The Deputy and His Enforcer (Kincaid Pack #3) - Kiki Clark Page 0,8
you guys if you stay the fuck away from my sister.”
“Teresa?”
“Yes, Teresa! I don’t know what you have her mixed up in, but she’s pregnant and—”
“Her husband is a friend, and they attended a class on mentoring.” Marcus studied Medina’s angry brown eyes, fascinated by the way they seemed to sparkle with his ire. “I would never put a pregnant woman or her child in danger. You have my word.”
“Your word,” Medina muttered, studying Marcus just as intensely as Marcus was him. “I’m not sure how much that’s worth, Rivera.”
“Marcus.” The word popped out of his mouth, and he was momentarily stunned by his lack of control. He couldn’t deny that he wanted to hear his name—his, not his family’s—on the handsome deputy’s lips.
Medina rolled his eyes and turned toward the back of the room. He paced away from Marcus and ended up at a large bookcase against the back wall of the office. After staring at the books and knickknacks on the shelves silently, he finally spoke without turning around. “You covered up a murder, didn’t you?”
“Covered up?”
Medina glared over his shoulder, like Marcus was being deliberately obtuse. “Yes, covered up. As in it wasn’t reported to the proper authorities, wasn’t investigated, was made to seem like it never happened.”
“I see.” Marcus nodded. If that was what Medina thought had happened the night the witch Agnes had been found slain and dumped at the edge of the pack’s territory, then it was no wonder he was suspicious of them. “No, we did not ‘cover up’ a murder.”
Medina turned fully around and eyed Marcus with a narrowed gaze. “So someone is investigating what happened? Evidence was collected? A case is being built so the person responsible can be arrested?”
Marcus tipped his head slightly as he thought about the questions. “Someone is investigating, yes. What little evidence there was where she was found was gathered and has been preserved, yes. All of the information that is being learned is being compiled to make sure the person responsible answers for her death and any other hateful acts they have committed.”
“Meaning you all are handling it yourselves and to butt the fuck out?”
Frustration began to gather at the base of Marcus’s skull. Why was this human being so difficult? “Meaning… there are things happening that you could not possibly understand. I can appreciate that answer is frustrating for you, but it’s the best I can give you. You can verify that with Chief Baskin or Sheriff Daley.”
He knew he was failing to get to know the deputy like Tashmica had instructed, but he didn’t know how to do that when he couldn’t share large sections of himself or his history and when Medina was so suspicious of him.
Medina snorted. “Both of them are in your pockets. But don’t worry, I got the message. Stay out of your shit or something awful will happen to Reesa and the baby.”
Horror filled Marcus. “What?”
Medina held up his hands. “Sorry, I meant ‘an accident’ would befall her. That’s how you all operate, right? Cut a brake line or faulty wiring in her house. I got it. I understand and I’ll back off. Just leave her alone, okay?”
Marcus could do little more than stare at Medina, unable to believe his attempt at explaining what he could to the man had gone so horribly wrong. Medina seemed to take his silence as an agreement of some sort, so he nodded and slipped past Marcus and was out the door before Marcus could come up with something to do.
Alpha Kincaid was going to be upset when he found out Marcus had made things worse between them and the deputy.
Slowly he followed him out of the office, but there was no sign of Medina in the hallway, the only sound coming from the pool area where kids were splashing and laughing.
“Everything okay, sir?” Brianna spoke from behind him, voice soft.
He turned and gave them a small smile. “Yes, of course. Thank you so much for your hospitality.”
Laughing, Brianna moved closer, pausing at the entrance to their office. “Anytime, Enforcer Rivera. I owe Alpha Kincaid everything. The least I can do is give up my office when one of his Enforcers needs it.”
Marcus dipped his head in acknowledgment, his heart warming at their words. Many people in the pack felt that way about Alpha Kincaid. Where many packs turned away anyone different—in any sense of the word—Rick opened his territory and his arms to them, welcoming them without question.