Page 14 of Hard Rain

Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Garrett Boone was a fucking force of nature. Axel had spent most of his adult life thinking he was the biggest, meanest asshole in the room by default, but Boone carried a level of authority that made even seasoned deputies straighten automatically. Tall. Broad. Cold arctic eyes that missed absolutely nothing.

That icy gaze settled directly on him.

“Bobby Montane filed a complaint,” Boone said. “Did you bounce his head off the cell door, Axel?”

“Didn’t mean to.”

Boone stared at him for another second before the corner of his mouth twitched.

“Next time, make it hurt.”

Knox snickered behind his hand.

“Something to add, Granger?” Boone growled softly.

“No sir,” Knox said, choking back his laughter, eyes wide.

Boone turned and stalked toward the exit. The office door slammed shut behind him.

“I really didn’t mean for him to hear me,” Knox said under his breath.

Silence lasted all of two seconds.

Whip finally gave up trying not to laugh. Knox chuckled.

Axel scowled at both of them as if at a loss for words.

As if he wasn’t to blame. Yet, somehow, the man had turned a routine warrant into entertainment.

Ordinary days never stayed ordinary around Axel.

HOME FIELD

Rain followed them most of the forty-five-minute drive back to Fern.

Axel sat beside him, quiet. Quiet as if deep in thought.

Whip studied the road while the sheriff’s office replayed itself automatically in the back of his head anyway. Tomas leaning against the counter. The coffee. Axel stalking over and stealing the damn thing straight out of his hand like he owned it.

Whip snorted.

“Don’t start,” Axel muttered without looking at him.

That got a short laugh out of him. “You’re the one stealing drinks from law enforcement now.”

“He was irritating me.”

“Tomas irritates everybody.”

“Yeah?” Axel finally glanced over. “Looked like you were having fun.”

Whip caught the edge buried under the words instantly. Not anger exactly. Something rougher than that.

Possessive.

Not that Axel seemed aware of it.

Whip sure as hell was.