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“I’m going to tell you a few things, and I’m not going to repeat them,” Luke said, starting forward until Danny was only inches away from his face. “You’re going to drop whatever farce you have with Drew’s woman. You and your partner are going to drop the charges against Aspen. You’re going to be split up, because the more I dig into this partnership, the less I like it so I’ve decided you’ll be getting a male partner.” He stopped, studied Danny, and then smiled. “And you’re going to keep your nose clean. I know you’re a good cop. I’m not sure what’s started you on this path, but you’re going to get your shit together and move the fuck on without terrorizing your ex.”

“And you’re going to return her stuff,” Downy added threateningly.

Danny, eyes wide, nodded. “Okay.”

“Good boy,” Luke patted his cheek. “You may leave.”

I squeezed Aspen’s hip, trying in vain to get her to contain her laugher.

Which she barely managed.

Until Danny got in his car and started driving off.

“None of my neighbors would’ve called the cops,” Aspen said thoughtfully.

Except, I turned to study Raphael’s house.

He was standing there, a phone in his hand, as he waved at me.

At my acknowledgement, which was to laugh and raise a hand, Raphael disappeared back into the house behind the blinds as if he’d never been there to begin with.

“What?” Aspen asked curiously, following where my eyes were still pointed.

“Later,” I said. “What’s for dessert?”

Luke dropped down to a seat and grabbed himself a hamburger instead of a steak.

“Not a steak?” I asked him.

He shook his head.

“That’d fill me up too much, then my wife might make me feel bad for not eating the dinner that she’s slaved over the stove all day to cook,” Luke muttered, tucking into the burger.

My brows rose and I pulled Aspen back until she rested against my chest.

Her head came to a rest just under my chin, and I leaned my head to the side so I could press a kiss to the side of her forehead.

“What’s for dinner that she has to slave over a hot stove to cook all day?” I asked curiously.

Luke sighed.

“Spaghetti…or maybe tacos. We only have about ten meals that we circulate through, and none of them require any more than thirty minutes max cook time,” he explained.

Everybody laughed, including Downy, who’d yet to grab anything to eat.

Which I knew why long moments later.

“You got a minute, Drew?” Downy asked.

I nodded, helping Aspen stand.

She sat back down in my chair, and watched curiously as I walked around the side of the house with her brother but didn’t make a move to follow.

“What’s up?” I asked him.

Downy leaned one arm against the side of the house, then turned to regard me closely.

“I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of my sister when I…wouldn’t,” he started.