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Rising my skirt as I put one knee on the couch, bracing with one hand, arching my back like a pro.

My other hand unzipping his pants and freeing his erection. Grasping him. Stroking. Rolling my thumb over the head before I lean in.

A long, slow lick up his shaft?—

His phone pings.

My eyes fly to his, and he’s looking right at me.

Right. At. Me.

I jolt like I’ve been caught sneaking cookies before dinner, and I’m stuck here. One dark eyebrow tics ever so slightly and I whip my head back to my files.

The slow inhale—it’s casual as he sits up.

He totally caught me staring at his man-aconda.

There’s a flicker of smug in his eyes. Barely there. Just enough to make me want to throw a sticky note at his face.

He checks his phone.

All softness gone in an instant.

Cue the scowl. Fully restored. Do not pass go. Do not collect a personality.

“What is it?” I ask, trying not to sound like I’m bracing for disaster, even though I absolutely am.

“Trip missed his mandatory parole check-in,” he mutters, already on his feet. “PO can’t reach him. Said he’s driving out to the last address on file.”

My stomach twists. “Do you think he ran?”

Declan’s already grabbing his jacket. “Or he got made when we talked to him.”

And there it is. The panic. That sharp, familiar jolt that comes when a lead suddenly goes ice-cold and you don’t know if you’re chasing a coward... or about to walk into a funeral.

He’s halfway to the door before I grab my things.

“I’m coming with you.”

He turns. “No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Poppy.”

“Declan. You can say my name all you want; it doesn’t mean I’m suddenly going to chain myself to the whiteboard.”

His jaw tightens. “It’s not safe.”

“Oh wow. I didn’t realize we were just now figuring that out.”

He glares.

I hold eye contact while I grab my files and head toward the door. I never look away—too-wide smile plastered on my face.

I’m sure I actually look like the clown from Steven King’sIt, more than anything.

But I don’t care. Because if a witness is in danger, we don’t have time for power struggles.