Free Obsession (A Bad Boy's Secret Baby) by Adair Rymer, Nora Flite Page B

really laying into the bag. It felt good, but it was too easy to lose myself in it.
    “The standards sure have fallen at Firehouse fifteen.” The voice and the punch to my ribs came from somewhere behind me.
    I immediately threw myself to the side and dodged the follow up hay-maker, but the damage had been done. I could feel the grinding of a cracked rib. My back had been to the main doors, it was easy to sneak up on me as distracted as I was. Stupid. My drill sergeant would've kicked the shit out of me if he saw what just happened.
    I expected to see Brendan, but it was Drew's ugly mug I laid eyes on. He had three other guys with him. No Brendan though. I figured none of the Springfield cops would fuck with me in a firehouse. It was funny how I could be both aggressively striking something and be caught off guard.
    “They'll let any asshole in here, huh?”
    “Hey there, Drew.” I cleared my throat and spat a wad of phlegm on the ground at Drew's feet. I was still a little winded from the hitting the bag. “You been working out? I almost felt that. You're not still mad about those black eyes back in the day, are you?”
    Drew scoffed. “Kait was always too good for you.”
    “Listen, Drew, you had an eight year head start. I just don't think you're her type.” I held my hands out and shrugged. Each breath painfully reminded me that my ribs weren’t at all happy right now. I needed to end this quickly. “She likes men.”
    Drew's silly mustached face bristled with anger. He cocked a head and the other three officers advanced on me. Two men, who looked like rookies, went to either side, hoping to flank me while the third came straight in. Drew stood back waiting for an opening so he could catch me with a cheap shot.
    I smiled. I see you now, motherfuckers.
    When the cop on the right lunged for me I darted forward. I drove a knee into the man straight ahead, a quick feint and an even quicker elbow dropped him. That allowed me to turn around and have both remaining attackers now in directly front of me. Drew took a step back.
    They threw out tactics and charged me. It was exactly what I was hoping they'd do. I parried the first man's left hook, got behind him and used his own momentum to trip up his buddy. The rookies collided and crashed to the floor.
    Drew came in with a vicious assault while my back was turned, except this time he used his big-ass metal flashlight instead of his fists. I narrowly avoided each blow and had to back step to keep out of his reach. It was an unfair advantage and it would be more than enough to take down any of the thugs and criminals that they were used to dealing with.
    I smiled again. Drew had obviously never fought a marine before. Drew was a big guy, definitely a gym rat and bruiser, but he was also slow and predictable. I dropped to a knee as a swing that would've taken my head off sailed easily by. He over-committed, expecting to hit and was left wide open when he didn't.
    I put my fist into his nuts so hard that it lifted him off the ground.
    The whole thing was over in a heartbeat.
    “The fuck is going on here?” I hadn't even heard Brendan pull up, let alone walk in. I didn't actually know his rank, but he wore his full short sleeve black uniform with an air of undeniable authority.
    I knew he had come back from his honeymoon, so I guess it was just a matter of time till he heard the news about Kait and me, then paid me a visit.
    “Carlson. Murphy. Jensen. Get the hell out of here.” Brendan addressed the three rookies who were still untangling themselves from each other, then walked over to a man who was probably his equal, at least in rank. “Dammit, Winter. What the hell were you thinking?”
    Officer Drew couldn't respond or breathe or do anything, really, except tear up and cough from his fetal position on the floor.
    That was for the cracked ribs, you sonofabitch.
    “Malik,” Brendan said, finally turning his attention to me. He looked proud, strong and a little