Page 12 of Tested

“So make sure you and Trajan aren’t too busy with your hot little wolf to entertain a friend.”

“Text one of us when you’re on your way so we don’t embarrass you.”

Because I may struggle with the finer points of this private eye gig, but I’m one hundred percent behind entertaining David and Trajan.

The scene at my Taurus rental flattens the happy little seed Sheena had planted. Brodie Kerr is leaning against the passenger door, arms crossed, eyes downcast. He glances up as I approach.

“What’s up?”

Brodie’s grin has a manic edge. “Waiting on you to finish getting reamed.”

I keep my mouth closed and let my body language sayFuck you.

“Nah, I can tell you weren’t having fun in there. You’re too uptight.”

Brodie might have been the closest thing I had to a friend in the Elites, but he could still be an irritating motherfucker. I let a couple heartbeats pass before I speak. “Was there something you wanted?”

“Same ol’, same ol’. Da boss wants you back.”

Da boss. Poole. I inhale slowly. “And what do you suppose has changed since the last time we had this conversation?”

“Everything, man. Everything.”

“What?”

“Let me ask you something. When you saw that dead girl tonight, who’s the first person you called?”

I don’t answer. He already knows too much.

“I’ll tell you who. You called the downtown office and filed a just-in-case report.” He rocks his shoulders like he’s going to start rapping at me. “Now, why would you do that if you don’t want to come home, baby?”

I fight the urge to put my fist through his face. “We’re done here.”

“Are you sure? Are you sure you’re sure?”

Ignoring him, I circle the vehicle to the driver’s side door. “You might want to stand clear,” I say, opening the door. “Got things to do.”

He flutters his lashes. “Gonna go see your vampire sweetie? The one who’s up to his ass in the missing elven princess case?”

I freeze, halfway into the car. Gripping the top of the door, I glare at him over top of the car. “What?”

“Now I gotcha, but you know what? I’m not going to say anything more until you talk to Poole.”

His tone might be light, but his eyes are dead serious. He’s got me, all right, and he knows it. The missing elven princess had been my case and leaving it unsolved bothers me more than I’m willing to admit. Still, I play for time. “Stand back. Don’t want to run you over.”

I climb into the car and slam the door. A man with more common sense than me would watch him to see where he goes next.

A man with more common sense and a better hold on his temper.