Dungeon Games (Masters and Mercenaries #6.5)(16)

“I refuse to apologize for my appetites.” She stood up and paced, her heels clacking against the floor. “Are you going to be difficult?”

“About the case? No. It’s important.” For many reasons, the chief one being protecting Karina, but he didn’t want to put her on Maia’s radar by mentioning that. It was irrational since Karina was every bit as tough as Maia, but he didn’t want Maia to hurt Karina. She could be brutal when she thought another woman was threatening her place. Not that she had a place with him. She simply had a delusional belief that they were still some sort of a team. It was just habit. They’d known each other since they were kids in elementary school. Sometimes he sat and talked to Maia just because she was the only one around who remembered what he’d been like before. Before adulthood. Before the war. Even before their divorce.

She sighed and moved to the chair in front of his desk. “Good, because this is the one, Derek. This is the one that moves us both up. If you can crack this case, you could move over to the Rangers if you want to, though I think you’re better off where you are. If you really want to be a bastard, tightwad *, we might even be able to talk to the feds about a job. They don’t all hate me.”

He was getting a headache. “I like my job, Maia. I’ll work with you on this, but I’m not doing it because I want some magical promotion. Some cops do the job because it’s the right thing to do. Some of us enjoy actually doing the work and solving the case because it brings someone justice, not because it might increase our paychecks.”

He could hear Tag complaining about how mercenary Karina was. It would be a good thing for him to remember. She might seem soft and sweet when she was in his arms, but she got every dime she could out of her clients. She wasn’t that far off from Maia and when she looked for a Dom, she would likely choose one with the most upwardly mobile potential.

“Oh, that is so very Captain America,” Maia said with a sad shake of her head. “You should be happy I look out for you.”

“I would be way happier if you completely left me alone.”

“Sure you would.” She crossed her legs seductively and gave him a wink.

She was a gorgeous woman and he had nothing for her. On the outside, she was his type. Oh, she could eat a cheeseburger or two, but she took care of herself. Her hair was perfect, her nails always a sexy red. There was something about the thought of a woman performing all those little beauty rituals that got his motor running. Maia was perfect on the outside but it was Karina he couldn’t stop thinking about.

“Are you really f*cking the PI?” She leaned forward, her eyes on him.

“It’s none of your business, Maia.”

“It’s just she’s not your usual.”

“Again, not your business.”

“You’re never going to forgive me, are you?”

In a lot of ways he really had. He’d made his share of mistakes, too. No marriage was completely one sided. “You are who you are, Maia.”

“I love you more than I love almost anything, Derek.” She sat back and gave him a little smile. “I just love me way more. But I still watch your back even though I know you call me Medusa behind mine.”

“I absolutely do not. I say it to your front.” He never prevaricated with her. He didn’t have to. It was one of the reasons they’d stayed in this weird friendly enemies state. He didn’t have to pretend with Maia.

“Fine, and I’ll admit, I kind of like it. Medusa was a woman who knew how to get what she wanted. But even though you rage against me, I still love you and I still want what’s best for you and you’re never going to be happy until you get married and have some kids. You aren’t getting any younger, Derek.”

He groaned and wished there would be some sort of tragedy to befall the city so he could get out of this conversation. “Oh, now you sound like my mother.”

“Are you the one who told her to make the sign of the cross every time she walks by me at church?”

“Who let you into a church?” Derek chuckled. His mother had a sense of humor. “I’ll get her to stop.”

Maia waved it off. “Don’t worry about it. It gives me a certain reputation I find helpful. So is the thing with the PI serious?”

She wouldn’t give up until he told her something. Maia annoyed the hell out of him, but he couldn’t forget that she’d been his high school sweetheart. She’d been the one to take care of him when he came back from Afghanistan. She’d been the one who pushed to get him on the force.

When he really thought about it, they had been a good team. They just hadn’t been good at being in love.

“It’s not. She’s part of the operation. Her name is Karina Mills.”

Maia’s mouth dropped open. “Wait. Are you talking about the girl set to get strangled next?”

He really didn’t like it being put that way. “She’s been identified as the next target. I intend to make sure she stays safe.”

“By putting your dick in her?” She held up a hand, stopping him from ordering her out of his office. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I can’t help but be a little jealous. I’m your wife after all.”

“Ex.”

“For you, maybe, but you’ll always be my husband. I’m not getting married again. We both know it’s not my gig. So you like the PI, who needs a manicure by the way. And she could use some fashion advice. She’s not your type, Derek.”