Page 59 of When He Defends

Following orders? Yeah, like Emerson, Cass couldn’t follow orders for shit. That was the reason he’d never been a Marine. Gray had signed up, but his cousin had gone down a very different path.

Those paths were colliding now.

Gray trailed him to the door. He started to slam the door shut, but Cass’s gloved hand flew up and pressed against the wood. “A word, Gray? Outside, away from the partner?”

Gray thought he’d made it clear that Emerson should hear everything.

“Go,” Emerson urged from behind him. “It’s okay.”

Body tight, he crossed the threshold as Cass retreated a few steps. Gray pulled the door closed behind him.

“I don’t want you ending up in a body bag,” Cass muttered.

“Aw, you do care. So sweet.” He put a hand to his heart.

A rough sigh broke from Cass right before he pointed at the closed door. “Do I need to be worried?”

“About what? My partner shooting you? Maybe, if you get on her bad side. She’s a really good shot, just so you are aware. Tread carefully.”

“Thanks for the tip about the shooting skills. I’ll remember that. What I meant, though, was do I need to be worried aboutyou?”

Gray did not change expression.

“You don’t bring lovers home. You screw them in hotel rooms and don’t call them back later.”

“Ouch.” Gray winced. “Pretty sure that’syourstyle. I always try to properly thank a lady for a good time.”

“You don’t let lovers close. You know it. I know it. But you’ve got Ms. Gorgeous Eyes looking rumpled and recently sated?—”

Hell, it had beenthatobvious.

“Even as you stare at her like you’re dying to eat her alive.”

He could go for another meal. He was feeling snacky.

“You let the woman know our secrets,” Cass accused.

“Uh, for the record. I didn’t let her know anything. She’s observant. She picks things up.”

“Because she’s a mind fucker, just like you.”

“I really don’t like that particular term.” Gray sniffed.

“Too bad, mind fucker. She plays head games.Dr. Emerson Marlowe.Yeah, frown at me all you want. I’m gonna dig deep on her because I want to make sure you aren’t getting played. That prick with the knife was coming up way too intently on your back.”

“Emerson had nothing to do with that attack.”

“I’ve done some preliminary poking already,” Cass revealed.

Like that was surprising. Emerson had dead-on pegged him when she said Cass was protective. That was one serious understatement. If you belonged to Cass, he would scorch the earth for you.

Sure, they might be cousins, but to both men, the link had always been deeper.More like brothers. Even when the world said we should be enemies.He would never, ever turn his back on Cass.

“Your lady has a thing for psychopaths.”

Gray tilted his head to the side. “You heard her. Not all killers are psychopaths and not all?—”

“Fine. Your lady has a thing for monsters. That better?”