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6
Tanner
“You need to leave.”
I glance up from my tea. My eyes narrow at my friend. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You need to leave the house.”
“It’s my fucking house,” I grunt.
“And if this was a normal day, we’d be shooting the shit, having a beer, and I wouldn’t be telling you to get out.” Bishop looks at me sternly. “But this ain’t a normal day, now is it?”
I grit my teeth. “No,” I mutter. “It’s not.” I sigh. “Look, before—”
“I know what I saw, Tanner,” he grunts.
“What you saw is none of your—“
He laughs coldly. “Like hell it isn’t. She’s a fucking witness, man! She’s at center of this whole fucking thing!”
“I know, I know,” I mutter.
“Yeah, I know you know. So you need to leave. Because you’re obviously compromised with her.” He frowns. “I’m leaving too, for what it’s worth.”
I frown. “What, and just leave her here alone? Are you fucking insane? She needs to be protected!”
Bishop rolls his eyes. “She’s safe here, Tanner. You know it and so do I. Your house is a goddamn castle. And I don’t mean you need to take a flight somewhere. But you do need to stay outside in your car or something.”
I snarl. “And if the cartel comes knocking?”
“Here? Seriously?” Bishop grunts. “You think the first place they’re going to be looking for their missing witness is the house of some fired cop?”
“Fuck you.”
“Fuck you too, pal. You know how dumb that sounds. You just want her here.”
“Yes,” I snarl. “I do.”
“And I do too,” Bishop says evenly. “But not with you here too.”
“I can behave myself, dad,” I throw back at him.
Bishop doesn’t take the bait. He just smirks. “If earlier is any indication, no, you can’t. She’s confused, Tanner. You know that. She’s humming on adrenaline, she’s scared—“
“I’m not a fucking predator, dickhead!” I snap. “I didn’t fucking seduce her or something.”
“No, you were just half naked and kissing her!” Bishop barks back.
“Jealous?” I hiss.
We both go silent. I know I’ve maybe just pushed things too far. I’m not blind, and I know my friend well. I’ve seen the way his eyes follow her. I saw the way he looked at me with possessive fury when I was kissing her.
“Of a fired cop?” Bishop mutters. “Nah, I think I’m good.”
My lips curl into a snarl. “You’re about to cross the fucking line.”
He laughs coldly. “Don’t fucking preach to me, Tanner.”
