Behind him, I caught a glimpse of the room — rumpled sheets, a shadow shifting near the bed — and Smoke gave one last warning rumble before Ranger shut the door behind him.
There was a soft whimper from inside. Not the dog.
My brow tightened.
“Is that?—?”
“What do you want?” Ranger cut in.
His voice was sharp, fractured. I’d heard him angry before. This was different. This was territorial.
Smoke slipped out into the hallway at Ranger’s heel, pressing his shoulder against Ranger’s leg like he could feel the tension vibrating off him.
“Laptop,” I said. “How’s it going?”
Ranger blinked at me like I’d asked him about the weather. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve had it for less than five minutes, Ghost.”
“And?”
He threw his hands in the air. Smoke flinched at the sudden movement but stayed planted. “I just got the program running to sandbox her system. It’ll be at least fifteen before we even think about cracking it.”
I dragged my gloved hands through my hair. “Fuck. Fine. I’ll find something to do.”
“What, you can’t entertain yourself?” Ranger shot back. “What’s going on with that woman anyway? What are we doing with her?”
Smoke’s ears flicked toward me.
I felt the growl before I heard it. “Her name is Jasmine. Use it.”
Ranger smirked. “Ah, Jasmine. Pretty name for a pretty girl.”
Smoke shifted slightly, sensing the shift in me now.
I wanted to tell him to keep her fucking name out of his fucking mouth, but I was the idiot who’d given it to him.
I turned to leave. “Come find me when you’re ready.”
“Or maybe I’ll just go find Jaaaaasmine,” Ranger teased. “Since it’s her laptop and all.”
I spun back around, and Smoke stepped between us instinctively, head low, watching.
“You come find me,” I said quietly. “That’s a fucking order.”
“Ooooh,” Ranger mocked, lifting his hands. “I’m terrified. Since when do you get bent out of shape over women?”
I stepped forward. Smoke didn’t move.
“Since when do you start fucking helpless little deer that wander onto our porch?”
Ranger’s face changed instantly.
Smoke’s ears flattened.
Ranger shoved me hard in the chest. “Take that back.”
