“It’s too fucking late now,” Atreus barks.
“Not our fault you can’t do your fucking job,” Xavier spits.
“You two keep butting in to every fucking investigation.”
“Excuse you?” I mutter, frowning. “We’re concerned about Sunny.”
Xavier points at Atreus with his knife. “Because you arrested the wrong person, and you fucking know it!”
“Gee, I wouldn’t fucking know, because my only lead just got away thanks to you,” Atreus hisses.
“Kill me then, because I will keep on getting in your fucking way until you let her go,” Xavier responds with fury in his voice.
Atreus sighs and lowers the gun. “Whatever. Do what you want. I don’t care.”
When he tries to pick up something off the floor, Xavier grabs him by the collar. “What are you hiding? Who was that fucker who just ran off?”
Atreus snorts. “I’m surprised you don’t even know. He was her fucking ex.”
My eyes widen. “Samuel? The last guy on her list was herex-boyfriend?”
“Stop lying,” Xavier grits, holding up a fist.
“He literally just told me,” Atreus says. “Because I threatened him with arrest.”
I grab Xavier’s arm so he doesn’t turn this into another fight. “All right, I know you want to hit him, but let’s be sensible about this.”
“Fuck that,” Xavier growls. “He couldn’t even make sure at least one fucker on her list actually went to jail and got proper justice. He just wants the honor of arresting the girl who killed them. Pathetic.”
Atreus seems unaffected by his threat. “I was going to arrest him if you two hadn’t interfered.”
“Xavier, enough,” I tell him. “Stop the fighting. Do you really think she wants us to bicker and fight among each other?”
“She gets off on it, doesn’t she?” Atreus taunts.
THWACK!
Xavier hits him square in the face.
“Fuck you, she’s a goddess, and you don’t deserve her.”
“No, but I guess I deserved that,” Atreus says, snorting.
I tear them apart and shove Atreus away so Xavier can’t hurt him anymore. “Stop. This isn’t helping anyone.”
“She’s in jail because of him,” Xavier roars. “Are you on my side or his?”
“I’m onherside, and she would want us to work together to get the last guy on her list.”
Atreus rolls his eyes. “You mean the guy you just let run right past you?”
“Listen here, you fucker—”
I block Xavier with a single hand so he doesn’t go charging at Atreus again. “Both of you … quiet.”
“Why?” Xavier retorts.
“Out of respect to her, let’s figure this out together,” I say.
