AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Maddox had somewhat reformed from most of that, had to for the badge, but April had inked it on her body forever, protested college, and made it part of her identity. She worked at a diner, partied hard and often, dated guys their dad hated. And sometimes, their dad’s age. April made an art out of recklessness.
But this, it crossed the line. It crossed the line because it was an active investigation. Because they hadn’t caught that dirtbag yet. Because this could be the biggest case he or his precinct had ever handled.
And because it was fucking Ri.
He wanted to protect them both. He had to protect them from each other. April would want to see her. Hug her. Be with her.
Orion had made it clear she wasn’t ready or equipped for a reunion with her past.
He had wanted to hold off until she’d acclimated to her situation, maybe for some more sessions with the shrink. He wanted to be in control. To reduce the impact it would have on the both of them. But of course, April wasn’t about to let him control such things. She hadn’t forgotten about her best friend either. Her kind heart held a scar for ten years.
“How the fuck did you know they were here?” he demanded.
She rolled her eyes, getting to her feet, stretching dramatically before bending down to retrieve the empty flask and her purse from the floor.
This made him even more furious. Not only had she barged in here, she got them drunk and stoned. Though Maddox might not have been a shrink, he knew trauma well enough to understand that treating anything resembling what they’d been through with substances was unstable and reckless at best. Fatal at worst.
“We live together, Maddox,” April said. She straightened and winked at Eric, who was not hiding his amusement. Where was his straight-laced love for the rules? It always seemed to fall to the wayside when he was around April.
Maddox hadn’t missed the way his partner changed ever so slightly when he was around his sister. The way April stared at him. He’d been keeping an eye on it for years, but no way would he outright forbid April. That was a good way to ensure she chased Eric even harder.
“You talk loud. And not just at dawn when I’m hungover,” April complained. She pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. “Ugh . . .”
“This is so fucking inappropriate, April,” Maddox bit out, trying to tamp down his fury, considering he was in a room with three women who had been at the mercy of angry and violent men for years.
Years.
He took a deep breath, steadied himself.
“You don’t have some right to them, big brother,” April snapped, her light goading disappearing and true anger replacing it. “They aren’t yours to control.”
She made sure to hit the nerve that would always be exposed between the two of them. His need to protect her from being just another loved one taken from him, and her need to cope with her demons with as many foolish decisions as she could cram into ten years. They were siblings and they were friends, but they were also rivals. April resented him for always trying to protect her, for being overbearing. He resented her for always putting herself in danger, thinking she was invincible, for always making him worry.
April leaned into the mirror, wincing at her reflection, yanking her hair into a pile at the top of her head, licking her fingers and wiping at the black stains underneath her eyes. “Jesus, I look like dog shit.”
“Get out, Ape,” Maddox said, motioning toward the door with his thumb.
She turned, ignored Maddox, and instead smiled at Eric.
He smiled back at her. Which of course, only made Maddox more furious.
He had to tamp it down, he knew this. He was the lead detective in this case—and would be unless the Feds decided to take over—and this entire situation was already out of control. He wasn’t about to be thrown off the case . . . or worse yet, suspended. Eric was being a good friend by not reporting the conflict of interest, and the outburst at the hospital, but it was only a matter of time before his relationship with Orion came out . . . only a matter of time before his bottled-up anger exploded yet again.
Maddox’s bosses liked him, hence making detective as young as he had, and they gave him breaks. The sheriff was his biggest fan, being a family friend and all. As for the Clark County Chief Administrator Abigail Martin, well, she had never really liked Maddox. She knew all about his extracurricular activities and kept a close eye on his police work. Because his work remained consistent and proficient, she never had a reason to punish him. But this blatant violation and conflict of interest, his sister getting them drunk and high, could bring more than just suspension. It could take his career.
