Page 32 of Cops and Robbers

“It won’t matter where the clients hide their stolen property; we’ll find them.” She sighed. “Okay. Bring this person in.”

“Let me off the phone, and I’ll work faster.”

She huffed. “Don’t be an ass.”

He chuckled. “Good luck.”

“You too.”

He ended the call.

Raz hated to take matters into his own hands concerning Kate going to the feds, but he had a duty to withhold and wanted to help Kate out. The next step in his plan was to obtain a lawyer for the Bubblegum Bandit before she came to the police with the other trackers. He just had to convince her it was the best plan for her to prove her innocence, at least for those crimes. A short chime had him looking toward the dash. Lewis texted him.

Emergency meeting in a couple of hours to discuss helping the Bubblegum Bandit. You better bring her or you’re dead meat.

He already felt like roadkill. He wasn’t sure he could find Kate, nor that she’d come with him. She had needed his help to steal something back from Matsuda, but he’d muddled that up. His biggest regret, though, was making her believe he didn’t want her.

When he turned the corner and the familiar cul-de-sac came into view, his heart sank to his feet. His dragon gave an abrasive rub against his skull, splintering another headache between his eyes. He rubbed his aching head.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

His black Charger was there. Mud decorated the front end with an angry fling. She’d parked it up on the curb in a confident display, mocking him, as if she knew he wouldn’t fill out a police report for his missing vehicle. And he hadn’t. At least, not yet.

Pulling into the drive, he saw that the bright morning sunshine showed she had braked just in time to miss the mailbox by a mere inch. Dread sank into his chest. He had a feeling Kate wanted nothing to do with him, which stung.

Exiting his car, he inhaled. Kate’s faint scent led him to the front door, where a pile of black duffel bags sat on the porch. As he was about to knock, the door swung open.

Kate’s eyes were hard spheres of reproach, the dark smudges around them deep. She greeted him with a scowl in her full black bodysuit. Black jeans bled into long leather boots, and a biker’s jacket covered her entire top with skintight gloves. He’d seen her amazing body naked, but seeing her in this power outfit warmed his blood. Her presence knocked the wind out of him. His dragon side stood at attention.

“Can I help you?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

The flirtatious, bubbly woman was gone. She had iced over. Memories of Midnight’s kills flashed through his mind. Lukas. The way she effectively took out guards—killed—to take what she wanted. But that isn’t Kate.

“I—uh…” He swallowed his nerves. “I think we can help each other.”

“In what regard?”

“Matsuda.”

Her flinch, as if she’d expected him to say something different, sent shards through him.

“Okay,” she said. “What do you have in mind?”

Tying you up to explain myself. But she was too closed off for that conversation. Or that was a petty excuse. “The rest of my team has agreed to meet with you and hear you out.”

“Fantastic. I’m assuming this meeting will happen soon? We don’t have much time.”

He nodded, feelings of dismay sinking deeper. She was in a rush for some reason.

“You want to load my stuff into your car?” She nudged the duffel bags next to his feet. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

She entered the house and closed the door. He had the urge to chase after her but sighed. She was coming with him. He had time to explain himself. Grabbing the one light bag and the other heavy one, he took them to the trunk. As he returned, the garage door hummed open. Three motorcycles glistened in the bare space. Kate perched on a red Ducati with black trim.

Well, shit, there went his discussion plan. I have to make this right. He strode to the garage and stopped in front of her, arms crossed.

“Yes?” she asked, holding a bright pink helmet with plastic ears pointed back like an angry cat. “I’m going to follow you.”

“Listen, what happened earlier…” How could he explain that he wanted to claim her? That it was the best sex he’d ever had. That he wanted to tussle her now until he heard those sexy giggles.