Harrison held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Dash. My friends call me Harrison.”
No shit.Dash shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, as well.” He glanced down at his camera still in Harrison’s hand. “I’ve probably said too much, but I know for a fact that Charles Macklin is a problem.” He surveyed the scene, churning over what he knew of the case so far. “You think he was involved in this?”
Harrison sighed, handing back the camera. “I can’t discuss an ongoing investigation.”
“Of course,” Dash said. He glanced at the business card and ensured there was an email address. “I’ll head back to the office and get you those photos.”
Dash gave Emerson one last glance.
Emerson locked in on him, daring him to look away. Dash swallowed thickly, struggling to do just that. Somehow, he forced himself to turn and leave. As he walked to the car, Dash realized he wouldn’t survive a man like Emerson Walker.
He needed to stay as far away from that man as he could.
That might not be easy when they were paid to protect his twin brother.
2
Gray eyes.
The sunglasses had been gone, and Emerson had been mesmerized by those gorgeous, gray eyes. Desire had burned in them, demanding his touch. A demand was overkill. He was ready to oblige with the barest hint of a request.
Images of Dash under him had played in his mind since he’d left the first time, but it was his first day as his brother’s second and the investigation had to come first. Had to. People had died, and countless damage had been wrought through the province. More would follow unless they caught the arsonist responsible for the carnage.
Instinct didn’t care about all that, unfortunately. His entire body thrummed with the need to take what it wanted. Emerson fought the violent urge to follow Dash to his car and not let him leave. Once the alpha safely slid behind the wheel and pulled away, he forced himself to turn his back—which wasn’t easy—and focus on the job at hand.
Harrison stared at him, an odd look on his face.
“What?”Emerson snapped, his entire body stretched tight.
A hint of a smile played over Harrison’s lips, as if he knew a secret. “Nothing.”
Harrison’s stomach knotted. Secrets weren’t something he was willing to share with anyone. Those secrets could lead to his downfall, and that wasn’t happening. His brother had already questioned him after Dash’s first appearance earlier that day when he’d been unable to stop staring. He wasn’t ready for another line of leading questions. One day and he was already inching closer to being outed as alpha-attracted.
Would his strait-laced twin turn him over to the Guard as a sexual deviant? Instinct said no, but the fact he didn’t know for sure left him reeling.
Luckily for him, Harrison reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, more interested in who was on the other end than him.
“Hey, babe,” Harrison said after he lifted it to his ear.
He turned his back to Emerson and took a couple of steps away.
Emerson’s shoulders relaxed, glad to be out of the danger zone. He dragged in a deep breath, though he could still scent a bit of Dash’s musk under the reek of burnt wood and charred possessions. His gaze flicked to the road where the alpha had just pulled out of view, the urge to follow still strong.
It was one thing to fuck around with alphas on the downlow. One night of passion that he could easily walk away from was risky, but he was careful. Careful hadn’t come to mind when Dash had been near and that took risky to downright dangerous.
What he’d felt in Dash’s presence was something else entirely. Exciting—and utterly terrifying. He’d felt lured closer, unable to look away. The urge—or maybe it was safer to call it a compulsion—still pulsed in his veins. Considering he’d seen the same look in Dash’s eyes, that was dangerous for them both. It would be safer to keep his distance.
Too bad he didn’t think he could do that.
Focus on the investigation—not some alpha who could ruin you.
“Emerson’s here, helping.” Harrison said, pulling his attention.
His brother stared at him. He assumed Harry was talking to his beta Cassidy, so he yelled out a greeting,“Hey, Cas!”
“He says hi,” Harrison said, lifting the phone away from his mouth, before turning away from Emerson again and lowering his voice.
They chatted a few more seconds before Emerson heard, “We’re wrapping up momentarily. Give me about fifteen and call the order in.”
