Trooper’s voice didn’t even make me jump. Normally, I hated the dark. But, the way it shrouded me—the way it covered me in its grasp and blocked out the world—had started to rub off.
“Hey, Troop,” I said breathlessly.
I heard the sly fall of his footsteps. The heavy canter in his left leg followed by the light pat of his right.
“Did you get shot, or something?” I asked.
He paused. “You’ll have to be a bit more specific.”
“In the leg you’re favoring. I think it’s your left one?” I asked.
He chuckled, and the sound made me shiver. “You’re very perceptive, you know.”
I shrugged. “Comes with being a dirty cop’s girlfriend, I guess.”
The bed beneath me gave way a bit. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you say something other than ‘fiancée.’”
“Right now, I’m not sure he is my fiancée any longer.”
“I’m sorry, Naomi.”
I scoffed. “Are you really, though?”
I felt something warm slip around my knee. “Yeah. I really am. No one should have to endure that kind of betrayal.”
I placed my hand mindlessly on top of his. “Thanks.”
His body heat came closer as the bed depressed beneath my right thigh. “You know you’re safe here with us, right?”
I barked with laughter. “Jesus Christ, that’s rich. I’m safe with three bike-riding criminals, but not with my own—whatever the hell he is.”
“I’m serious. You’re safe here. No one from Gordon’s spineless organization is going to be able to get to you here. We’ll make sure they don’t hurt you.”
I slowly looked over at him and found his honey-colored eyes staring at me, piercing the darkness around us.
“Aren’t you guys supposed to be the ones hurting me, while they’re supposed to be out there getting me home? Isn’t that how this is supposed to work?”
“I know it seems--.”
My voice grew a bit louder. “Isn’t the man that I thought I was going to marry one day supposed to be the one busting down the doors, and not the other way around? Don’t I have to have protection from you guys? Not from the people who are supposed to be the good guys!?”
He turned his hand over, allowing his palm to cradle mine. “I’m not going to sit here and assume to know what you’re going through. I can’t imagine, honestly. One of the things we hold dear around here is never stabbing our brothers in the back. That gets you killed around here.”
“It should get him killed out there,” I grumbled.
He snickered. “Spoken like Ranger, honestly. He would’ve enjoyed that statement.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think he enjoys anything but protein shakes and red meat.”
Troop’s laugh made me smile. “You’re a spitfire. I love that about you.”
Wait, what did he just say?
“Sorry to interrupt,” Dutch said as his voice came from out of nowhere, “but I need her time.”
That, I flinched at. “Jesus Chr—do you ever make noise when you walk?”
Troop brought the back of my hand to his lips to kiss before standing. “She’s all yours, String Bean.”
