inside her heart.
Chapter Four
Special Agent Aiden Cross watched Scarlet storm out of the office, head held high, mouth pursed to keep those tears in her eyes from spilling over, and he knew they’d more than fucked up. While he’d suspected Scarlet would be angry, hurt—he hadn’t expected her to look at them as if they’d betrayed her.
He glanced at Roman, reading the man’s thoughts by the press of his lips. He knew Roman blamed himself. After Scarlet had confessed her love—Roman had pulled away. Distanced himself from everything. Everyone. He couldn’t seem to get past the fact he’d allowed her to be shot. That he hadn’t protected her when she’d needed him most. It didn’t matter that Aiden had tried to justify her sacrifice—that it was a partner’s right to make that choice. All Roman could see was her blood on his hands. Her life slowly slipping away in his arms.
They’d spent the first two weeks glued to her side until the moment she’d fluttered her eyelids open, and Roman had bolted. He’d accepted the job Aiden had offered months previous and cut himself off from his old life. They’d spent the next few weeks just talking as friends before they’d found their way back as lovers, reigniting a passion that never failed to take Aiden’s breath away. But the harder they fell, the more they both realized something was missing. Someone . Hell, he’d finally convinced Roman to grow some balls and just knock on Scarlet’s door when the calendar murders had been dumped on their desk. And they’d been rocked to the core.
It hadn’t taken much to picture their girl posed in some alleyway, stripped bare, her body tortured. Broken. They’d lobbied for two days to take lead, finally convincing Langley when Scarlet’s name had appeared on the fourth murder investigation as the head detective. And once they’d confirmed her alter ego had remained intact, they’d moved forward with their operation. One that would either bind them together in a way they’d only dreamed of, or destroy them.
Lieutenant Powell whistled, chuckling when both men turned to look at him. He shook his head, giving them both a knowing grin. “Damn, but she’s mad. I don’t envy you boys the next couple of days. Going to be mighty cold in that oversized king bed with her like that. You’d best play nice until she forgives you or you might spend the entire mission taking turns sleeping in the bathtub.” He chuckled again. “Of course, the fact she’s in love with at least one of you, if not both, certainly puts the odds in your favor.”
Aiden snapped his head toward Roman, unable to talk around the lump in his chest.
Roman took a step closer, his expression fixed. “Excuse me?”
Powell tsked. “Now who’s lying? Please, give me some credit. I’ve known you for a dozen years. Scarlet nearly as long. And I’ve spent the past two years watching you two through that glass. You were smitten with the girl the moment I made her your partner. And you’ve been falling in love with each other every day since.” He glanced at Aiden. “And she wouldn’t be sparring with you that way if she didn’t care. I’m guessing your friendship has…progressed without either of you actually acknowledging it.”
Roman released an audible breath. “Well…this is awkward.”
Powell waved Roman’s words away. “You’re not the first partners to fall in love. Hell, all do, it’s always just a tossup as to whether it’s the kind where you punch each other in the shoulder and help get them laid or if you’re the one taking your partner to bed.” He raised an eyebrow. “I’m guessing that playing the role of lovers at the mansion pushed you two over the edge?” He merely nodded. “Explains why you left like you did, no offense to the Feds.”
Aiden held up his hands. “None taken. But I can’t say I’m upset that he decided to make the switch.”
“I imagine not.” Powell crossed his arms on
Chapter Four
Special Agent Aiden Cross watched Scarlet storm out of the office, head held high, mouth pursed to keep those tears in her eyes from spilling over, and he knew they’d more than fucked up. While he’d suspected Scarlet would be angry, hurt—he hadn’t expected her to look at them as if they’d betrayed her.
He glanced at Roman, reading the man’s thoughts by the press of his lips. He knew Roman blamed himself. After Scarlet had confessed her love—Roman had pulled away. Distanced himself from everything. Everyone. He couldn’t seem to get past the fact he’d allowed her to be shot. That he hadn’t protected her when she’d needed him most. It didn’t matter that Aiden had tried to justify her sacrifice—that it was a partner’s right to make that choice. All Roman could see was her blood on his hands. Her life slowly slipping away in his arms.
They’d spent the first two weeks glued to her side until the moment she’d fluttered her eyelids open, and Roman had bolted. He’d accepted the job Aiden had offered months previous and cut himself off from his old life. They’d spent the next few weeks just talking as friends before they’d found their way back as lovers, reigniting a passion that never failed to take Aiden’s breath away. But the harder they fell, the more they both realized something was missing. Someone . Hell, he’d finally convinced Roman to grow some balls and just knock on Scarlet’s door when the calendar murders had been dumped on their desk. And they’d been rocked to the core.
It hadn’t taken much to picture their girl posed in some alleyway, stripped bare, her body tortured. Broken. They’d lobbied for two days to take lead, finally convincing Langley when Scarlet’s name had appeared on the fourth murder investigation as the head detective. And once they’d confirmed her alter ego had remained intact, they’d moved forward with their operation. One that would either bind them together in a way they’d only dreamed of, or destroy them.
Lieutenant Powell whistled, chuckling when both men turned to look at him. He shook his head, giving them both a knowing grin. “Damn, but she’s mad. I don’t envy you boys the next couple of days. Going to be mighty cold in that oversized king bed with her like that. You’d best play nice until she forgives you or you might spend the entire mission taking turns sleeping in the bathtub.” He chuckled again. “Of course, the fact she’s in love with at least one of you, if not both, certainly puts the odds in your favor.”
Aiden snapped his head toward Roman, unable to talk around the lump in his chest.
Roman took a step closer, his expression fixed. “Excuse me?”
Powell tsked. “Now who’s lying? Please, give me some credit. I’ve known you for a dozen years. Scarlet nearly as long. And I’ve spent the past two years watching you two through that glass. You were smitten with the girl the moment I made her your partner. And you’ve been falling in love with each other every day since.” He glanced at Aiden. “And she wouldn’t be sparring with you that way if she didn’t care. I’m guessing your friendship has…progressed without either of you actually acknowledging it.”
Roman released an audible breath. “Well…this is awkward.”
Powell waved Roman’s words away. “You’re not the first partners to fall in love. Hell, all do, it’s always just a tossup as to whether it’s the kind where you punch each other in the shoulder and help get them laid or if you’re the one taking your partner to bed.” He raised an eyebrow. “I’m guessing that playing the role of lovers at the mansion pushed you two over the edge?” He merely nodded. “Explains why you left like you did, no offense to the Feds.”
Aiden held up his hands. “None taken. But I can’t say I’m upset that he decided to make the switch.”
“I imagine not.” Powell crossed his arms on
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