Page 102 of Hard Rain

“Yeah, yeah.” Alvarez waved her off. “I forgot.”

“It happens to the best of us with age.”

Laughing, Cho dodged the playful swat aimed her way.

They’d spent the better part of the afternoon and well into the evening buried in surveillance photos, witness statements, phone records, and city maps.

By the time they finally called it, Axel’s stomach had been growling for the last hour.

He was fucking starving.

“Oh, man…” Knox sidestepped the pair and headed for the counter. “I could eat a whole pepperoni with extra cheese.”

Boone snorted.

“He’s been saying that since Oregon.”

“Does he ever finish one?” Davis asked as the group drifted toward the counter.

“Yes,” Boone said. “Then he starts stealing everybody else’s.”

Axel rested a hand against the small of Whip’s back, steering him around another group waiting for their order.

Whip didn’t even break stride.

That worked for him. Felt right.

“Axel’s stolen a slice or two himself,” Whip said.

Axel looked over.

“Did not.”

Whip raised an eyebrow.

“Medford. Luigi’s. Meat lovers.”

Axel snorted.

“You’re making that up.”

“October twelfth,” Whip said. “Booth by the front window. You finished your last slice, stared at mine for a full minute, then stole a piece while I got another drink.”

Axel opened his mouth.

“You left it alone.”

“I was two steps away.”

“Thought you were finished.”

Whip grinned.

“You even folded it in half.”

“Fit in my mouth easier,” Axel said smugly.

Laughter rippled through the group as they reached the counter.