“It’s all superficial,” she claimed, and wondered if that argument would work on Dash.
Tipping his head, Logan surveyed a bruise on her cheek, then the stitches on her head. “Sorry, Lieutenant, but I’ve had concussions so I know better.”
“Me, too,” Reese said. “Your head wants to explode.”
“And the headaches last for days, sometimes even weeks.” Logan gave her a sort of big-brother look that caught her off guard. “If you push too hard—”
“Enough!” Frustration brought Margo away from her desk in a rush. Finger in Logan’s chest, she snapped, “They tried to kill me.”
Full of sympathy, he clasped her hand and gently lowered it. “I know.”
Of course he did, because the attempt to kill her had also left his brother in the crosshairs. She jerked her hand away. “Damn it.”
Reese joined Logan. “At least you’re admitting it was attempted murder. And in admitting it, you know you’re too close.”
“Being emotionally involved,” Logan said quietly, “screws with your perspective.”
“The hell it does.” Her perspective was that they needed to be caught, arrested and prosecuted. Period.
“If you’re too closely involved you lose your edge,” Logan reasoned. “You know that.”
That bit of sage nonsense nearly made her hair stand on end. “Oh, my God, are you actually saying this to me?”
Logan scowled.
“She’s got you there,” Reese agreed. “Even when I tried to get you to pull back, you jumped in feetfirst with Pepper and that enormous cluster-fu—”
“And you!” She rounded on Reese. “You have no room to talk because you’re just as bad as he is.”
“I was taking your side!”
She shoved past Reese to pace. “Just because I’m a woman you think I have less ability to push through an injury.”
“You’re not supposed to push through,” Logan chided her.
She tuned out his nonsense. “And, of course, being a woman means I can’t logically sort out the facts. Only men can be cold enough, levelheaded enough, to stay professional under duress. I guess you expect me to break down in tears, to look for some big macho guy to—”
Rolling his eyes, Logan interrupted and said, “Speaking of big macho guys...” He put himself in her path. “Is Dash staying with you?”
She almost plowed into him before taking a stance. “What are you talking about?”
He and Reese shared another look before Logan said, “I’m not prying.”
“We’re concerned,” Reese added, then held up a hand. “And before you shoot us for being so audacious, may I say that I understand completely.”
Tension crawled up her spine, turning her voice into a growl. “Understand what?”
“You’re a cop, Peterson, through and through. Tough as nails, no one doubts that.”
“All that other stuff you spouted,” Logan said, “is absurd. We know damn good and well you fire on all cylinders no matter the situation.”
Why she wanted to smack them both, Margo couldn’t say. But the temptation was there, making her palm itch. “Your point?”
Shouldering Logan aside, Reese faced off with her. “For a cop, especially a cop in your rank, it’s difficult to admit to any weakness.”
He was so big all over that he damn near left a shadow on her. Eyes narrowed, Margo squared her shoulders and tipped her head way back to glare up at him. “Do you have weaknesses, Reese?”
He ignored that. “I still remember how Logan was when he got himself shot in the arm. Pepper had to sit on him—although I think she actually enjoyed that. She has this hidden nurturing streak—very hidden, in fact—but it’s there and she coddled Logan back into health.”
“Fuck you, Reese.” No real heat accompanied Logan’s words.
Reese grinned. “Don’t mind a little pampering myself now and then.” And to Margo he said, “I’m just saying...you might want to give it a try.”
“It does have its advantages,” Logan admitted. “From one badass cop to another, lighten up and enjoy the opportunity.”
The two of them turned to walk out—without her dismissal, damn them. “Don’t. You. Dare.” Her whispered words were more lethal than a shout.
With a lot of exaggerated impatience, they turned. Logan asked, “Is there more?”
Yes, but at the moment, she didn’t know what.
A sharp rap at the door saved her. She barked, “Come in.”
And to her surprise and displeasure, Dash stuck his head in. He looked past his brother, past Reese, to meet her gaze. “Sorry to interrupt, but this is important.”
Grateful for the reprieve, but determined to maintain her status, Margo strode forward. “It damn well better be.”
CHAPTER NINE
RECOGNIZING HER VOLATILE MOOD, Dash kept his distance while ushering in Cannon. He had no idea what had set her off, and he regretted the intrusion knowing she wouldn’t like the familiarity of him inserting himself. But for this, it couldn’t be helped.
He glanced at his brother. “You and Reese should hear this, too.”
Expression sardonic, Logan crossed his arms. “Not a problem, since I wasn’t going anywhere anyway.”
He knew his brother wasn’t thrilled with the idea of him and Margo hooking up. Too late, big brother, Dash thought, then he gave his attention to the seriousness of the situation. “Cannon has some important info.”
“All right.” Margo’s gaze met his—and she held the door open. “Thank you, Dash.”
No f**king way. Did she actually think to dismiss him? Given the expectant way she watched him, Dash realized that was exactly what she wanted to do.
Defiant, he gave one small shake of his head and went to a chair to sit down. If she wanted him gone, she’d have to spell it out.
And then maybe drag him away.
Reese’s gaze ping-ponged between them and he grinned, the mammoth ass.
On an exasperated sigh, Logan eased the door from Margo’s hand and closed it with a click. “He’s staying with you, he’s in it up to his neck, so he may as well be informed.”
“That is not your decision to make!”
“He’s my brother,” Logan said, as if that gave him certain rights. He came to stand behind Dash.
Nice. He could always count on Logan for support when needed.
“What happened to you?” Margo asked Cannon. When Dash appeared confused, she nodded at his face. “Black eye, bruise on your cheek—”
“Oh, yeah.” Cannon touched his face. “I had a fight.”
“About what?”
His mouth lifted in a crooked smile. “Who was the better fighter.”
“Right. You compete in MMA.”
“He’s good, too,” Dash said. “Not that I’m a judge or anything. Just going by his record.”
“I’m making headway.”
Gesturing grandly to the remaining chair, Reese said, “Cannon, you may as well get comfortable.”
“Right. Comfortable.” Stocking hat twisted in his hand, Cannon dropped into the straight-back chair, relaxed his spine and glanced around Margo’s office.
“First time in a police station?” Margo asked.
“Yeah.” He rolled one shoulder. “No idea why, but it makes me a little nervous.”
Dash laughed. “Rowdy feels the same. I can almost see his skin crawl whenever he’s here.”
Half-smiling, Cannon said, “Yeah, well I think our reactions are based on very different circumstances.” He looked up at Margo. “My mother would have skinned me if she’d ever had reason to visit the police on my behalf.”
“Good for her.”
“That’s one of the biggest differences.” Cannon shifted again, clearly uncomfortable. “I had a mom, and Rowdy never did.”
“She passed away?” Reese took up his usual posture as he rested a shoulder against the wall.
“A few years ago. Cancer.”
“I’m sorry.” Margo tipped her head. “Your father?”
“He used to own a bar a lot like Rowdy’s. He got murdered when I was eighteen.”
“Robbery?” Margo asked.
Cannon shook his head. “Street thugs tried to extort money from him in exchange for ‘protection.’ Dad refused to play along. One night when he was closing up they came in and beat him to death.”
“Damn,” Dash muttered. He’d known Cannon had some deep motivations for protecting the neighborhood, but he’d never heard why.
“Mom almost worked herself to death to keep things afloat, but when Marissa got cornered one day coming home from school—”
“Marissa?” Dash asked.
“My little sister. Well, not so little now. She’s nearly as tall as me, but a hundred pounds lighter.” His pride showed in a soft smile. “Really pretty. And smart.”
“Was she hurt?” Logan asked.
“Scared mostly. She was only sixteen then. A bunch of guys told her...” In a silent struggle his expression darkened and his hands fisted. “They said they would do things to her if mom didn’t sell.”
“And so she did,” Dash concluded for him. “Damn, man, I’m sorry.”
“I found them.” Sitting back, Cannon shook off the tension. “The bar was already sold by then, but I found them and I gave them the beat-down they deserved. Thing is, I knew I couldn’t be there 24/7.” He looked at Margo. “It’s not a good thing to feel helpless.”
“No,” Dash agreed. “It isn’t.”
“The cops didn’t help you?” Logan asked.
“Didn’t ask them to.” Almost apologetic, he looked away. “They knew the area businesses were getting squeezed and they didn’t do anything about it. Most knew not to bother going to them. Some even figured the cops were in on it.”
Margo rubbed her temple. “Possibly. Corruption had wormed its way in pretty deep here.”
Dash said what Margo wouldn’t. “She took care of that, though, so if it ever comes up again, know that you can trust her.”
“And Reese and Logan,” Cannon added. “Yeah, I know. That’s one reason I’m here now. My mother gave up the family business but she refused to give up her home. It had sentimental value to her. Now my sister lives there and she’s as stubborn as my mom ever was.”
“Huh.” Logan nodded as if just figuring out a puzzle.
“As Rowdy can tell you,” Cannon said, “little sisters are big motivation.”
Dash smiled at that statement. Far as he could see, they were big motivation to honorable men. He included Rowdy and Cannon both in that category.