Page 28 of Lone Star Wanted
Then the sound of tires crunching over gravel broke the sliver of calm.
Kincade froze, his body tensing. Cassidy stilled, too, her gaze snapping toward the front of the house.
They didn’t speak. Both moved in sync, reaching for their weapons. Kincade took the lead, crossing the front room in quickstrides. Cassidy flanked him, silent and focused. He edged the curtain back just enough to get a look.
And cursed under his breath.
“Of course,” Cassidy muttered beside him.
A sheriff’s department SUV sat in her driveway, dust still swirling around its tires. Behind it, a silver town car rolled to a stop.
Her boss, Sheriff Moran, stepped out of the SUV, calm as ever in his neatly pressed uniform. And behind him, dressed in his usual smug authority, stood Mayor Vance Harlan.
Kincade didn’t holster his weapon. Neither did Cassidy. They kept their guns low at their sides, out of view from the street but ready if this turned into something more than a visit.
Cassidy moved to the alarm panel, punched in the code, and unlocked the front door. She pulled it open slowly, her stance casual, but her voice steady.
“Didn’t expect visitors this early,” she greeted.
Moran stood a few feet back, his expression unreadable but pinched at the corners. Troubled, maybe. Or guilty. Kincade couldn’t tell which.
The mayor didn’t hesitate. “It’s never too early to catch my brother’s killer.” He stepped forward, eyes sweeping the entryway, then settling on Cassidy. “We’d like to search your house. See if you’re harboring your brother.”
Kincade felt Cassidy go still beside him.
Moran exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn’t look thrilled to be here. But that could’ve been a carefully crafted show.
Cassidy kept her tone even. “Do you have a warrant?”
Vance’s lips curled in a faint smirk. “As a sworn deputy of Blanco Pass, you should be willing to uphold the law, Deputy Prescott. Not stand in its way.”
Sheriff Moran shifted his weight, finally speaking. “Cass… it would be better if you just cooperated. If you don’t, there’ll be a warrant soon enough.”
Kincade stepped closer to Cassidy’s side, his eyes on both men. This wasn’t a request. It was a threat, dressed up in official language and forced smiles.
Cassidy let out a sharp huff, then stepped back. Kincade did the same, and together they gave Sheriff Moran and Mayor Harlan just enough room to cross the threshold.
Moran gave a tight nod as he passed. Vance didn’t wait for a verbal invitation. He strolled in like he owned the place, eyes sweeping over the room before landing on Kincade.
“Well,” Vance said with a pointed smile, “looks like you spent the night. What’s the matter, Maddox? You figure your missing partner might come knocking?”
Kincade didn’t rise to it. But Cassidy did.
“No,” she said coolly, her mouth curving with just enough bite. “Kincade spent the night because we sleep together. Regularly.”
Kincade arched a brow but said nothing.
Moran sighed. Not in a surprised kind of way but as if he didn’t want to be dealing with any of this. His gaze dropped to their guns still hanging loosely at their sides. He didn’t bother to hide his irritation.
“Put those away,” Moran snarled, his voice tight. “You’re not under siege.”
Cassidy didn’t move. Neither did Kincade.
Moran muttered something under his breath and moved past them, starting down the hallway toward the back of the house. Vance followed, less focused on searching and more interested in peering into every corner as if he was hoping for drama.
Kincade and Cassidy remained in the living room, shoulder to shoulder, their eyes fixed on the two men as they moved deeper inside. The sound of footsteps faded as Moran and Vance disappeared down the hall, opening doors, moving through Cassidy’s house like they had every right.
Kincade’s jaw tensed, but he kept his eyes on the hallway.
