Page 22 of Deadly Scandals

Ashley

“Pierce. There’s been a shooting. Get down here immediately.”

My boss didn’t waste time on pleasantries, not even when he called on my day off.

I hopped out of bed and threw on the first clean work clothes I could find. Where were my fucking heels? I dug for them under my bed, hobbled over to the coffeepot, and poured myself a stale mug of joe before nuking it.

I swiped through my phone, and there it was.

“Navy SEAL dead.”

Holy shit.

I’d been avoiding SEALs since the Joaquín Cruz case. What a mind fuck that had been. The investigation into the drug smuggling was still ongoing, but I had recused myself from the case. I had gotten too close to crossing a line with Mitch, and I wasn’t willing to put my career on the line for anyone.

I raced down to the location my superior had texted me. The BUD/S compound. After weaving between tourists on the bridge trying to catch the Coronado sunrise, I finally arrived.

I flashed my badge at the gate and drove onto base, dread starting to sink into my stomach. SEALs were the worst. Their codes of silence were impossible to break. And they would choose the brig before they flipped on another SEAL.

I joined the swarm of officers hovering outside and saddled up to the first familiar face I saw.

“Who was it?” I asked a fellow agent.

“The SEAL was Paul Thompson.”

Oh my God. He was Grant’s superior officer.

I scanned the men. No sign of Grant. But Mitch’s face registered a look of amusement when he saw me.

His eyes undressed me as he approached. I might not put my career on the line for the guy, but it didn’t stop me from eye-fucking him right back. I couldn’t help but stare at his massive arms and ripped chest underneath his dark blue instructor shirt.

“Good to see you again, Autumn. You going to crack this case, too?”

Son of a bitch. That cocky motherfucker. He represented everything I hated about SEALs.

“You bet. Who discovered him?”

He smirked. “I did.” Then he whispered in my ear, “You might as well give up now, because I’m not going to tell you anything.”

I exhaled. “Telling me nothing will only get you arrested on obstruction, Mitch. Paul was a fellow SEAL, I would think you’d want his murderer brought to justice. Plus, I never take no for an answer.”

He brushed my hair, and I slapped his hand away. “Then you and I have something in common, sweetheart. Neither do I.”