my guard. With you, I can surrender.”
