no force in my voice, and I brush soot from his cheek with my thumb.
“I don’t care.”
“I mean the captain. Department policy, no fraternization between officers in the same precinct.”
“Colburn is gone.” He kisses my palm.
I sigh. “Why are you such a pain in my ass?”
He grins.
“Look. Thank you.”
“For?”
“Saving me. Again. I wish you’d stop doing that.”
He lets out a long, heavy sigh, resting his forehead on my hand.
God, he looks so relieved, so burdened, I can’t help stroking my hand through his thick platinum-blond hair. I almost wish it was his real hair, that I could touch the real him.
“Cass.” He lifts his head.
“So it’s just Cass now?”
“Listen to me.” He glances out at the empty hall and lowers his voice. “I need you to know. That night I told you about, with the woman who reported her assault to you. I didn’t kill the human.”
I lick my lips.
“Believe me, that’s not how I operate. I don’t kill humans unless I have no choice.”
There is so much reassurance in his eyes, so much need for me to believe him; it makes my heart ache for him.
I nod, gently pushing his gorgeous bangs out of his eyes.
The relief that fills his gaze makes my insides melt. Damn it.
He kisses my palm again. “My sweet mate.” He sits up. “Rest. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
“Why?” I sit forward a little.
“Oh, I guess the others forgot to tell you. We’re getting a medal of honor tomorrow from the mayor. For the elevator rescue. Everyone from the rescue is going to be there.”
I give him a smile that feels too tight.
I’m a liar and a criminal and a traitor to the police force. I am no hero.
A medal of honor. What have I done?
18
Trust
“All right, let’s see it.”
It’s the day after Arcayos and I got our medals, and Arcayos, me, the twins, Louie, and Ryan are all standing in Julie’s living room, where she’s invited us for drinks. With her hoop earrings gleaming and her big hair puffed up, she grins, holding out her hand for the medals she insisted we both bring.
I roll my eyes and produce the golden medal on its blue ribbon of cloth. Everyone leans in for a close look.
“Nice,” Steve says, grabbing it and looking closely. “An officer hasn’t gotten one of these in a long time. This should go a long way to smacking down the captain’s rage over that fucking Swordsman one-upping us.”
“Come on, Hawk. Let’s see yours,” Ryan prods.
One of those embarrassed grins plants itself on Arcayos’ simulated human face, but he digs the medal out of his pocket and hands it over to Ryan.
“You guys should have these framed,” Louie says, taking his turn holding mine. “It’ll look nice on the wall above your desk.”
“I bet Rowlins was thrilled,” Julie says with a note of sarcasm, her eyes sparkling.
Arcayos gives her a questioning look.
“Oh, the good old mayor of Chance wouldn’t be happy having to give a female cop a medal is all.”
“He wasn’t thrilled,” I say with a smile. “That’s probably why he looked constipated when he had to pin it on me.”
The Jacksons laugh.
“What’s his problem?” Arcayos asks.
“Oh, he thinks being a cop is man’s work.” I deepen my voice on the words man’s work, and sneak him a pointed look.
Arcayos puts his hands into his pockets, and his lips quirk.
“Putz,” Louie mutters. “You deserve it.”
My cheeks heat. “I wish you guys wouldn’t make a big deal of it.”
“Why?” Tyrone shakes my shoulders. “Louie’s right. You deserve it.”
Arcayos’ throat works, and Tyrone’s brow cocks at him as he lifts his hands away slowly with a twitch of his lips. He shakes my partner’s hand. “Congrats, man. Both of you.”
The guys follow Julie to her kitchen for beers.
As soon as they’re gone, I glare at Arcayos. “Take it down a notch, why don’t you?” I hiss. “They’re not supposed to know!”
He gives me a covert pat on the ass and follows the others.
For a couple of hours, we sit at Julie’s big dining room table laughing, drinking cold beers, and playing Monopoly. Louie is trying to teach Arcayos the finer points of the game, telling him which properties are the most valuable.
We don’t get much time to hang out like this, and I love it, but tonight I can’t focus. Has anyone else noticed Arcayos’ possessiveness with me? I’d give anything to be alone for a minute, but I don’t want to be rude to Julie.
Arcayos rolls the dice and gets a three, putting