Tribal Law by Jenna Kernan Page B

raked his neck, found the lobe of his ear and sucked.
    The action broke something loose inside him and he could not stop any more than he could call a bullet back into the chamber. He lifted his hips to unfasten her belt. He fumbled with the button closing her jeans. She brushed his hand away and he heard the sound of her zipper.
    Gabe turned to his own trousers, his hands sure now. Then a familiar voice called out from the direction of her house.
    â€œSa-lee-na!”
    Selena stilled.
    Gabe turned his head, listening. Although the voice was lower than he’d have expected, he still recognized it. Her brother sounded drunk. Only Tomas was not drunk, he had been deprived of oxygen at birth and it had damaged his brain. He had the slurring, difficult speech of a man who would always be a boy.
    Selena stiffened. Gabe suppressed a groan and drew up so his chest no it longer pressed to hers. Gabe had adjusted his cab light so it did not come on when he opened the doors. It prevented him from being backlit when exiting his vehicle, making him an easy target. But now he could not see Selena clearly. Thankfully, neither could anyone in her house. Her face was now only shadows and moonlight, but he saw the crease between her brows.
    â€œMama says come get you,” called her younger brother.
    Gabe’s radio blared from the front seat, calling his name.
    â€œChief Cosen. This is Randall. Over.”
    Selena pushed up.
    â€œLeenie! Supper!”
    She called into the darkness. “Coming.”
    Gabe picked up the sound of Tomas stomping his feet on the icy wooden steps.
    â€œLeenie. I’m cold.”
    â€œGo inside, Tomas.”
    â€œOkay.” The door creaked open and then closed.
    Juris summoned him again. Gabe cursed, reached between the seats and snatched up the radio.
    â€œCosen here.”
    Detective Juris got right to it. “Chief we found Chee’s vehicle.”
    â€œIs he in it?”
    â€œNo.”
    Gabe turned back to Selena who had already fastened her jeans and was buckling her belt. Then she slipped from his vehicle.
    Gabe felt the tug of the job drawing him away from her again, even as she retreated to her family.
    â€œI’m sorry, Selena,” Gabe said.
    â€œMe, too.”
    Gabe spoke into the radio. “Location?”
    Juris relayed the information and Gabe told him he was en route with an ETA of twenty.
    Selena had already reached the steps when he caught up with her, clasping her elbow. She kept her head down, refusing to look at him.
    â€œWhat are we doing?” she whispered.
    â€œI don’t know. It just happened.”
    She gave a sound that didn’t seem quite a laugh. “It often does. We were always best in the dark, weren’t we?”
    What was that supposed to mean?
    â€œI must be crazy,” she whispered.
    He wished he could think of something to say.
    â€œI never meant to hurt you,” he said. “I never meant for any of this.” He wasn’t just referring to the kiss. He meant everything, the entire five terrible years as he had risen from sergeant to chief. As his career had progressed and his personal life had stalled.
    She glanced at him, as if waiting for him to say something else. But what?
    â€œI just came out here to check on you. That’s all.”
    â€œWell, you gave me a really thorough checking.”
    He let her go and she proceeded up the steps. Then he called after her.
    â€œHow did your dad get mixed up with Dryer?” he asked.
    She reached the top step and turned to face him. “Dad was approached by Raggar’s man in prison and so he got word to the DOJ with the help of a Salt River Apache man, just released. This all happened because of that contact.”
    â€œDangerous game.”
    â€œDad says less dangerous than letting Raggar recruit him. At least now he has a chance to really be free.”
    Or get them all killed , thought Gabe.
    â€œSelena, the state police will be