“Coffee would be nice.It’s been a long damn day.”The man’s weariness hung off him like a worn sheet.
Apollo motioned toward the empty chair, and Rocko sat as Mary brought over an empty cup and a pot of coffee, along with extra cream and sugar.
“I’ve heard.”
“Thank you,” Rocko said to her retreating figure.
While the new arrival poured himself a cup of joe, Apollo realized the usual tension he felt radiating throughout his body was muted.It was disconcerting.Apollo would even dare to say he was damned near relaxed, which wasn’t something usually on his dance card.Perhaps he was imagining it.
An angry growl reverberating through the room announced Griffin’s arrival, but Apollo had already sensed his presence.Rocko didn’t move, though he could tell the guy’s senses were on high alert.Apollo raised his hand, quieting his longtime friend and second-in-command.All they needed was for Griffin to go ballistic in here, protecting Apollo.They’d made some good friends in town over the months, but he doubted it would be enough to accept Griffin’s wilder side.
“Obviously, I’m Apollo, and this is Griffin,” he remarked as his second came around the table and sat in the third chair.
“As you no doubt already know, I’m Detective Rocko Owens.I believe Brick contacted you about me coming here and brought you up to date on what occurred when I got off the plane.”
“Why are you sitting at this table?”Griffin demanded.
“I needed a damn coffee—you?”Rocko asked with one raised eyebrow.
Griffin’s eyes narrowed.“Are you trying to annoy me?”
“Yes.But somehow I doubt that takes a great deal of effort.”
Apollo couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You can always turn your ass around and leave,” Griffin warned.“I’ll tell you exactly where to go.”
“Are you trying to annoy me?”Rocko asked with a grin.
“Yes.”
“Touche,” Rocko said before holding up his cup of steaming coffee in salute, taking a drink, and groaning in satisfaction.“Hell, it’s been a long trip, and you trippin’ all over yourself making me feel so at home is touchin’ really.”
Apollo saw the start of a grin on Griffin’s face, but the stoic man caught it before it fully appeared.The two were sizing each other up, and Apollo had to admit that the guy had balls.He was enjoying their back-and-forth.People typically avoided the abrasive Griffin for good reason.His second filled his own coffee cup and raised it to his lips.
“You sure about having more caffeine, friend?”Rocko asked.“You seem wound tight enough.”
“It’ll help stop me from gutting you,” Griffin said.“And I’m not your friend.”
“Now you’re coming on to me,” Rocko said with a wink.
Shit, this was going to be an interesting couple of weeks.
“Okay, let’s get a few things straight,” Apollo said.“Your visit with us is temporary and can be revoked at any time.You follow our rules, and if you do anything to endanger any person on my team, no one will ever find your body.Understood?”
“Fair enough,” Rocko agreed without much of a fuss.“I’d never do anything to harm innocent people.”
“We’re not so innocent,” Griffin growled.
“With you, that doesn’t surprise me,” Rocko chuckled.
“We don’t need any of your hero bullshit here,” Griffin stated.
“Who said anything about being a hero?”Rocko asked.
“Heard about you stepping in with that cop.Hope you learned your lesson about helping fuckups?”
Apollo saw Griffin’s claws were out, and he groaned inwardly.How much damage control would he have to do with these two idiots and their dick measuring?
