Page 17 of Protecting Salvation

He nodded not making her say it. “Why would he do that? It’s very clear someone broke in and even more clear it wasn’t just vandals.” He watched her pale and cursed himself for his tactless comment. “Shit. Sorry, sugar.”

He moved closer and rubbed her forearm before sliding his fingers down and taking her hand before patting it in his. “I promise you I’ll keep you safe.”

She nodded but he could tell she didn’t believe it and he didn’t blame her.

“Wow, what the fuck happened in here?”

Hurricane let go of her hand and turned to watch Lotus and Titan walk into the room. “That’s what we’re gonna find out.”

Both his teammates were eyeing the room and cataloguing things the same way he had.

“The detective,” he used his fingers to make air quotes, “says it’s vandals and Peyton most likely left the door open.”

“Bullshit.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Peyton, any idea why he might say that?”

Titan was watching her and he wondered what Titan saw that perhaps he didn’t. Titan had a very different relationship with the law than he did. He’d had a few scrapes but nothing like Titan, who’d run a huge illegal gang in London for his own personal reasons until it came to a head and Jack got him out.

Peyton sighed and rubbed her forehead as if she was getting a headache. “I don’t exactly have a stellar relationship with the local police force. Detective McCain’s partner was a man called Jim Wright. His wife came to see me after he’d beaten their fifteen-year-old son in front of her. She’d suffered years of abuse and it was the last straw.”

“Piece of shit,” Titan spat, his features flat and angry.

“Yeah, he was. When she pressed charges a year later, I was asked to testify and he was fired and given a five-year sentence for assault and battery. His colleagues still believe he was unfairly treated so some, not all but some of them, don’t like me.”

“Old boys’ club,” Lotus remarked with a pop of her shoulders.

“It very much still is in a lot of places.”

Peyton rubbed her arms as if she was cold and he almost went to her and wrapped her in his arms but wasn’t sure it was his place. She must feel vulnerable as hell right now, especially knowing that if she called them the police would likely do very little to help or investigate, if anything at all.

“Well, if they won’t investigate, we will.” He made a decision and hoped like hell Bás or Duchess would agree with him. Although things were quiet for them at the moment and Peyton was a friend, so he wasn’t too concerned about making the call.

“Damn right we will,” Lotus agreed and she looked like her old self for just a split second. The pain and grief that had been stalking her heels lifted and showed the woman who infuriated them as much as she made them love her and want to protect her.

“Thank you, but I know you have enough going on. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Nonsense, we aren’t taking no for an answer. And in any case, Aoife would kick our asses if we didn’t help you out.”

Peyton laughed at Titan. “She can be pretty scary when she gets a mood on her.”

“Puts our Lotus to shame.” Titan elbowed Lotus and she rolled her eyes.

“Let’s get started. I’ll get my kit and start getting some samples and see if we can find any fingerprints or DNA that might help.”

Hurricane pointed behind himself. “Might want to start there.”

Lotus wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, what is that?”

“Fermented apple.”

“What?”

“Yeah, exactly. Not the medium of choice for most artists of this kind.”

“Peyton, anything spring to mind? Anybody apart from the local police who might be upset with you?”