Page 79 of Knotted their Beauty

I scanned the crowd, not sure what I’d find, but I wasn’t expecting to see a little boy. A little boy barely older than Cali, running around in circles under the shadows the vultures cast as they waited for everyone to leave. They’d already picked at Corvus’ carcass quite a bit from what I’d seen, but they were hoping the mob forming wouldn’t last long and they’d be able to get back at it as things warmed up.

One landed about halfway between the body and the caution tape, and I watched as Charlie ducked under and started inching his way toward the scavenger.

“Charlie! Charlie, you little bastard, I said leave those fucking things alone!” The man stormed over and reached under the tape, yanking the boy so hard he yelped. “You stupid son of a bitch, you never fucking listen. I told you I was working. Told you to leave them damn birds alone!” He started dragging the boy away from the scene toward a beat up pickup parked amongst the police cruisers, whipped open the door then threw him in the backseat. “Sit your ass down and shut the fuck up. You’re fine, but you’re in trouble. Sit there and think about that while I try to make some fucking money.”

He slammed the door and went back to work, snapping unauthorized photos for some hack magazine, I’m sure.

I sent a uniform over to check on the kid without making a scene. It was early as fuck still, but the temp was probably about eighty and at that rate, it was going to be scorching by lunchtime.

And that asshat was going to let his kid fry in the backseat for what couldn’t have been more than a hundred bucks.

Thankfully the cop was on the same page, found the father of the year and made him leave. After he got his info for me.

It’s burning a hole in my pocket as I sit here.

I saw the way the kid flinched with every word his father spit. Saw the bruises no one bothered to hide. How skinny poor Charlie was.

That shit was hard to miss, and his dad is lucky I didn’t lose my mind at the crime scene.

“Are you fucking listening to me, March?”

My eyes shift from somewhere over Butler’s shoulder and meet his steely gaze. “No.”

“Goddamnit, March, I swear to⁠—”

“What?” I snap as I slam my hands on my desk and quickly get to my feet. “You swear to god you’re going to what, Butler, because I am so sick and fucking tired of your bitching, bullshit, and empty threats I’m praying for the day you finally act on them.”

We stand there staring at each other for a few beats, the room saturated in the scent of rage, but I don’t miss the bite of fear. It’s light and thin, but it’s there, and I can’t help but grin at that.

“I’ll take care of whoever put my face out there,” I say in a low tone as I narrow my eyes. “I’ll take care of that, I’ll put someone on PR, I’ll take ownership of this case and all the bullshit surrounding it. And if I’m really going to be lead, I expect you to treat me like it.” He opens his mouth as the vein in his forehead throbs. “You know better than anyone else what I’m capable of when it comes to working in the field and running a team, let me fucking do that, and I’ll catch the fucker you’ve been chasing for months.”

Butler stands there huffing in place, his face so red, red as hell, and I’m waiting for smoke to come billowing out of his ears, throwing big bad alpha lasers out of him, but he doesn’t speak.

No, the stupid bastard tugs his lapels one more time, fixes his cufflinks then spins on his heel and leaves my office the same way he entered it.

I’m so fucking keyed up right now, there’s no way I’m going to be able to get through all this paperwork.

I pat the chest pocket of my shirt and grin.

Looks like I’ll be needing a way to blow off some steam, and lucky for me, I know exactly how I’m going to do it.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

ARLO

Curling up into a ball, I try to breathe through the pain as it rips through me. Maybe if I ignore it, no one will notice I’m starting my heat. Ves is working, and I don’t want this to happen without him.

I know he’s busy and the newest murder has turned things into a media circus. This is the worst freaking timing, but I’ve been in pain for the past hour, trying to keep things quiet.

I never went to the doctor to get a heat suppressant prescription. Honestly, I’m not even sure I fit the requirements for it. Ves gets his because he’s a single father with a demanding job. Doctors can get very uncomfortable about long term suppressant use.

We’re not technically supposed to go without a heat, and I’ve never had one with another person before. I used toys when I was in college, but that was dicey since I hid in my closet for several days and used descenting spray every time I perfumed.

The fear of being found after the first few had me running to the health clinic to get a prescription. They’re more lax at the college clinic, well used to their students asking for contraceptives and suppressants. They didn’t even ask me any questions.

Ow, shit. Thank god Cali is visiting her grandmother. When Ves’ mother saw him on television over his case, she called and demanded to take her for a couple of weeks. Apparently, he does everything possible to stay out of the limelight. His family is concerned now that he’s publicly announced he’s lead on The Orphan murders.