Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 82187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Green started to open his mouth, but Joshi bulldozed over him.
“You want to keep your jobs, huh? Because this task force is already under a microscope. Now you’re interfering in an internal affairs investigation. And if you can’t control yourselves, I can make sure you’re no longer an issue.”
God watched Day grind his jaw as if he were chewing on gravel. His husband’s pulse was hammering in his throat and God wanted to reach out and calm him, but he kept his hands locked in place.
Joshi glared at the captain.
“That beating was personal. And that’s exactly why domestic pairings in the same precinct are prohibited. Because of bullshit like this.”
Ruxs shifted forward. “Man, you’re taking this way outta proportion. I barely touched the bastard.”
“Are you fuckin’ shittin’ me?” Joshi snapped.
He yanked open his laptop, spun it around, and hit play.
On-screen, the blurry security cam footage rolled, showing Ruxs yanking Vasquez over his desk like a ragdoll. Green pounding his face. Day standing there, eyes like burning amber. Vasquez’s blood splattering across the desk. Joshi yelling for help while officers stood as still as deer in headlights.
Something twisted in God’s chest.
The footage was brutal. Ugly. But damn if he didn’t feel a spark of heat watching Day stalk forward like a mob boss ready to take out his enemy.
He slid a look at his husband and felt a pulse of pride and lust ripple through him. Even now, older, a little grayer around the edges, Day still radiated pure fucking menace, power…and sex.
Captain Murphy pinched the bridge of his nose so hard his skin whitened. “That’s it. I can’t condone or justify any of this. Be glad Vasquez isn’t filing charges—”
“I bet he’s not, dirty piece of shit,” Ruxs mumbled.
Joshi glared. “That’s not for you to determine, accuse, or convict, Detective.”
Captain held his hand up. “That’s beside the point, Ruxsberg. God, Day, you and your two enforcers are going before the disciplinary board.”
“Fuck me.” Day sighed. “I’m so over this shit.”
“Well, you may not have to be over it much longer,” Joshi sneered.
“Ruxs, Green, you two have stacks of write-ups and suspensions already. You could be facing demotion or termination for this,” the captain said. “And there’ll be nothing I can do about it.”
Ruxs and Green shifted uncomfortably, like school kids waiting for the principal’s decision.
Joshi jabbed a finger toward God.
“And you can run to the council, the mayor, governor, even the motherfuckin’ Secretary of Defense if you want. But your task force is about to be heavily sanctioned, Godfrey, if not dissolved outright.”
The room fell silent.
God felt as if he were standing on a fault line about to crack wide open. He glanced around the table.
Syn’s face was tight as piano wire, Hart staring at the floor, Day looking ten years older than he was.
God wanted to say fuck this, tell that IA bastard to shove his investigation up his ass, drop the mic, and walk out.
But he couldn’t…not yet.
Not when Mercer was still out there. Not when families were still living in motels or on the street because that monster had burned them out of their homes.
His department’s rehousing fund hadn’t raised nearly enough money. The amount they had was a drop in the bucket compared to what they needed to get those people back in their homes.
He drew in a breath, voice gravelly. “I go before the judge on Monday, inspector. Let me serve my warrant first, and I’ll be outta your way. You can audit all the documents and raid all you want until you choke on it.”
Joshi slammed his laptop shut so hard that he wouldn’t be surprised if the screen was cracked.
“You got one week,” he spat. “But know this, I’m done playing nice. I’ve been sent to clean out the trash, and that just might include you and your team.”
He stormed out, slamming the door so hard the clock fell off the wall.
Captain Murphy gave God a curt nod and a look that said he was fresh out of favors.
God took it for what it was.
A goodbye.
He stood, exhaling slow. “Hart. I’ll call you later.”
Hart nodded.
God turned to his team. “It’s after six. We’ll go over the Mercer op tomorrow. Take the weekend. Be ready to go out with a bang next week.”
He nudged Day’s shoulder. “C’mon.”
Day was still vibrating and jittery, but he allowed God to steer him out of the room.
They walked through the hallway in silence, ignoring the prying eyes.
Outside, the cool evening air hit his face like a cold washcloth. He unlocked his truck and nodded for Day to get in.
The moment the door closed, God grabbed the back of Day’s neck, yanked him across the console, and crushed their mouths together.
Day groaned against his lips, one hand fisting God’s collar, the other buried in his long hair.
He kissed his husband hard enough to bruise, swallowing every breathy gasp until Day loosened in his arms.