question is yes.” She twisted her bracelet round and round her wrist, fingering the stones in an almost frantic attempt to slow her racing heart. Although she was prepared to leave law enforcement, her heart ached at the thought of turning in her badge permanently. She loved police work. Ever since a policeman had helped her as child when she’d been lost in a shopping mall, she’d wanted to wear a uniform. Sophie loved rules and order. She’d been the kid who volunteered to be a crossing guard and student constable. She’d sat in police cars at summer fairs and been first in line for police station tours. And she wanted to help people, the way that policeman had helped her.
Ace gave her hand a sympathetic squeeze, and Sophie pulled away. Despite another heated night together and Ace’s admission he was looking for more, she didn’t want anyone thinking that she and Ace were anything other than…what? What were they? Acquaintances? Friends? Maybe they were friends with benefits. She’d never had a friend with benefits, but with her life in turmoil, she didn’t want to open herself up for more hurt. The concept seemed to fit. Friendship and sex but no emotional ties. What could be easier than that?
Ice gave a derisory snort. “So you’re walking away from something you love ’cause the police are following the same rules you’re out there busting your ass every day to enforce? Is the problem that you don’t believe in the system or that you don’t believe in yourself?”
She bristled at his abrupt, indelicate question and his abrasive manner, trying to process everything he had said, starting with sentence number one. “I didn’t tell you I love it.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Her cheeks flushed and her hands clenched into fists. “They made that choice. Not me.”
“Would you want a corrupt cop working the system?” His eyes hardened, and he leaned forward, into her space. “I’ve been through it. Dirty cop at the highest level was the final straw for me, and I turned in my badge. Now they’ve got procedures in place to root them out so they don’t lose good cops who get disillusioned with the system. If you’ve got nothing to hide, they’ll reinstate you. But then what are you gonna do?”
Good question. Where would that leave her? She couldn’t participate in the investigation, and anything she did on her own might be considered a conflict of interest. Now that she thought about it, the suspension was a blessing in disguise, leaving her free to do what it took to find Jason, regardless of the law. Maybe she had a little biker in her after all.
Ice stared at her. She stared at him. His cold eyes and harsh expression made her want to confess all manner of sins, not that she’d committed a lot of sins, but Ice made her want to make some up just for the sake of confessing.
Sophie shifted her weight, leaning ever so slightly against Ace’s firm shoulder. “What’s your point?”
“I don’t have a point,” he said. “I have a question. What do you want? Do you want to be a cop, or do you want to be an outlaw?”
He might as well have just asked who are you? After Ryan’s attack, she’d lost her way, and right now the outlaw option was looking pretty good.
The door opened and a curvy redhead walked in. Her gaze flicked from Ice to Sophie and then back to Ice. She groaned.
“James. You’re scaring Ace’s cop friend. Drop the badass attitude and play nice.”
Ice stiffened and his face became even fiercer, if that was possible. “Babe. Business. Need you to leave.”
With a snort, the redhead came up behind him and wound her arms around his neck. “My business, too. Jackie’s tied up on another case, so Ryder hired me to help find Sophie’s brother.” She looked up at Sophie and winked. “I’m Lana. Jackie and I run a PI business together. Occasionally we get drafted in to help out this motley crew. Strictly legal stuff, though, so don’t let your cop heart get all aflutter.”
“Don’t want my old lady gettin’ involved in Jason’s shit,” Ice growled. “Too dangerous.”
“Too late. Jackie already filled me in, and I’m ready to work.” Lana nuzzled Ice’s neck. Although she looked soft and kinda sweet, she must be one tough woman to be able to keep a man like Ice in line. Already, Ice’s scowl had faded, and their heat burned up the room. What she wouldn’t