“Oh, you sad sack, piece of shit demon, you couldn’t take me down if you tried.” His green eyes lit with a vicious sort of glee. “Oh, wait, you did try. Didn’t fucking work out for you, did it? How was your suspension, Lieutenant? Hope you had a good vacation.”
“You cost me a month,” Gray admitted.
“Did you visit Daddy?” Quinn asked, sarcasm dripping. “How was the Hell plane? Did it feel like home? Clock’s ticking for you, isn’t it?”
Gray’s eyes narrowed. “I spent the whole time investigating you. I don’t care who you sleep with. I’m going to prove all of it. I’m going to prove the illegal gambling, the gun running, the mob connections. You’re dirty as hell and I’m going to bring your whole house down.”
The sex god practically vibrated with rage. “You come anywhere near my family and I will make the Hell plane seem like a good hiding place. I swear you lay one fucking hand on my wife or my children and I’ll take you apart piece by piece.”
Gray’s face was tight, his eyes faintly cruel as he got in the other man’s space. “I note you don’t try to protect your other lover.”
Quinn rolled his eyes, his disdain plain. “Daniel can handle himself. Maybe it’s time I let him handle you, Sloane. You’ve become a nuisance. Zack, show the lieutenant to the door. Make sure he doesn’t come back. I don’t want to see this fucker again.”
“Fine, boss, but I want to know about her first,” Zack said and I could hear the willpower in his voice.
“You leave her out of this.” Gray strode over to take my hand.
It appeared we were going to make a hasty retreat. My heart dropped at the thought of not being able to use this opportunity. Tomorrow I had to inform Helen Taylor her daughter had been murdered and I couldn’t even tell her I’d made any headway on who had done it. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt if I could convince Devinshea Quinn to take me seriously that he could get other people to talk to me. I was certain deep down that our perp was a supe, so this was his world. If Gray wasn’t effective here, then I had to step up to the plate.
“Mr. Quinn, my name is Kelsey Atwood.” I used my most polite and even voice as I pulled away from Gray. Gray was pissed, but I had to salvage this. Just because he was getting his ass kicked out didn’t mean I had to get mine tossed, too. He’d asked for my help. I hoped he wasn’t too angry at how he got it. “I’m investigating a series of murders, and I could really use your help.”
The faery turned his attention to me as though he was surprised to see someone else was in the room. All of his anger and attention had been focused on Gray. He stared for a moment and I thought he was going to tell Zack to chuck me out. He sighed as though resolving himself to something. “You have ten minutes, Ms. Atwood.”
Gray reached for my hand again, this time yanking me toward him. “No, Kelsey. If you think I’m leaving you alone with him you’re crazy. He hates me. You have no idea what he’s capable of.”
“He’s capable of answering my questions.” I needed him to understand. He held my hand in a firm grip and when I tried to pull away, he tightened around me.
“No,” Gray said implacably.
“Hey.” Zack tried to get between us. His eyes changed colors and I saw the beginnings of claws flash from his hands. “You’re hurting her. Let her go.”
“She’s mine,” Gray insisted with intent in his eyes. He would fight this Zack guy if he stepped between us. It looked like my lawman had a little caveman thrown in for good measure. “She comes with me.”
Quinn sank back into his chair and there was a deep weariness in his eyes as he regarded the scene playing out in front of him. “Shouldn’t that be up to Ms. Atwood? Do you intend to force a female against her will, Sloane? It would be in your character, I suppose.”
Gray dropped my hand immediately. “I’m asking you to come with me, Kelsey.”
My stomach knotted because I was about to make a huge mistake, but I couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t going to side with Quinn. I wasn’t betraying Gray. I was being true to our case. He was a Ranger. He would understand when he gave it a little thought.
I backed up just enough to let him know I was staying. “I’m sorry. I only want to ask him a couple of questions. We need those IDs. I’ll come downstairs when I’m done and we can go back to your place.”
His face hardened, his eyes turning to stone. “Don’t bother.” His gaze slid across me and I saw the rage there. “You made your choice. I’ll show myself out, Quinn.”