Page 35 of Junkyard Dog

Alex extended his hand to help Charlotte up. “Have a good night, Max,” he called over his shoulder as he led her to his SUV and opened her door. “Hungry?”

“Tired.” She sighed, slumping back in the passenger seat and smiling at him lazily. “I’m getting too damn old to work in this heat.”

Creeping through the park until he hit the highway, he looked over at her. “Any chance you’ll be transferred out?”

“I keep one eye on the job postings,” she said, turning the music up a fraction. “My degree is in animal science with a few extra courses in environmental conservation, so between that and the police training, I’m hoping to move up the ladder pretty quick.”

He turned into the residential area and wound through the side streets to her apartment. “So the whole white-picket-fence-settling-down thing isn’t in the cards anytime soon then?”

“Not really. You and I are in kind of the same fenceless boat, I guess.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “Both of us have careers keeping us from putting down roots. Except your job has less paperwork.” She led him to her door, fumbling in her purse for her keys. “We should hit the twenty-four-hour gym sometime. I haven’t stayed on top of my training as much as should.” She pushed her door open. “Besides, I want to see if I can knock you on your ass.”

Every time you fucking look at me.

He turned on the TV and got comfortable. “And I’ll enjoy you trying.” He flicked through the channels. “Documentary or corny B-horror?”

“Horror,” she called from her room before she joined him on the sofa, her beige and khaki uniform traded in for an oversized shirt and gray cotton shorts. She relaxed against him, curling up under his arm. “I’ve seen this.”

Flashing to their last movie on her couch, he smirked. “I was kind of hoping you had.”

He could feel the upturn of her cheek against his healing ribs.

He held off twenty minutes before making his move.

“Smooth.” She giggled when he wedged his hand underneath her ass and unceremoniously lifted her to straddle his lap.

“I try,” he muttered, dropping his head into the crook of her neck and nipping at the soft skin. When her breath hitched, he trailed his tongue to her earlobe. “Are we still operating in the no-sex zone? The whole friends-with-benefits thing?” he whispered, inching his hands up the back of her shirt.

“We are,” she breathed, her thighs tightening against his hips. “So behave, friend-with-limited-benefits.”

With the practiced flick of his fingers, he unhooked her bra and smiled triumphantly. “I will.”

*

Alex sat inhis SUV and stared absently at Charlotte’s window, watching as her shadow moved through the rooms and turned off the lights.

Drive away, dumbass.

He thumbed his phone in one hand, the Pirithous bloodline’s address fisted in the other.

It was too late to call Ryan or Bo. Ryan would be sleeping. Bo would be drunk.

He could do it in the morning.

Slipping the crumpled paper underneath his phone case, he pulled out of the lot and headed north. The streets were busy, the bars closing down and unleashing their clientele into the world again. He hit the highway, blasting his music to drown out the thoughts rampaging through his head.

Every night he put off reporting the bloodline’s whereabouts was another night Ryan went without closure. It was another night Bo spent hunting for the ultimate high. Another night Charlotte slipped deeper into his mind.

He circled the run-down apartment block slowly, scanning the windows for signs of movement. The sedan remained untouched, the scent of the driver fading. Parking beside the vehicle, he left the SUV running and got out, kneeling in front of the grille to remove the fur still hooked along the metal.

Two dead already.

He rose to his feet and ran his hand over his knotted shoulders. It was only a matter of time before the line struck again.

His hesitation would be the unofficial cause of death of the next victim.

He climbed back into his SUV and backed in tight to the shadows of the apartment block, locking his tired eyes on the sedan and forcing himself to remain focused and alert. If he could wait out the last hours of night, he could call Ryan on his way back to the park. Catch him before he left for work. Run Charlotte’s route ahead of her to ensure the Pirithous hadn’t passed through.

Maybe talk to Bo before he cracked his morning beer.

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