“Shit,” Pete breathed. He’d been foolish not to consider that. The asshole had gone after Alberto Carbone’s woman, after all. He shoved his hand through his hair.
Gonna be a loooooong day
. “I’ll go talk to Chief. Gut tells me Nikki won’t agree easily.”
“I get that. But it’s for the best. Hell, take her to your place.”
Pete’s stomach fluttered and he shifted in the chair. His cock could certainly get attached to that idea.
Off limits, remember?
“I’ll see what Chief thinks.”
Cole stared at him for a moment, one dark eyebrow up, but his buddy didn’t ask any questions about his denial. “Good deal, but she’s probably going to insist on staying nearby—easy access to her grandmother. Andi says they’re really close, but Nikki has her own place. She can’t go home.”
“Agreed.”
“Also, you’re gonna wanna call Dawson. This is her case.” Cole frowned.
Pete smirked.
Bet that hurt, even after almost a year.
Cole had lived and breathed the Caselli case. It’d been
his
case for almost three years, as Pete understood it. As an FBI agent, he’d been undercover within the vast Caselli trafficking organisation—both drugs and women—for fourteen months.
Before he’d come back to Antioch, Cole had been partnered with Special Agent Selena Dawson, or Lee, as most called her. She’d accompanied them—him, Andi, Cole and APD SWAT—on a raid of a local warehouse where Cole’s bad guy, Carlo Maldonado, had been holding Andi’s kidnapped babysitter.
Lee was a badass, as Cole always called her. Long dark hair the last time Pete saw her, big brown eyes and olive skin, she was petite and curvy in all the right places. Agent Dawson wasn’t a chore to look at, for damn sure.
He wouldn’t mind seeing her—working with her—again. “Makes sense. Maybe she knows what’s behind all this. I mean, Caselli’s known where this guy’s been for years. What spurred an act of revenge now?”
“Good point. I’ll give her a ring.” Cole paused, taking a sip of coffee. “I mean, if you don’t mind. This being your gig and all.”
“I don’t mind. But you better get your ass to the hospital to take Andi and Micah home. You have a family. And if I remember correctly, my partner can be…cranky after giving birth.” Pete winked.
Cole grinned, flashing dimples that made him look about sixteen. “Nah, she’s happy.” His expression shouted just how happy he was, too.
He smiled back. For some reason, Nikki’s face popped into his head. Shaking himself, Pete ignored the image of the redheaded beauty with flushed cheeks, looking thoroughly kissed. “Seen Manning this morning?” His voice cracked.
Cole threw him a ‘
What’s-up-with-you?’
look and Pete fought the urge to squirm. “Nope. But I think he’s back to the burglaries we’ve been working.”
“Ah. So your partner’s not on loan to me even though you’ve taken
mine
out of commission?” He chuckled.
“Hey, now, are ya saying you can’t handle things on your own?”
“Nah. I can one-man-show it for a while. But I’m sure Dawson will get her shapely ass on a plane as soon as you get off the phone.”
Cole laughed. “Hmmm, I thought work
affiliations
were off limits?”
“Hey, dude. I can look and dream.”
“What I got at home is better than empty dreams. You should try it sometime.”
Nikki’s big brown eyes flashed into Pete’s mind once again. And her mouth. Plump lips he’d tasted. He remembered every inch of her soft curves pressed against his body. Chiding himself, he stood, resisting the urge to readjust the crotch of his jeans.
I hope you’ll be happy, Pete. And find what you’re looking for.
Liz’s words reverberated as clearly as if she was standing in front of him again. Another memory he didn’t want. He frowned.
“Something wrong?”
Meeting his buddy’s grey eyes made him want to groan.
Since when is Cole so perceptive?
“Nope. I’m fine,” Pete said, forcing a smile.
“Goin’ somewhere?”
“Gotta talk to Chief, Nikki, then head to Marty’s.”
“Marty’s?” Cole asked.
“Nikki said the Hummer cut her off after pulling out of the grocery store lot. I’m hoping they have cameras.”
“Ah. Call me with what you find out.”
Pete shook his head. “V-A-C-A—”
Cole growled. “I know. But do
you
know what Caselli’s men look like? Can
you
recognise them?”
Frowning, he crossed his arms over his chest. “Point taken.”
“Don’t worry about Andi. We’re good. But just make sure you call me when you get the footage, all right?”
“I might not need you. Have Dawson call me if she heads in and needs a ride from the airport.”
Cole mirrored his frown. “She doesn’t know them like I do.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll call you. But I’m calling your wife.”
Dimples made another appearance. “Please do. You’ve yet to see my kid.”
Pete left the CID room shaking his head. But he couldn’t help the smile that curved his lips.
* * * *
“Hell no.” Nikki crossed her arms over her breasts, glaring at her boss and Pete. “Absolutely
not
. I’m leaving here today like normal, going to see my grandmother, and then
home.
”
“No. You. Are. Not.” Chief Paul Martin glared right back. His hazel eyes flashed and his greying brown moustache twitched, like it did only when he was
very
irritated.
Nikki didn’t give a shit.
“Listen, Detective Lucas knows what he’s talking about.” Pete’s hands were spread wide, imploring. The detective’s green eyes were concerned, handsome face drawn, serious. The usual smile he wore was nowhere in sight.
At least Pete wasn’t trying to order her around like her misguided boss. Who did Chief think he was, her father?
Pete sat on the edge of the chair, his gaze intense.
Nikki’s stomach fluttered and she remembered his mouth on her own. Warm lips moving, his tongue twined with hers. Desire claiming, spreading…arousing them both.
What are you, a hormone? These men are ordering you around. Make choices
for
you. You have no say in what they want you to do.
No.
She was independent. Grown. Strong like Gram had raised her to be. Capable of making her own decisions. She knew what was best for her, and for her grandmother.
“I’ll be fine at home. I have a gun. I know how to use it,” Nikki said.
Chief frowned.
Pete shook his head and spoke before their boss could. “These guys aren’t your average thugs. This is more serious than you think—”
“They didn’t pay
any
attention to me or Gram.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Chief barked.
“I agree.” At least Pete had the decency to look as if he felt bad.
Dammit.
“What about Gram?”
“Rodriguez is already at the rehab centre. Crowley will switch out with him at nineteen hundred hours, and Monroe at oh-seven. She’ll have twenty-four-hour protection,” Chief said.
Nikki’s heart went into overdrive.
This is real. We’re both in danger.
She swallowed hard. Tears were born and the two men blurred. She and Gram were witnesses. Pete and Chief were worried they’d be
victims
.
No. She refused to end up like her parents.
Pete grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I—Chief and I—need you safe.”
“You’re family,” their boss said, his voice about as gentle as she’d ever heard it.
She blinked.
Do not cry in the chief’s office
. “Where am I going to go?” Her voice wavered, and she allowed the detective to entwine their fingers instead of pulling away from him. Nikki fought the urge to leap forward and wrap her arms around Pete. She wanted to feel safe, and the last place she
had
was in his arms the night before. Trembling started, rattling her teeth and moving down her spine.
Stop this. Right now. Get yourself together, Nikki Harper.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Pete whispered, holding her hand even tighter, but he wasn’t hurting her. His thumb started slow soothing circles along her knuckles and Nikki sucked in a breath, then another.
Her body stilled, her breathing evened. She wanted to thank him, because Pete—his touch—somehow grounded her, but her voice was nowhere to be found.
Chief exchanged a look with her detective then met her eyes. “The city owns a few houses in town. Unassuming places. You’ll stay in one until this blows over. Crane will get this guy.”
“Guys,” Nikki corrected, but neither answered her. She wiped her face with her free hand. “I don’t want to tell Gram. She’ll just worry. It’s bad enough she’ll see a cop all hours of the day.”
Pete nodded. “Whatever you want to do.”
Nikki met his eyes and couldn’t look away. The feel of his arms around her, his solid muscles against her, teased her mind. His woodsy cologne tickled her nose. She wanted to slip into him like she had last night. She wanted his lips against hers again. Wanted more than just his kiss. He wanted her. She’d felt it last night. Saw it in his gaze right now.
Attraction sizzled between them. Her body warmed. Nikki didn’t need to talk to Pete, she needed to touch him, caress his face, kiss him—
Chief cleared his throat and Nikki jumped. But so did Pete.
“Can I go home to get some clothes?” Her voice cracked and she fought a cringe, pulling her hand out of the detective’s.
What happened?
More
than just the memory of a little kiss
.
Not that she’d ever describe it as
little.
The kiss in the hallway of the rehab centre had been the kind to curl toes and suck a girl into oblivion. Detective Pete Crane knew what he was doing.
“I don’t see why not, if you make it quick,” Chief said.
What? Oh…yeah, home
. Her apartment. Pack a bag. She made herself meet her boss’s hazel eyes. Forced a smile and nodded thanks.
“I’ll take her.” Pete was still looking at her.
“Good,” their boss said, but his voice was lost as Nikki tried not to stare at Pete.
“Nikki, I need a moment with Crane.”
Pete’s head shot around to Chief. “Boss?”
The chief’s gaze was glued to her detective. His jaw was locked and he looked less than pleased. Was something wrong? His tone was hard. Irritated. Shouldn’t he have calmed? She’d pretty much agreed to go to a safe house.
Nikki took her time standing, pressing her knees together to keep them from wobbling. Chief Martin appraised her and she almost shifted on her feet. What’d she missed?
“Out,” Chief barked. “Close the door.”
Chapter Eight
Pete fought the urge to squirm in the chair under the weight of his boss’s gaze. What was up with Chief Martin? They’d always been cool.
“You are the
last
person I ever thought I’d have to say this to.”
“Say what?” Pete sat taller, pressing his back into the plush padding of the chair and feeling like he was a high-schooler in the principal’s office.
“Keep your damn hands to yourself.”
“Excuse me?”
Chief arched a salt and pepper eyebrow, and steepled his hands on top of his desk. “I’m not stupid.”
Guilt, hard and fast, hit Pete in the chest.
“I didn’t miss your little moment with Nikki.” Chief’s voice was even, but his hazel gaze shrewd.
Little moment
was right, but damned if Pete would ever admit it out loud. It’d taken all he was made of not to grab her and kiss the living daylights out of her.
Nikki’s tears, however slight, had just about killed him. Worse than last night. All he could think about was taking away her fears. Holding her. Comforting her.
“She’s my witness.”
And a kid. I have no interest in her except what relates to the case.
Right?
Liar.
Voicing it to his boss wouldn’t make the lie true.
“Exactly.”
Pete tapped his cowboy boot on the floor, screaming at himself to sit still. “You got nothing to worry about, boss.”
The Chief stared in a stretched moment of silence, then his chest heaved as if he’d sucked in breath. He ran his hand through his greying hair. “She…means something to me. A damn lot to me, actually.”
Pete frowned, leaning closer to the edge of his boss’s oversized desk. More than an employer-employee relationship. His boss wasn’t…infatuated with Nikki, was he? That would lend itself to awkwardness if Chief ever found out they’d kissed. Or it could get Pete’s ass kicked—literally.
Chief used to be a boxer. Of the prize-winning variety. His office was plastered with framed photos and a championship belt was proudly displayed on the wall behind his head.
“Her father and I were partners.”
“Nikki’s dad was a cop?”
The older man nodded, looked away then cleared his throat. “We grew up together. High school, the Army, the academy, patrol partners and even made detective together.” His boss’s hazel eyes were misty when he finally met Pete’s gaze.
Shock rolled over him and he squared his shoulders. He’d never heard that particular tone come out of Chief’s mouth before.
Face drawn tight, his boss was saturated in sorrow. “I blame myself for what happened to him. And his wife, Nikki’s mom.”
“What happened?” Pete whispered.
“A case gone wrong. Bad guy took revenge on Jim and Meg.” Chief shook his head, jaw clenched. He made a fist and glared, but not at Pete. “I got the bastard, but not until after he’d left Nikki an orphan at age five.”
“Ah. Her grandmother raised her.”
“Yes, and has no love for me,” Chief said. “Protect Nikki, Pete. Don’t let her out of your sight. I mean it.”
A thousand questions raced through his mind, but he didn’t push his boss. If Pete wanted to find out what’d happened, he could look in the archives. The subject change meant Chief didn’t want to talk about it.
“I’ll protect her. And get Caselli’s men.” A vow to his boss’s soft, but firm order.
“Call the FBI. If this case does involve Caselli, Special Agent Barnes will want to inform her unit. They’re still working to get him.”
Pete nodded. “Lucas is going to call Dawson. She took over for him last year.”
“Good. Cooperate with her if she comes to town.”