Page 20 of Beneath the Scars

It breaks me knowing that she doesn't feel safe in her own home, but I have to admit, having her with me at the hotel isn't going to suck. Even if she's a few rooms over, I hope to convince her to let her room go and stay with me.

She takes my offered hand and lets me lock up before returning to my rental car. The smile from just a few minutes ago is gone again, and her shoulders are tense.

"What do you want to eat tonight?" My question pulls her from her thoughts, and she looks at me for a beat.

"There's a drive-through just around the corner. It's cheap, greasy, and probably going to take a year off of our lives, but it also has the bonus of being convenient and quick?"

We're just approaching the fast food chain when my phone starts ringing. Chief Hinds.

Fuck.

"Chief," I greet my boss as a pimply-faced teen with glasses too big for his face opens the window to take our orders. Holding out my finger to him, asking him to wait, I look at Lily, mouthing the order number I want. Her luscious body brushes past mine as she leans over me to try and whisper our order to the attendant.

Her soft curves instantly wake up every cell in my body, and I cannot control my reaction.

Of course, she's got me sporting wood like some kid.

"Scott. There's been another body dump."

"Fuck," I bite out, frowning at the dash even as I enjoy Lily's body against mine. I must be some kind of sick fuck if not even the thought of a mutilated body can distract me from the beautiful woman in front of me. She completes the order and pulls back, her hand accidentally brushing against my crotch, sending a spark running through my body.

She looks at me at my sharp intake of breath, a question in her eyes. I shake my head in response, trying to keep my attention on the life-and-death conversation with my boss.

"Where? Are they keeping the scene?"

My words cause Lily to stiffen, and I know she's putting two and two together.

"I'll have Giz text you the address. It's fresh. I'm also sending a backup. A second body so soon after the first is an escalation. We were supposed to have at least another week."

He's not wrong. The Cat typically waits two weeks to a month between kills. The cool-down period is attributed to the fact that he has to stalk his victims and obtain enough evidence to be sure of their guilt.

"Okay, fine. Just don't send Jones."

Chief Hinds grunts, chuckles, and hangs up the phone, leaving me to stare at the screen and frown.

He didn't say no.

Dammit. Jones is way too attractive and flirtatious. I don't need him around Lily.

When I look at the woman in question, she's staring down at her phone, sending a text. The kid at the window clears his throat, obviously waiting for me to pay, so I hand him a few bills before moving on to the next window.

"I'm going to have to drop you off at the hotel; there's been another victim," I explain to Lily.

"I know," she responds, holding her phone. "I'm on call."

Oh.

"You need to go too?" How the fuck do I handle this? Will she want to show up with me? Or does she want to get her car?

I'm not a monk, but I've never hooked up or done anything like this with someone close to my work life.

"Yeah," she shrugs. "They told me I can take my time because some asshole FBI agent is making them wait before they can process the scene." That's when I notice the smirk on her face and the laughter she's trying to keep in.

"Oh, he sounds terrible," I quip, and she loses the battle with her laughter when a snort escapes.

"Uh-huh."

"I have a solution to your problem," I say, deciding to take the chance.

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