Page 33 of Bite Marks & Broken Hearts

“I’m fine,” I mumbled into my legs.

“You’re not fine. I’m the world’s biggest moron.” Rory tapped my back in awkward pats. “I should never have let you in here. What was I thinking? I never think.”

“Rory.” I lifted my head. “I’m okay. It’s mostly just my chest again.”Justmy chest again. Just this demonic ice creeping through my veins until I was like that woman, dead on a table.

Rory bit his lip. “Listen, when we get back… please tell Seb you waited outside? He’ll properly murder me if he finds out you had a panic attack.”

“This isn’t a panic attack!”

Well, I wassort ofpanicking, to be fair.

“Take your pictures and notes and let’s wrap this up,” said DI Maxwell, though not unkindly.

I remained seated for the rest, as Rory busied himself around the body, he and Maxwell making snide comments at each other like it was a sport.

“For fuck’s sake, will you back off?” Rory snapped, typing furiously on his phone. “I swear to god, if you lean any closer…”

“This is my case. I want to see what you’re writing.”

“No, this is a Killigrew Street matter. You’re just…”

A silence stretched between them, and I wanted to sink into the wall.

“Wow.” Maxwell stepped away, shaking his head. “I can’t believe you.”

“Stay the hell out of my head!”

I blinked.Huh?

“It’s hard when you’re shouting abuse at me.Pet cop?Really? After everything I do for Killigrew Street?”

Holy shit.I fought the urge to apologise to this random guy on behalf of Rory.

Maxwell’s face darkened. “You know what? Fuck you. After all my hard work, after therisks I take for you, this is how you treat me? I’ve had enough of your—”

“My what?” Rory stepped closer, tilting his chin up. “Come on, say it.”

“Your childish attitude.” Maxwell’s voice dropped dangerously low. “Your complete disregard for protocol. Your inability to follow even the most basic—”

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you!” Rory jabbed a finger at Maxwell’s chest. “Mr By The Book until it suits you not to be.”

“That was over a year ago now! I’ve already apologised. There’s nothing else I can do. But that whole situation was completely different!”

“Different how?” Rory’s laugh was bitter. “Because you got to play the good little copper? Because you got to prove your loyalty to your precious force?”

“I did what I had to do to protect—”

“To protect what? Your precious badge?” Rory’s voice rose. “While we were locked up like animals during a full moon?”

I eyed the door, just ten paces away. Perhaps now would be a great time to actually wait outside. The morgue felt smaller by the second, the fluorescent lights harsh against their angry faces.

“You broke into a secure facility!” Maxwell’s composure cracked. “What was I supposed to do?”

“Your job was to protect our secret!” Rory’s hands balled into fists. “Instead, you chose to protect your reputation.”

“You know that I—”

“Stop!” Rory’s snarl was laced with emotion that wasn’t entirely anger. “Just… stop. I can’t deal with your excuses right now.”

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