Vixen (Dark Protectors #11.5) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,7

fight that had put Siosal into the group, he was clean. Yet something wasn’t right.

The next person loping into the room set Evan’s teeth even more on edge. Raine Maxwell, another muscled male that seemed out of place in the innocuous old school room. He had sharp green eyes, black hair, and a hoarse voice that was almost a low growl.

Evan knew a predator when he saw one. In fact, he’d once been one. A long time ago in the service.

Raine took a seat next to Tabi.

Fire lanced down Evan’s spine. Why he felt so much for the blonde was a mystery he’d never have enough time to solve. Man, he really was losing it.

Then Johnny Baker walked in with his father, the sheriff, right behind him.

Evan went cold and then full hot. “I put you in a cell.”

Johnny smiled and walked toward the circle. “Not for long.” The punk was twenty years old with thick brown hair and beady brown eyes. He had his father’s stocky build, but unlike the sheriff, he was muscled and his gut hadn’t started to go to fat. Yet. His main hobby seemed to be beating up his bride.

The sheriff reached Evan’s side. “We had an emergency hearing with the judge right after dinner, and Johnny was ordered to complete this anger management course, so the prosecutor agreed to drop all charges.”

Evan’s ears burned. “The judge, his uncle?” The sheriff’s sister had married the local judge decades ago.

Sheriff Baker’s jaw firmed. “There wasn’t anything underhanded. This was a first offense, and it was probably a mistake.”

Even though the entire room was watching, Evan leaned down into the face of his boss, fury deepening his voice. “This was a first offense because once again, the female victim refused to make a report. But this time, your son hit a cop with a fucking bat. Me. That matters.”

Hatred glowed in the sheriff’s dull eyes for a moment before being banked. “I’d watch it, O’Connell. You might be a buddy of the governor, which got you this job, but you work for me.”

Johnny sat next to Dr. Lopez and smiled, his eyes hard. “I can’t have anything like that on my record if I want to be a police officer.”

Evan straightened. “Excuse me?”

Johnny lowered his chin. “I take the police officer entry-level civil service exam in two weeks. Good thing there’s an opening in the department, right? I hope I have a chance of making it.” His chuckle held a shitload of derision.

All the moron needed was a high school degree, and he had that. “You have to pass a drug test and a psych evaluation,” Evan shot back. Although the sheriff would make sure he passed those, probably.

Raine Maxwell cleared his throat. “It appears as if we have a problem.”

The sheriff turned on him. “Mind your own business.”

Tabi cleared her throat. “Well, hello, Johnny. How are your balls? I believe I kicked them nearly through the top of your head when you and your buddies tried to accost me.”

It was the attack that had been caught on tape. Evan should give her that video. Definitely.

Johnny swirled to look at her, and he did pale the slightest amount. “Oh, you and I aren’t done.”

Evan stepped forward. “Watch it, kid.”

The sheriff grabbed his arm. “Detective O’Connell? You’re not needed here, and I suggest you get back to work. Don’t you have a murder to solve?” He turned and stared at Abby Miller. “I believe the, ah, grieving widow is right over there.” The condescension in his tone had Abby’s head jerking up and Noah’s eyes narrowing.

Dr. Lopez read the room accurately. “Actually, I’ve requested that the detective join the group, since we have some tension here. Surely you’re okay with that, Sheriff?” If that was the tone she used with her underage clients, she no doubt got definite results.

The sheriff paused and then smiled, his gaze running over the woman’s form. “Of course. Anything for you, Dr. Lopez.”

A low rumble sounded from Raine, barely audible.

Interesting. Evan pulled free from the sheriff before he could knock the guy out with one punch and lose his job. “Well, then. I guess I’ll take a seat.” He purposefully strode right over to sit next to Johnny. “You and I aren’t done, either,” he said, turning to face the shithead.

Tabi leaned back in her chair, watching him closely. “You’re kind of fun when you’re pissed off,” she murmured, her dark eyes dancing.

“That’s where you’d be wrong, darlin’,” he returned, keeping everyone in