Page 75 of H E R

“I was in foster care from about age six.”

She stares at me. “And before that?”

I let out a breath and swallow, then move my neck so that it cracks. I hope it relieves some of the tension already building. “I don’t remember much.”

Niki’s eyes glaze over and she tucks her bottom lip in and bites down. I’ve never seen her like this, so vulnerable and twisted up by unknown sadness and grief. I sigh and tuck a few wildstrands of her hair behind her ear, then push my thumb gently down on her chin to free her lip.

“My parents are really great people and I don’t have any siblings. I grew up near D.C. and I’m twenty-eight years old, little fox.”

“Foster care—”

“Was a nightmare,” I interrupt. “As you can imagine.”

She gives one solemn nod. “Yea, I avoided it at all costs.”

“I know. Youstilldo.” I arch a brow. I’ve remedied that, but now isn’t the time. “Anything else?”

“El cerro, my guests, what do you know?”

My brows shoot up, and I breathe back a chuckle. “El cerrois deep in my net, fox. I know enough. Regarding your guests–notenough.”

I’ll have to secure her airspace, at least for drones belonging to prying eyes that aren’t mine. Niki touches my chin and grazes her fingertips up my jawline, past my ear, and cups the back of my head.

Her glare is hostile but not aimed at me. “You’ll help me ruin him?”

I grin. “Done.”

A knock at the door startles her, and she jumps off me. I stand and smooth my shirt.

“Justice?” Jasmin’s worried voice calls, and Niki relaxes.

She rushes over to the door, unlocks it, and Jasmin slithers in. Her eyes scan the room nervously until her gaze locks with mine. Niki closes the door behind her.

“Detective! I… I had no idea you were the one who booked the rest of the night with Justice.” She sounds relieved.

“Just Dylan, please.”

“I wish I would’ve known it was you. Here, I thought I’d have to come up with an alibi for her.”

So she too figured that no man would be able to keep their hands off my woman. I smile at the thought of the chaos that would’ve surged, the beating she’d instill upon being touched by another. Niki clears her throat, and I walk up to her, put my jacket over her shoulders, and wrap her in my arms. Her back is pressed against my front and I drop my chin to the top of her head. I have to hunch a bit; she’s tiny in my arms.

“They were like vultures tonight. I couldn’t hang back,” I say.

Jasmin smiles and I get the feeling it’s a rare sight. She’s the most serious and guarded of the trio. Constantly wary and skeptical. She’d tear a human’s eyes out in order to protecther adopted siblings, and I want to thank her for all the silent times she put her very own skin on the line for them.

She nods and reaches to grab Niki’s hand. She squeezes it a few times and I watch an unspoken exchange between the pair.

Jasmin points to Niki’s collar and waggles her brows. “Nice.”

I don’t need to look to know that my little fox rolls her eyes and I give her a squeeze.

“Thanks in advance, Detective.”

“For?”

Jasmin’s hand is on the doorknob, and she turns, an amused grin on her face. “The ride.”

She leaves, but I’m sure she heard Niki groan at the same time I let out a booming laugh.

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