Up in Smoke (Crossing the Line, #2)(5)

“See something interesting, Captain?”

The other man took his time answering, opening up a manila folder and thumbing through some paperwork, although he looked suitably impressed by Connor’s deduction. “That’s how you talk to your new boss?”

“I do when he’s late.”

“I have a city to run.” He threw an irritated glance toward the door. “Not sure what everyone else’s excuse is, but I intend to find out.”

“Maybe they were delayed by your goons at the front desk.” The girl spun her chair around in a circle. “And I don’t have bosses. Merely oppressors.”

Derek didn’t blink. “You’re free to leave at any time, Ms. O’Dea.”

O’Dea. Connor tried not to show a reaction to that piece of information. Across the table, she tossed her pink hair and laughed. “If I wanted to leave, I’d be halfway back to Florida by now.”

“Yes, I’m aware of your specialized skill. It’s why you’re here.”

She spun around again. “I love when my reputation precedes me.”

Florida. Specialized skill. Connor didn’t have time to ponder what exactly Derek meant by that before another girl walked into the room. Marched, actually. She tucked her short jet-black hair behind her ears again and again, curious brown eyes landing on all three of them in the space of a heartbeat. “They took my laptop at the front desk. I want it back.”

“Have a seat, Ms. Banks.”

“Polly. Polly Banks.” she corrected, taking a seat beside O’Dea. “Since we were all blackmailed to be here, we should dispense with formality.”

“I like her.” O’Dea reached over and released Polly’s hair from behind her ear. “Can we keep her, Daddy?”

For someone who didn’t like to be touched, she sure liked to be on the other end, didn’t she? If they hadn’t been interrupted, would she have touched him? Where? Connor was distracted by his leading thoughts when a man hobbled into the room. He wore an oversize sweater, fisherman’s weave. A wide-brimmed hat was pulled down low on his forehead, and he tipped it at the two girls. When he reached the chair beside Connor, he practically fell into it with a groan.

Connor sent Derek a questioning look, but the man just stared back levelly, a hint of a smile on his mouth. “Meet Austin Shaw. He’ll be joining you on the squad.”

Polly hummed. “At least the Chicago PD aren’t ageists, in addition to being thieves.”

“What she said,” O’Dea chimed in. “Cool hat, Grandpa.”

“Thank you, dear.” Austin’s voice wavered with age. “I’ve had it years. It was an anniversary gift from my wife, Martha. You likely weren’t even born the first time I wore it.”

O’Dea’s hands fluttered in a series of claps. “We’re keeping him, too.” She smirked at Connor. “You’re the only one I’m not sure about yet.”

“Fooled me,” he growled.

Derek cleared his throat and the room went silent, a fact that annoyed Connor even more. This guy might be a captain with the Chicago PD, but that didn’t mean shit where he came from. He was just another man ruled by the almighty system. Connor knew all too well how the system could hang you out to dry if you didn’t play ball its way. “You have no choice in who you keep. Let’s get one thing straight right away. This is my squad.” Derek encompassed them with a look. “I picked the six of you out of hundreds for a reason. As soon as the final two get here, we’ll talk about what it is.”



Huh. That’s strange.

Erin looked down at her chest, wondering if the warm fuzzy she’d just encountered in her midsection was visible to the naked eye. She might hate the idea of being strong-armed into being here, of having her past held over her head and used as a bargaining chip to gain her obedience. But unless you counted the thousand-woman team whose uniforms consisted of orange jumpsuits, she’d never been part of a group before. Yeah, they had a jerk-wad leader who had already felt the need to assert his male superiority over them, but everyone at this table had their rear ends to the fire. They were in this rowboat headed down shit creek together and something about that felt vaguely comforting. As comfortable as a convict could reasonably get knowing her second-class citizen status made her dispensable, and therefore she would be placed in dangerous situations.

But hey—at least it was for the good of a team. With an adorable old man mascot.

She sneaked a glance at Connor. He was still looking at her. She wished like hell he’d stop. Also, if he could keep going that would be great, too. It felt like being touched without all the anxiety that came along with it. His mouth had felt so good—

“Nice of you to show up,” Derek said, giving the two latest arrivals the stink eye. “Now sit down. We’ve got work to do.”

Erin stared in fascination at the new couple standing in the doorway. And despite their obvious differences, there was absolutely zero doubt that they were a couple. They were tethered in some invisible way she’d never witnessed before. The man was a fighter. Every taut line of his body made that unquestionable. Not only did he look ready to take on any threat to the girl standing beside him, he was dying for someone to try so they could lose. Where Connor was sturdy and unmovable, this dark blond in his worn leather jacket never stopped moving. His fingers flexed, his eyes scanned, his energy sparked. A complete contrast to the girl who’d taken hold of his hand as if to reassure him.