"Don't break my cover, Nathan. Let it go, it's not a problem." Drew stopped talking when Caswell stormed into the room, eyes flashing defiance.
"Are you going to take some damned spic's word over mine? Little punk-ass liar," was the first thing out of Caswell's mouth. Nathan smiled a slow, easy grin that he knew would put the deputy at ease.
"Now why is it you immediately jump to the conclusion that Mr. Dominguez here has issued a statement of any kind?"
Caswell's eyes flashed back and forth between Nathan and Drew, trying to figure out which way to lean in his own defense, no doubt. "Whatever he said, I didn't do it. I arrested him for trespassing and resisting arrest. I … what the hell is going on here? Are you trying to trap me into confessing something? Shit, Nathan, that's low, even for someone like you. Siding with someone like him."
Nathan was out of his seat before he knew what he was doing. Caswell took two steps backward and was in the main office when Nathan caught him by the shirt collar and lifted him off the floor. Holding him against the wall, he growled, "What were you saying, Deputy? Someone like me siding with someone like him? Tell me that doesn't mean what I think it meant."
He could feel eyes on him, Drew's included, but he didn't care. "Tell me what you meant before I jump to the wrong conclusion. I might be gay but I can kick your ass all the way to Kentucky. Is that what you were going to say, something about my sexual preferences? Or maybe it's the Cherokee blood running in my veins? That I'm a half-breed?"
Caswell's eyes went round with surprise before he narrowed them. Nathan knew he'd crossed the line, he just didn't care. "You're weak where they are concerned. Your family brought them here. Shit, Nathan, I didn't know you were either of those things. You're a damned Mexican lover, why would you side with me when one of them is around spreading lies."
"Did you throw Mr. Dominguez against the hood of your car more than once?"
"Yes. Let me go, you fucker."
"What did he do to provoke such behavior?"
"He called me a pig."
"That was poor judgment on his part, insulting pigs like that, but it hardly called for slamming him against the car. And as long as the convenience store is open then it isn't trespassing. From what I was told, Mr. Dominguez made a purchase and was standing outside talking with a couple of coworkers from the plant and minding his own business. That is hardly loitering. Did the owner of the store file a complaint?"
"No, but, Nathan, come on, man, you told us to keep our eyes open for anything out the ordinary. I've never seen him before. He was acting suspiciously." Caswell's eyes shifted around past Nathan, looking for help.
"Do you want to file assault charges against my deputy, Mr. Dominguez?" The anger drained from Nathan in that instant, leaving him embarrassed and more than a little confused. He'd never done anything like that before. Just the thought of one of his deputies manhandling Drew-or anyone else, he hastily added- made him nauseous.
"No, sir. I just want to go home." The accent was back. "But I would like your deputy to know one thing. I'm from Puerto Rico. I'm an American just like he is."
"Do you hear that, Caswell?" Nathan waited for Caz to nod then released his shirt. "Go home. I'm suspending you for the rest of the week. And before you get all bent out of shape, I'll call Sheriff Daniels myself about my actions. I apologize for losing my temper."
"Yeah, Nathan. I … sure … okay," the deputy said, his eyes still blazing as he skulked away.
"Anyone got anything they want to say to me?" Nathan turned to face the office where all the staff was gathered watching the scene unfold. Most of them looked startled. It was his fault. He never overreacted. Never. Cold, calm, calculating. That was his mantra. Quinn was the hothead, not him. "I apologize to every one of you too. I let my temper control me; it won't happen again."
No one spoke, at least not until after he'd stepped back into his office. They didn't seem to mind that he could hear their mutterings. "Geez, did you see his arms when he picked Caz up? Shit, I didn't know Nathan had it in him. I wonder if he's that fiery in bed."
"Oh, hell. What the fuck did I just do?" He leaned against the door trying to steady his heart rate.
"Scared the hell out of me, whatever it was. Congratulations, Nathan, on being a human being after all." Drew leaned against the wall in front of him, his mouth stretched wide in a mocking grin.
"Screw you, Walker," Nathan growled.
"Oh, lucky me, where do you want me? Over the desk, or on the floor?"
"Go home before I forget who you are and lock you up for being a dick."