“I agree,” said a voice from the doorway.
Seth jumped up and placed his body between the door and his father. He’d been so involved in the discussion that he hadn’t heard or smelled the sheriff. Pete stood at the door, gun drawn.
“Well, hello, Sheriff.”
Pete nodded. “You need to come downtown with me, Seth. Mia and I have some questions for you.”
Seth stilled. Mia was at the station? The woman had to be sicker than a dog from the transition. She needed to go home, and now. He growled. “Let’s go.”
Ben grabbed his phone and started dialing. “Don’t say a word until your lawyer gets there.” Then he chuckled. “Mia had you arrested. Yeah, she’s just like your mother.”
Seth failed to see the humor in the situation. When he reached the station, he and his mate were going to have a little talk. From now on, she’d damn well take care of herself…and stop arresting him.
While he’d never act as Alpha of a pack, an Alpha he was. His mate needed to understand what that meant.
Seth strodethrough the front door of the police station and right to Mia’s temporary workstation. “You need to go home. Now.”
Pete walked behind him. “You got this?”
“Yes. I’d like a moment with Mr. Volk.” She stood. “Seth, come with me.” Her head hurt, but she hid the pain and strode to the interrogation room that only had the one window in the door. Once inside, she shut it and turned to face him. “Now is your last chance, lover. Did you kill Ruby?”
Fire lit his eyes while his lips compressed into a dangerous line. Warmth assailed her as he stepped into her space.
Instinct ruled as she raised both hands to ward him off. “Back off, Volk.”
He towered over her with at least an extra foot of height. At least an extra hundred pounds of muscle. And without question, a much more dangerous temper. “After the other night, how can you ask me that?”
Doubt had her clearing her throat, yet she tilted her chin. “The other night was just sex. Now answer the question.”
He stilled. The air shifted with just enough pressure to kick her heart into gear. A low growl rumbled from his chest. “It was more than sex.”
“Grow up. Sex is sex.” Showing softness would wrench away control of the moment. So, she yanked the knife from her back pocket. The silver glinted with a knowing power under the fluorescent lights.
His instant smile was the angriest expression she’d ever seen. A shiver wound down her spine to chill her entire body. When he stepped forward, she took an unwilling step back.
Seth eyed the knife. “You’d stab me, even knowing what that would do if you got it to my bloodstream.”
“Yes.” She met his gaze squarely as she bluffed. The best trainers in the world had taught her how to evade and lie, and she was good at it. But no way did she want to see him suffer such pain.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and moved until the knife rested against his abdomen. “Prove it.”
As dares went, it was a good one. “I don’t want to harm you if I don’t have to. Just answer my question.”
“I’m going to count to three, Mia, and you’d better stab me.”
The man actually wanted to writhe in pain. Temptation rose to teach him a lesson, to teach him she’d meet any dare. But her hand began to tremble on the weapon. She tightened her grip. “What happens at three?”
“I take the knife away from you.” Matter-of-fact, his voice failed to mask the pissed-off hue of his multi-colored eyes. “One.”
She slid back, twisting her hand just enough for a better angle on the weapon. Her breath heated while adrenaline shot through her veins. “Don’t push me.”
He mirrored her step. “Two.”
She couldn’t let him take the knife. For all time, he’d doubt she meant what she said. “Last chance. Back the fuck off, Volk.”
“Three.”
They moved at the same time. Mia shot the knife down to pierce his thigh just as he swept out his arm. The blade ripped through his jeans and then clattered across the floor. Blood dotted the way.
