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Or maybe that was just my paranoia.
I had to wonder if it was smart to be out with a walking target on my back and an injured man, but I’d lost the argument. We were patrolling, even as I reeled with the fear of almost losing Nate. The fear that next time, we might not be so lucky.
Focus. Break down later.
We were at the last stop, carefully checking alleys, streets, and buildings for any sign of Cash or his fucking Aces, but we found nothing but silence.
“Everything seems fine,” Dominic whispered.
It was his first time on patrol with us—Nate’s, too—and seeing him so straight-faced and serious felt different. Like he was really in it and we were actually a team. I didn’t hate it.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and habit had me stepping closer to Greyson before I pulled it out. I liked to tell myself that blocking the light hid our vantage point, but I knew better. He was guarding my body, and I hated every second of it.
The phone buzzed twice more before I opened the text thread. All the other teams were done.
“Looks like the rest of the city is clear. No Aces, but plenty of graffiti for them,” I said under my breath, slipping the phone back into my pocket. “Let’s just get this done so we can go.”
I slid a glance toward Nate, who was grinning, even as he limped behind us. Fucking idiot. I wanted him in bed where he could rest, and instead, he chose to roam the fucking streets. Because that had to be good for his burns.
“Quit glaring at him before you make this a real problem,” Dominic said, exasperated. “He’s a grown man, Mari. He can make his own choices.”
He was right and I knew it, but the day had been long and emotionally taxing. I whipped my head toward him, ready to rip him to shreds, only to see a faint flash across the street. My body reacted before my brain caught up to what it was.
Metal glinting in moonlight.
On a lunge, I shoved Dominic out of the way.
“What the fuck?—”
“Gun!” I hissed, pulling him behind a parked car. The thing was small and new, more plastic than metal, so it wasn’t going to do shit to give us actual cover, but it was the best I had at the moment.
Thankfully, Greyson heard and hauled Nate behind a car with him too. I pointed to give him a general place to look as Dominic’s heavy hand landed on my shoulder. I shook him off. There was no time for distractions as I searched out that glint again.
Someone was close. I could feel it.
Less than a second later, Dominic had me twisted, back pinned against the car. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Was he serious? I looked over at the others. Nate was focused solely on the shadows, while Greyson’s eyes bounced between them and us. “There was a gun.”
“So you step in front of it?”
The answer was obvious, so I didn’t respond.
Wrong move.
Dominic crept closer, eyes burning with rage even in the low light. His voice was a dark whisper that slid along my skin like a razor blade. “You don’t do that.”
Was that a joke? Hadn’t he just told me that Nate was allowed to do whatever he wanted with his body? Did I not have the same rules for mine?
Apparently not. How fucking typical.
“Next time someone saves your ass, how about a thank you?”
“I’m not going to thank you for putting yourself in danger,” he snarled.
“And I’m not going to argue right now. If you have a problem, save it for later.”
“No. We’re going to finish this now.”
