“What?”
“When did you get half-naked?” she asks, eyes now glued on my abs. I absently run my hand down them, and her eyes follow the movement. I don’t think she’s even blinking. I try to hide my smile, amused and pleased that she finds my body so appealing. This is definitely a good thing, and one I plan on using to my advantage.
“In the middle of the night. It was hot with you pressed against me,” I explain, picking up my T-shirt and hoodie from the floor. I leave the hoodie on the bed while I put on my T-shirt, purposely flexing as I lift my arms up. Her eyes widen even further, if possible, and are as big as saucers. “I’m normally cold at night because of the air-conditioning.”
With my arms through the T-shirt, I pull it down over my six-pack slowly for effect.
Jo clears her throat, but she doesn’t look away. When I let go of the material, she raises her eyes to mine. “We fell asleep watching movies. Nothing happened.”
“I know,” I say, taking my hoodie in my hands. “I was there. Who are you trying to convince here? We didn’t do anything wrong.”
“We spooned,” she says, cheeks going pink. “This isn’t what we’re here for, Ranger. We’re here on a mission, and I don’t know how this is happening.”
“Like you said,” I tell her, taking a step toward her and lifting her chin up with my finger. “Nothing happened. Don’t overthink this.”
I graze my thumb across her cheek, and her eyes flutter shut. She likes me touching her, and I like touching her. What’s the issue here? She’s Jo, and I’m Ranger, nothing more and nothing less, like we both agreed before we got on the plane. So what’s the problem? What’s stopping me from sinking inside of her once we’re done with our day, holding her close every night? Does she just see me as her enemy, no matter what she agreed to? Or does she feel guilty, thinking that she shouldn’t be able to enjoy herself until Elizabeth is found?
“Okay,” she whispers, turning her face into my hand. “I won’t. While we’re here, there are no rules, right? Nothing else exists. We aren’t our labels, we’re just us.”
“Jo and Ranger,” I reiterate, eyes softening. “It’s just us, trying to find Elizabeth, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves when we’re off duty. Life is short, Jo. You never know what can happen.”
“I know,” she says, looking away. “But finding her is the priority.”
“I know.”
And I do. But when we’re alone, Jo clouds my mind. All I can see is her. It’s not wrong for me to admit that.
She takes a step back, her expression going blank. “We need to get to the police station and see what we can find today. Time is running out, Ranger.”
I know this, but when we get back here this evening, after we’ve exhausted ourselves, I want her in my bed. Or me in hers—I’m flexible.
I head to my room and jump in the shower as fast as I can.
Time to see how the interrogation went.
? ? ?
“They might as well offer him a doughnut and ask him if he wants a fuckin’ massage,” I mutter, watching through the window as the detectives question the man. They’re being so fuckin’ gentle with him, it’s like they’re interviewing him for a job or something.
“What do you want them to do?” Jo asks, glancing sideways at me. “Punch him in the face every time he doesn’t answer a question?”
“To start with,” I say, my hands clenching to fists as I picture the women in the cages, the looks of hopelessness on their faces. “He’s given only two names so far, and what’s the bet they’re the bottom of the barrel? We need something on him so that he’s more scared of us than whoever it is that he won’t name. Does he have any kids?”
“You want to threaten his children?” Jo asks, jaw dropping open. “We’re police. We don’t do that shit.”
“I’m not a cop,” I point out, stretching my neck from side to side. “No rules apply to me here, Jo.”
We share a look.
I can see her weighing her options. We have a loophole here and we’d be stupid not to use it. Police ethics and rules don’t concern me, and I’m here on behalf of Faye and therefore the feds’ approval. I give Faye a quick call, and she’s with me on this one. No one can really say shit. Fingers will be pointed if it comes out, but I’ll just fuckin’ deny it. It will be my word against his. Why should he even have any rights after what he’s done? Those women didn’t have any. They were treated like shit, like possessions. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to put some fear into this man, put him under pressure so we can save more women and hopefully find Elizabeth?
Then she surprises me by saying, “Let me see what I can do.”
I turn to watch the man while she leaves the room, planning my course of action. When she returns and nods at me, I crack my knuckles in preparation.
Time to shine.
? ? ?
“So, you have a son,” I say, sitting down across from him. I don’t look into his eyes, I just clean the gun in my hands. He watches every action, probably wondering how to handle this.
“You threatening my kid?” he asks, jaw going tight. I see him eyeing the tattoos on my arm. “What if I want to see my lawyer? I don’t think they’d appreciate hearing that I’m being threatened by the cops.”
“I’m not a cop,” I say, flashing my teeth at him. “It’s just you and me in here.”
“I’m not giving you any names,” he says, looking away. “I’m going to be doing time anyway. It won’t change anything.”
“Will change a lot of things actually,” I say, looking up at him. “Have you heard of the Wind Dragons MC?”
He nods, eyes going wide. “What about them?”
I grin evilly. “I’m one of them. You don’t care about your wife and your son? I have no problem killing them, you know.” I’m lying. I’d never hurt a woman or child, ever. But the WDMC reputation is useful to me right now. “Maybe your wife knows something. Should I get the cops to bring her in for questioning too?”
He looks me right in the eye, searching for whether I’m being serious or just bluffing. I stare back, daring him to test me. He swallows, his throat muscles working.
“They’re innocent,” he says, licking his lips. “My wife and kid. They didn’t know anything that was going on. They don’t know—”
“Yet they might have to pay for your mistakes,” I say, sliding my gun into the waist of my jeans. “There is nothing I won’t do to find out what kind of operation you’re running, and if you don’t help me, I’ll make sure your family pays the price. Don’t fuckin’ test me. I have no boundaries, and I have no problem killing. You have five minutes to give me a name. The name of the man at the top of this whole operation, or you’ll have no one left who cares about you. There will be no one to visit you in prison, because they will all be dead.”
“He’ll kill me,” he says, looking on the verge of tears now.