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Iker’s laughter grew. He slapped his knee and ran a hand through his hair to push it out of his eyes. Rhys winked at her. She stuck her tongue out at him. It was childish, she knew, but dammit, he was not going to sit there and act like she wasn’t tough.
She scowled at them both. How dare Rhys. He was supposed to be on her side. Now her secret would be out and she’d have to whoop all of the SWAT team’s ass just to remind them she was tough.
Maybe not for Rhys, because let’s be real.
Her knees got weak the second he glanced at her.
But anyone else, she’d dare them to test her.
She folded her arms and rested back.
“Whatever,” she muttered. She ignored the flutter in her belly from his gaze landing on her. She was not going to give in at the moment. Maybe later, but not right now.
“How was the ride along with Mac?” Iker asked once he’d calm down from laughing.
It was good to see him smiling like his old goofy self. He’d been through some shit with Jessica. Jordan had never truly known the story of what had happened with him and Jessica when they had broken up some years ago. Apparently, he’d spiraled out of control and finally realized that he needed Jessica in his life and fought to get her back.
Jordan tried not to think of the day she’d walked into Jessica’s hospital room. The woman had been poisoned by some unknown agent and had almost died. Jordan had found Jessica’s ex-boyfriend with his hands around her throat. Thank goodness Jordan had arrived when she had; there was no telling if he would have gone all the way and killed her.
Now Bradley was sitting in a nice jail cell with the charge of attempted murder hanging over him.
“You know how Mac is. One look from him and the perps just fall to the ground and put their arms behind their backs,” Jordan joked. Their shift had been a smooth one where the time had flown by. Before she had known it, it was time for them to return to the precinct where they could clock out. For it to be her first day back, she didn’t have one complaint.
“So what you are saying is that you didn’t get to shoot anyone.” Iker snorted.
It was Rhys’s turn to eye her. He gave her the all-knowing look that Nova had termed his ‘dad look.’ She shrugged at him and threw him a wink.
Iker knew her well.
Her work day just wasn’t complete unless she got to toss a bad guy down on the ground and put a knee in his back.
“I don’t even want to think of the paperwork that comes along with shooting a suspect.” Rhys visibly shuddered. He pushed back from the table and snagged Iker’s empty beer bottle. “I’m going to start clearing up.”
Rhys took the bottles and headed into the house. Nova was staying at her mother’s tonight. Since Nova was leaving soon, Sara Beth had guilt tripped her into staying with her so they could spend some time together before the trip.
Honor came over to Jordan and rested her head on her lap. Jordan immediately rubbed the pup’s head. Honor gave her the big ‘puppy dog eye’ look.
“What is it, girl? You ate already,” Jordan murmured.
Honor whined and put her head farther onto Jordan’s lap. She sniffed Jordan who laughed. She playfully pushed the dog away. Jordan gave her another firm rubdown on the head before Honor dropped to lay near Jordan’s feet.
“You happy, Knight?” Iker asked, his smile gone.
It wasn’t that often that Iker was serious. He was a laid-back guy who Jordan had befriended almost immediately when she’d joined SWAT. Him and Zain were the first to open up and make her feel a part of the team. She was making history by not only being the first woman on the SWAT team but she was the first Black woman. It was a little intimidating to join a team who were already close as a family.
Jordan had never felt like an outsider. She was brought in immediately and treated as an equal.
“I am,” she replied without hesitation. Her eyes strayed toward the door that Rhys had entered. She didn’t even have to think hard about her happiness. That man was her everything, and she would do what she needed to ensure she and he had a future. She wanted it all. Marriage. Babies. Growing old with Rhys. “Once we get Bravon and take care of him, I’ll be even happier.”
“Don’t worry. We are going to get the son of a bitch.” Iker raked his hands through his hair again.
Jordan could see something was bothering him. “Out with it, Baldwin,” she muttered.
She leaned her arms on the table and stared at the man. He blew out a deep breath, his shoulders drooping slightly.
“If you think he’s the one then don’t wait. Don’t fuck it up like I did with Jess. We missed out on years that we can’t get back, and it’s all my fault,” Iker said. The pain of whatever happened in the past still haunted him. It was evident in the expression of his eyes and the hitch in his voice.
Jordan reached out and rested a hand on his.
