Page 11 of White Raven (Nevermore Duet #2)

NEW BLOOD

Rhaena swiped a thumb over her bottom lip, following it with the tip of her tongue as she chewed over a mouthful of doughnut and leaned back in her desk chair.

Athan had already cut eyes at her twice, and she felt the need to be a little extra annoying this morning.

She took another gaping bite and sucked the chocolate off her finger loudly.

“You’re making it so much easier for me to take this much needed time off,” Athan drawled from across their desks, purposely squeaking that fucking chair as he swiveled around to gather things he was taking home.

Rhaena rolled her eyes. “I still don’t understand why you can’t stick around. If you’re gonna be working from home anyway, then what’s the damn point?”

“The idea is to only actually work when I see reason to. I’ve got plenty of other things to do at home.” His wink was absolutely uncalled for. She grabbed a pen and chucked it at him. It hit home on the side of his tattooed neck. “Bitch.”

“Mongrel.” She sneered at him, and he grinned, turning back towards his monitor. “Why does it have to be so long? I would have never done this to you, asshole. Cap’s assigned a replacement all because your leave is longer than four weeks. I honestly frickin’ hate you.”

“I need it Rhaena. We need it.”

“By we, I’m assuming you don’t mean me and you.” She’d be lying if she said it didn’t sting a little, knowing that he, in fact, did not mean the two of them. She forcefully bit off another hunk of her pastry and chewed angrily.

“I’ve gotta figure out how to— figure it out .” Athan shrugged a shoulder and stared off at the whiteboard that they still had yet to clear off. Rhaena sighed through her mouthful.

“I don’t think it’ll take too much to let yourselves start enjoying some freedom. I am happy for you, I just…” She shook her head.

“I’ll miss you too. And it’s not like I’m not coming back. I’m not even really going anywhere. I’m ten minutes up the street from you. Lately I’ve seen you more outside of work than in it. Why are you worried?”

“I guess I’m not a big fan of change.”

“I could understand that more if Sarah’s best friend didn’t currently live next door to you—someone you’re also close with, and an even bigger reason to see us more often than not.

Foley will probably assign Jenkins to you anyway, and how could that possibly upset your…

changing lifestyle?” It was rare to see a grin that showed all his pretty teeth, and she wasn’t exactly sure if she liked it or not yet. It was fucking weird, but oddly cute.

“I don’t think he’d assign him to me. You know how he is about personal life. If he thinks it’ll interfere with our work, he won’t risk it. I’m not getting my hopes up about that.”

“You know me too well, Gloves,” Foley said from behind her chair, startling her. Rhaena nearly choked on the last bite of her doughnut as she spun around in her chair. “Glad we’re already on the topic. Meet Detective Sykes.”

Well…she was hot. Dark auburn hair that fell over her unusually large tits, a tiny dark beauty mark at the corner of her mouth.

Her hair looked professionally maintained, nails manicured with dark polish.

She was lean and toned everywhere that mattered, and her sharp jawbone complimented her pale complexion.

She flashed eyes that were fiercely green, and extended her slender fingers, gripping Rhaena’s hand like a man —which surprised her just a little.

She didn’t look like the type of woman that would have that firm of a handshake.

“Nice to meet you,” she smiled, fluttering thick lashes that had to be fake. This chick was utterly flawless.

“Yeah…” Rhaena returned, awkwardly. “You too.” Sykes released her hand and turned her attention to Athan, who appeared completely disinterested.

There had to be something wrong with him.

One look around the precinct would have told him that he was the only man she didn’t have some effect on. “You must be Detective Kane.”

“Yeah.” Wow…solid response. Though, she probably couldn’t say anything now, could she?

“I promise I’ll look after her while you’re out,” Sykes winked, bouncing her weight to one hip that jutted out in a more flirtatious way than Rhaena would have liked.

She figured she’d never not be protective of him—especially when he was now engaged to someone she considered a friend to her.

In a way, Rhaena supposed she was protecting Sarah too.

“Yeah, I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” Athan smirked, stacking a few files on his desk.

“Rhaena doesn’t need much protecting…but you won’t find a better partner.

” He locked eyes with Rhaena, and she couldn’t help but melt a little at the compliment.

He would always have her six. And they’d be partners even if a day came when they gave up their badges.

“Detective Sykes will need to be briefed on what you’re currently working on, Northwood. Kane, if you don’t mind her manning your desk until you return?” Foley gestured to the space Athan was readying.

“Not at all. I’ll get my personals out of it for you and sign out.”

“I’ll go grab you a box.” Foley gave Rhaena a look.

“You two get better acquainted.” Rhaena tried her best not to glare at him, but the slight smirk on the captain’s face told her he knew exactly what she was feeling about the whole situation.

He tightened his mouth, trying to hide the smile and excused himself down the hallway towards where Jenkins’ desk still sat on the other side of the precinct.

She finally looked back up to where the new blood was scoping out the whiteboard next to her chair.

“Nothing to see there,” Rhaena said, starting to raise from her seat. “That case is closed.” She took the towel that was stashed next to the markers on the tray at the bottom and started to wipe away the details.

“Sarah St. James?” Sykes noted, crossing her arms across her chest and stepping towards the board. Athan’s attention fixed on the detective, although she paid him no mind and leaned in close to Sarah’s driver’s license photo. “Isn’t that the girl that got attacked a couple of months ago?”

Rhaena pulled the photo down and placed it in a filing box. “Yep.”

“That was one hell of a case. You two must be excited.” She turned towards Athan who suddenly seemed a bit more interested in her. And for good reason.

“About?” he asked, pausing absolutely everything he was doing while Rhaena hastily wiped down the board and started taking down more photos.

“A closing that big had to put you guys on the radar. Big promotion? Or are you just enjoying some time off for leisure?”

“Neither. It’s personal.” He eyed her carefully. “Is that why you came on board at the 12th? Want a piece of that pie, Detective Sykes?”

She laughed—and for someone to look like that, the sound that came out of her was the most annoying, high-pitched, nasal giggle that resembled nails on a fucking chalkboard.

Rhaena immediately preferred Athan’s chair over it.

Was she really gonna be forced to work with this tramp? “Please,” she grinned. “Call me Ryan.”

“Ryan?” Rhaena huffed a laugh of her own. “That’s your first name?”

She turned her body back toward Rhaena and snorted.

“I didn’t pick it, detective.” It seemed like Rhaena’s tone hadn’t flustered her a bit.

She must have heard it too often for it to bother her anymore, or she simply didn’t give a shit that Rhaena was uncomfortable working with her.

Nevermind the fact that Rhaena couldn’t find a good reason other than—well…

she just didn’t want to. “I’m not trying to move up on the ladder, no.

I’m only in Boston for a little while. I’m visiting some family here indefinitely. Needed some work.”

“Where are you from?” Rhaena asked, suddenly intrigued. Athan seemed to mirror that notion.

“All over, really. I travel a lot. But I’ve hunkered down in Seattle for the past several years.”

Athan’s brows lowered, and he narrowed his eyes, catching Rhaena’s stare. “What is it with uniforms and Seattle? Foster was from there too.”

“ Rachel Foster?” Sykes asked, smiling.

“You know her?” Rhaena’s temples started blooming with a headache at the thought of another Rachel Foster being around. That seemed to be exactly where this shit was heading.

“I know of her. I can only hope to be on her level one day. That’s a ladder I’d climb, for sure.

That whole team is talked about a lot at my station back home.

They get some wild cases. It must be a blast.” That stupid giggle flittered through her nose again, and the beauty mark at the side of her mouth followed the curl of her lips as they dragged back from too-white teeth.

“She’s a bit too intrusive for my taste,” Rhaena bit, closing the lid on the filing box and stepping around Sykes to get back to her desk.

Athan opened his desk drawer and started peeling out his personal belongings—one of them being a picture of Sarah he had taped inside. Sykes didn’t miss that detail.

“Ah…I see why you were so quick to solve that case,” she winked. Athan shot her a look that promised broken bones. “No judgment. She’s striking.” Her palms flew up in surrender.

“Yeah, I’m gonna go.” Athan stood, pushing his chair back with his legs, and picking up the stack of files. Foley returned with an empty box.

“Don’t forget to sign out the laptop, Kane.” Foley slid the box over and Athan dumped everything into it. Rhaena watched on, not bothering to hide her need to go hit something.