Page 64 of Tough Justice

“Did you see this?” He set down his spoon and plopped a copy of the Denver Post on the table beside her tray. “Your boyfriend arrested another drug dealer.”

Tori glanced at the paper. DEA Busts Opioid Dealer. Next to the article was a small photo of Deck putting a handcuffed man into the backseat of a patrol car. Thor stood by his side, looking like a cop himself, tail straight in the air and ears alert as he guarded Deck.

Wil chuckled as he picked up his sandwich and bit off a hunk.

“What?” Tori asked.

He chewed then swallowed. “You didn’t deny he was your boyfriend.”

“He’s not. Not really. We just…just…” She couldn’t say the words, and in truth, she still didn’t know what they were.

Wil’s brows shot up, and he put down his sandwich. “I was only kidding. I didn’t know you really were seeing each other.” Without looking him directly in the eye, she nodded. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”

She sighed. With some people, she’d be uncomfortable talking about her sexual partners, but not Wil. Since he’d moved to Colorado from the East Coast, their friendship had pretty much covered everything, including talking about their significant others. Given that he was good looking and had a prestigious job, she’d always been surprised that he’d never had anything more than short-lived relationships, and he’d never hit on her, not even once. “It might have been a mistake.” All it had done was make her care about Deck more.

“Who says? Him or you?”

“Me, I guess.” She cut off and ate a piece of chicken, trying in vain to savor the rich sauce and tender meat.

“Why, because of your family history with the DEA?” Wil asked, his tone sympathetic.

“That’s part of it.” It was still unclear if her dad could ever really accept Deck into her life. Into their lives.

“Look, even if he’s not the right guy for you in the end, if it feels good now, why not go with it? You haven’t dated since Mike left. Enjoy this while it lasts.”

She appreciated Wil’s encouragement, was even a little surprised by it. He’d never particularly approved of her dating Mike, and she’d never really understood why. “There are still too many impediments to count. We’re just so different.”

“In what ways?” Wil picked up his sandwich again and took a bite.

Where to start? “When we first met, he told me how his job is 24/7, and he doesn’t have time for anything else in his life. It could never work.”

“If you like him, I think you should go for it.” Wil dipped the rest of his sandwich into the soup and shoveled it into his mouth. “How’d the warrant go the other day?” he asked between chews.

“Good, I guess.” Aside from nearly getting shot.

“Any arrests?”

“Yes, just not the person Deck was looking for.”

“Who was he looking for?”

Tori stabbed another piece of chicken with her fork. “Oh, just someone higher up in the food chain.” As much as she trusted Wil, she’d assured Deck of her discretion.

Wil’s forehead creased. “How did you get those scratches?”

The abrasions were nearly gone, so she’d stopped wearing makeup. Quickly, she recapped what had happened. When she was finished, Wil was frowning so hard his eyebrows practically met. “Christ, Tori. You could have been killed.”

“I know, but I wasn’t. Deck thinks they were after him, not me, and that I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.” With him. Would being with Deck be dangerous to her?

“Are you going on anymore warrants with him?” Wil asked, nodding at Max and Neil, who’d stood up and were preparing to leave.

“No, he won’t let me.” Much to her chagrin. “He said it’s too dangerous.”

Wil grunted. “It probably is. But you can still help him by hooking him up with OD victims, right?” he said encouragingly.

She nodded. “Yes, I’ll continue to do that.” Although it wouldn’t be nearly as hands-on and definitely not as exciting.

“Stick to that. I don’t want to see you get hurt again, but I think this guy could be good for you.”