“Do you know why I was called?” he asked.
The officer shrugged. “When it was called in, your name was attached to it. Someone did it.”
Rome nodded as he saw Detective Sawyer walking up the drive.
“Carino, what are you doing here?”
“My name was attached to it for some reason.”
Sawyer frowned. “I have no idea why. We know the ex did this. Or we think he did.”
He nodded and started back to his car. Then he stopped and looked back at the house.
“What was the woman’s name?”
“Sara Michaels.”
He knew the name, knew she was a member of the club, but knew that for once, this was a coincidence.
Still, something nagged the back of his mind, something he knew he was missing again. He was back in his car and dialing Maria’s number before he even realized it was now a reflex. Done with work, call Maria.
“Hey, was it one?” she asked before even saying hello. Just hearing her voice had his nerves settling, his worries dissolving.
“No, apparently the woman was in a bad situation with her ex. He’s their prime suspect. Are you still at the club?”
“No. I’m on my way back to the house.”
“Okay, I’ll head back to Honolulu—”
“No, I’m on my way to your house. Malach is taking me there.”
He paused. The name was familiar, but it wasn’t someone he knew directly. Then it hit him, Malachai Dupree, Chris’ brother. He’d met him at Jocelyn and Kai’s wedding. “Why didn’t you wait for me?”
There was a beat of silence. “I know Malachai. Personally.”
Shit, an old boyfriend? Of all things. And that was suspicious. “He found you?”
“We ran into each other. I thought it best to get away from the club to explain so we didn’t blow my cover.”
“Okay, be there in a few.”
“Bye, Rome.”
He was irritated, he thought as he drove up Like Like Highway. Worse, he knew why. She was breeching protocol. It was completely out of character for her, and it could endanger the mission. And all because of some damned ex-boyfriend. A Navy Seal ex-boyfriend, in fact. Damned if that didn’t piss him off.
When he had been introduced to Malachai at the wedding, he’d seemed a nice enough guy. Women had been slobbering on him, but that was normal for a Seal. The thought that he had been one of Maria’s ex-lovers had Rome grinding his teeth. She didn’t mention she knew Dupree. It wasn’t like they had long conversations about their old lovers, but with the connection, Rome wondered why she didn’t say anything.
He pulled back from the idea of trying to kill a Seal, a man trained to kill with his bare hands. But the thing that was starting to bother him was that Maria had a past. He knew she wasn’t that experienced, and he never looked down on a woman for her past. But right now, he wanted to beat the holy living hell out of Dupree.
It was worse than when they ran into Jack a few days ago. Now he could feel the slap of anger mixed in with the jealousy. What the hell was he doing? He wasn’t a Dom that expected his sub not to have male friends or a past. And he never expected to control their every movement. That wasn’t a Dom/sub relationship in his mind. That was a slave/owner and so not his thing.
Still, there was a part of him who thought maybe that was what he should be doing. He should demand that she not have any contact with any men. Which would make both of their jobs difficult and enough to scare the hell out of him.
Irritated with himself and with the woman causing these feelings, Rome punched the gas and sped home. The sooner he saw her, the better he would feel.
· · · · ·
“So, you’re here working the case?” Malachai asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, I talked them into letting me come over.”
He snorted. “Like that was a hard decision. You’re one of the best agents they have in their DC office. And that has nothing to do with your father.”
“Tell some of them that. But this way I think I’ll prove them all wrong.”
Malachai frowned. “I don’t like it though. Putting yourself out there as bait? Not good. You’re sure this Carino guy is good?”
She gave him a sardonic smile. “Do you think I’d work with him if he wasn’t?”
He chuckled. “You have before.”
She shrugged. “I trust him. Plus he has good cop instincts.”
Mal opened his mouth, but the flash of lights told her that Rome had made it back. The door opened just a few moments later.
“Hey, Maria.” He walked straight to her and pulled her in for a thoroughly devastating kiss. It was quick, hot, and it made everything in her body pulse.