Page 20 of Playing With Danger

“Please. I outshot you before I met Luke.”

That was the damn truth, not that I’d admit it and stop giving her shit about her husband. After all, the team and I had years of ribbing to make up for. Gone was the woman I’d met who’d made an art out of being close to the team while at the same time holding herself distant. Shiloh Kent only allowed you so close before she unleashed Killer Frost. Shiloh Marcou was entirely different—warm, friendly, and fully engaged.

“I have no recollection of that,” I lied.

It didn’t matter what her last name was, the woman was a damn fine cop and the best marksman we had on our team for two reasons. The first, the result of her being raised by her brother Echo who had drilled into his siblings a code of honor, integrity, and service. The second, the product of her feeling the need to prove she belonged on a SWAT team. The first was nothing short of a miracle considering who her father was. The second was unneeded.

“What gives?” she asked as soon as her ass was planted in the passenger seat.

It had been a while since she’d met and married Luke, but not long enough that I was used to this new Sunny who poked her nose into other people’s business. Prior to Luke she would’ve happily ignored anything beyond work. Actually, she would’ve run a mile if any of us started talking about anything personal.

“I’m worried about Sophie.”

“Sophie? The woman who took down Ackerman?” I didn’t miss Sunny’s proud smile for a sister who bested an asshole.

No, the woman who I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about.

“Yeah.”

“You think Ackerman’s gonna go after her?”

Hearing my concern voiced out loud made my neck stiffen. That was the second time that morning I felt that twinge in my neck. The first time was when Cap had told us about Ackerman roaming the streets and Brian being in ICU and my mind had immediately gone to Sophie. It bore contemplation why upon hearing a fifteen-year-old was nearly beaten to death my first thought was if that was Sophie laying in that hospital bed, I’d lose my motherfucking mind in a way that would be life-altering.

Riddle and Mereno climbing into the SUV parked next to me pulled my attention back to the task at hand.

We had a search warrant to serve.

A warrant that had cut my time with Sophie short.

“Well?” Sunny prompted.

“Well, what?”

“Do you think Ackerman’s gonna go after that woman?” she reiterated slowly.

Again I said nothing, too busy dealing with the itch on the back of my neck and burn in my gut to express my thoughts on Ackerman going after Sophie.

“You know she’ll be notified he was bonded out. But if you’re worried, you should talk to Ethan.”

I’d do more than talk to Ethan. I’d talk to Dylan Welsh and ask him for a panic fob Sophie could carry, and call in a marker to have him monitor the device.

“I’m gonna call Dylan,” I informed her.

“You’re calling in a marker for this woman? You know Ethan will take care of her.”

I wasn’t going to think about why I was cashing in a favor with Triple Canopy when those were not something any cop would squander. TC owning a marker was gold.

“I know he will.”

I felt Sunny’s eyes drilling into the side of my head. Thankfully, Riddle pulled out of his parking spot before she could continue pressing me for answers I didn’t have.

“Seriously? Both at the same time.” Sunny feigned irritation.

I glanced up from adjusting the straps on my thigh holster and caught sight of Echo and Phoenix Kent making their way to our huddle. The men were easy to spot; they stood head and shoulders above most of the officers gathered in the staging area. The only family resemblance Sunny shared with her siblings was her blonde hair and blue eyes. Though the brothers had different shades, when all four Kent siblings were together you knew they were family.

“And you’re surprised, because?” Riddle voiced my exact thoughts.

Our team was serving a search warrant for the drug unit. Echo being the lead of the investigation on the house we were hitting, he would conduct a secondary brief with our team before we headed out on The Beast. And where there were drugs there were guns. Seeing as Phoenix worked the gun task force neither was it shocking he was there.

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