He was gone.
12
“So…you and Ro, huh?”
Brody’s head swung to the man sitting in the passenger seat as he maneuvered the team’s SUV through Chicago’s late-night, weekend traffic. “Me and Ro, what?”
Christian’s brown eyes met his in a stare that challenged the bullshit Brody had just tossed his way. “You think your sister’s the only one who’s seen it?”
His heart gave a hard kick against his ribs. “Seen what?”
“Come on, King,” Jagger spoke up from the back seat. “You know Hunt’s like dog with a fucking bone. May as well just fess up now and be done with it.”
“Fess up towhat?” He flipped on his turn signal and waited for a car to pass before slipping into the left lane. “What the hell is it you assholes think I’ve done?”
Liam snorted. “Not it, my friend. More likewho.”
“I don’t know what you guysthinkyou know, but you’re way the fuck off base with this one.”
“Seriously?” Christian’s gaze burned into Brody’s peripheral. “Dude, you’ve been glued to the woman’s side for the past week. And the way you were hovering over her while I was putting the clear adhesive on her bandage…”
“Well, let’s see. In the past week,the woman’sbeen drugged, had shit go missing from her house—personal shit no random burglar would’ve taken—and tonight she was fucking shot.”I could have lost her.“She’s Meg’s best friend, for Christ’s sake. Hell yes, I’m going to hover.”
And he’d damn wellkeepsticking to her sexy ass like glue until the son of a bitch who’d put her in his sights was caught or killed. Preferably the latter.
Brody’s fists tightened around the wheel. Despite washing his hands three times, traces of blood were still visible around his cuticles and beneath his nails.
His nails. Shirt. Jacket. Pants.
Ro’s blood was all over him, the macabre stains adding fuel to his already raging inferno.
“You sure that’s all Ro is?” Liam chimed his nosey ass back in. “Your sister’s best friend?”
Meeting the technical analyst’s knowing gaze in the rearview, Brody clenched his back teeth together as he added a truthful, “I haven’t slept with Ro. And to answer your questions, she’s my friend, too. Clear enough?”
“Friend. Sure.” Liam settled back against the black leather bench seat. Sitting behind Christian, the other man added a muttered, “If you say so.”
“You got something on your mind, Cutler, spit it the hell out.” Because he wasn’t in the mood for juvenile games.
Not tonight.
Not after I almost lost the one woman I never knew I needed.
“Nope. I got nothin’.” A beat passed and then, “Just that Ro’s a smart, self-sufficient, attractive, single woman.”
She was all those things and more.
“Your point?”
“No point. More of an observation, really. I mean, we’ve all seen the way she stares at you when she thinks no one is looking.”
“Bullshit.” The denial was out of Brody’s mouth before he could stop it. Almost immediately, Ro’s earlier words began rolling through his brain.
I want you, Brody. I have for as long as I can remember.
“Nah, he’s right.” Jagger rejoined the uncomfortable conversation. “I’ve seen it with my own two eyes. And you know I have perfect vision, right?
Before he could respond to the former Air Force Combat Controller, Christian spoke up from the passenger’s seat, once more.