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“For some reason, I’m inexplicably drawn to you,” he continues, saying the sweetest words anyone has ever said to me.
“How sweet,” Zane comments, his voice full of sarcasm.
Honestly, I’m surprised he managed to hold himself back this long. He’s not known for his restraint, and with how protective he’s been since we mated, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to think he would react badly to another male saying this to his mate.
Displeasure crosses Jack’s face as he looks over my shoulder to find Zane standing in the doorway.
“Oh yes, you.” Disapproval practically drips from Jack’s words, and the difference in his tone makes it perfectly clear there is no love lost between the two of them.
Zane walks into the room and shuts the door, stepping up behind me as he places his hands possessively on my shoulders.
“It’s good to see you again too, Officer.” The emphasis on his words turns the title into a slur, making the other male stiffen and bare his teeth.
The tension in the air could be cut with a knife, and I can feel another argument coming on. Too much has happened today, and I am not in the mood to deal with the petty squabbling of males. There is too much at stake here.
“Just stop, please. I’ve had enough fighting today.” Even I can hear the exhaustion in my voice. Curiosity gets the better of me, though, and I can’t stop myself from asking the question that’s been bugging me since that night at the police station. “What’s the beef between you two anyway?”
The two of them finally snap out of their staring contest and take a step back. Honestly, I’m glad for it. I have nothing against being the meat in that Manwich, but not when it looks like they are about to start brawling.
Jack returns to his seat at the other side of the table and gestures for me to sit. Wandering over, I choose the chair at the head of the table, meaning that Jack is on my right, and Zane is on my left. It’s probably a good idea to keep them separated.
Clearing his throat, Jack leans forward and rests his hands on the table before him. “Zane and I used to be good friends, until jealousy got in the way and he did something stupid, getting himself a criminal record and losing out on a fantastic career.”
Snorting, Zane leans back in his chair, looking like a male who doesn’t have a care in the world. “Jack and I used to train together when we worked for the SNPD.”
“Wait, you worked for the police?” I’m stunned, my brows high. I never thought that this would be the root of the animosity between them. I can’t even imagine Zane as a police officer if I’m honest, but I also get the impression this all happened a long time ago.
I can feel his emotions now, though, so I know how hard this conversation is for him.
“For a short time, yes, until it came to promotions, and perfect Jack was chosen.” He rolls his eyes as though he expected this to happen, ignoring the stab of pain he feels about this, even years later. “I was then pulled aside and told that I should just stop trying, that vampires were never given promotions. We were only good as protection for the more senior officers.”
Despite the hard edge to his words, I can feel the echo of pain from our connection, almost like a bruise that never quite healed. The urge to reach out and comfort him is strong, but I know that he would hate that, especially in front of Jack, so I make sure to hold back.
Jack is already shaking his head, his features set in a mask of disbelief. “I refuse to believe that any of our commanding officers would have said that to you.”
Fangs springing free, Zane leans across the table with a snarl. “You always stand up for them, even now!” Sitting back in his chair with a heavy thud, he gestures towards the officer with a wave of his hand. “That is why we aren’t friends anymore—not because of jealousy, but because you didn’t stand up for me.”
Ah. This is where the issue really lies. I can see how much being an officer means to Jack, and his unwavering belief in the police force put a wedge between them when Zane needed his support. Did he mean to alienate his friend, or was the divide just too wide after Zane lashed out? I still don’t know what he did to trash his whole career, but it must have been bad.
“You didn’t have to steal a police car and go joyriding through the city though! That is not a normal response to a setback.”
Well, it could have been worse, but I can see why the police might have disapproved of that. I don’t really blame him though, because it sounds like there was a lot of discrimination going on. He didn’t hurt anyone, so it seems a little harsh to lock him up for it when I’ve been given a proverbial slap on the wrist for accidentally killing my boyfriend.
“To be fair, I would probably do the same in that situation,” I comment, pausing as they both swivel to look at me, seeming to have forgotten that I was even here.
“See?” Zane cocks his head at the officer, his smile smug.
I wouldn’t say that I’m a good example, but he seems happy to have my agreement. Leaning back in my chair, I go over this new piece of information, viewing the male in front of me in a new light. He was discriminated against and was then punished when he acted out of anger.
“That’s why you’re on probation?” I ask quietly, trying to keep my disbelief from my voice. “Because you stole a police car?”
Jack scoffs from the other side of the table, shaking his head and staring at the other male with mirth, but otherwise, he stays quiet, allowing the other male to explain.
“Ah, no.” Zane coughs, attempting to hide a smile as his eyes flick over to me. “I might have done several other things the police frown upon.”
“He’s a vigilante, Emmy.” The disgust in his voice makes it clear just what he thinks of this. “He tracks down those he thinks have done wrong and punishes them.”
Clicking his tongue, Zane rolls his eyes. “You make it sound like I killed them. I drop most of them off at the station after.”
