Page 33 of Cops and Robbers

“It was just sex,” she said. “I get it.”

“It wasn’t—“

The motorcycle roared to life, echoing in the two-car garage.

“There’s no need to talk about it. By the way”—she tossed something at him, and he caught his Charger keys—“you’re out of gas.”

She slid the helmet over her head, shutting him out. His frustration couldn’t compete with the hole he had dug himself into. When she leaned forward to drive, he gritted his teeth but shifted to let her pass. She zoomed past him.

He’d fucked up. Royally. Pocketing the discussion, he strode to his patrol car.

The drive to Chicago was boring except for the angry cat on his tail. He swerved into his lane again. Come on, Raz, concentrate. Though she rode behind him, her sexy appearance on that motorcycle made it hard for him to focus.

Vehicles clustered downtown Chicago, but he navigated his way around with Kate following. Their destination to meet with his team was a classy bar along Clark Street named the Dusted Tuck. Parking was a nightmare; too many vehicles on the shoulders, with their flashing hazards showing cops they wouldn’t be there long. He drove straight to the parking garage and found a couple of vacant spots. Kate slipped in next to him and took her helmet off, her black bob bouncing as she shook her hair free. He stared. She was so beautiful, but man, he hated that frown on her face.

He came around the car as she slid off her bike, helmet resting on the handlebars.

She fiddled with his backseat handle. “Can you unlock it?”

He pressed the fob and tried not to gawk at her presented backside as she leaned into the seat. A bag unzipped before it zipped again. She rose with a laptop bag in her grasp.

“All set,” she said.

He paused, ready to say something. Anything he had been thinking of on the drive. But ice laced her tone. Sighing, he headed for the stairs to take them to the streets.

“So, where are we going?” she asked as they walked down the sidewalk bustling with people.

“The Dusted Tuck.”

“What’s that?”

“A drag bar.”

“Wait,” Kate said. “Why?”

They approached the metal fence outlining the building’s front to rope in the bar’s outdoor tables. The wrought-iron-style garage doors that Lewis kept open at night remained closed for the evening.

“You didn’t do any research on the other Dragon SEALs?” he asked, stopping them before the door with elaborate gold-painted metal trimming.

“You were the easiest to track down and scheme,” she murmured.

Fire erupted up his throat, and he coughed. You sure know how to make a guy feel special. “Lewis, one of us, owns this bar.”

He opened the door and cocked his head for her to walk forward. She eyed him as she walked inside. The interior had a vintage style but with modern lighting and decorations. Mahogany scents flooded his sinuses, and the stench of spilled alcohol lingered. The four-story building had changed little since Lewis opened it in the 1920s.

Empty tables and booths scattered the floor in front of a large stage. The tall ceilings created great acoustics for the drag shows, and the second-story surrounding balcony offered more seating. Abstract art of varying colors draped the walls. No one currently sat at the long mahogany bar with leather stools lining the right wall, but Lewis stood there, wiping the top down.

“I thought you were pulling my leg.” Lewis beamed, walking out from behind the bar, his long jean-clad legs swallowing the distance in no time. “But here she is…” He stretched his arms out wide and headed toward Kate, who remained frozen beside Raz. “The one and only Bubblegum Bandit.”

Fire lanced up Raz’s spine, and he stepped in front of the larger male dragon, blocking him from reaching Kate. Intense dominance vibes packed into the space between them, putting pressure against Raz’s skull. He raised his chin to meet his friend’s concerned brown stare.

“You all right?” Lewis said, dark bald head cocked in question.

Raz tried to rein in his dominance. And failed. His dragon was seeded too close to his consciousness, needing the other male to back the hell away from what was his. His vision turned red.

“Raz?” Kate’s voice whispered, bringing his humanity to the forefront.

He closed his eyes, feeling a dominance feud burn against his neck.