Free Hit and Run by Allison Brennan, Laura Griffin Page A

to die that day, and he wanted to take as many people with him as possible. So angry. So hopeless.”
    “This wasn’t the first time for me,” she said. “The first was suicide by cop. I had no choice then, either. But this isn’t any easier.”
    “Let’s hope it never gets easy.”
    They sat on the beach and finished the beer until it was completely dark, until the ocean breeze made goose bumps rise on her skin.
    “Come home with me,” Alex said. He stood up, offered his hand.
    She almost said no. She almost told him she was okay , that she’d walk back to Diego’s, it was only a mile up the beach. She almost said she wanted to be alone.
    Except she didn’t. There was no one else she’d rather be with. She grabbed his hand and he pulled her up.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    Insomnia plagued Scarlet, and last night was no exception. Even two rounds of great sex didn’t help her sleep. It was nearly dawn when she crashed in Alex’s bed. Voices woke her up. Familiar voices. She opened one eye. Eight-thirty in the morning. She’d had four hours of sleep. Better than most nights, but not enough after what happened yesterday.
    She grabbed Alex’s shirt because she didn’t know what had happened to hers. She breathed deeply. She loved his scent, loved being in his bed and wearing his clothes.
    This was no good. She was getting attached, and getting attached never turned out well for her. She squeezed back the emotions because they surprised her. She wasn’t emotional. Hot-headed, maybe, but not emotional. What was it about Alex that hit her so hard?
    She stepped out of Alex’s bedroom into the living room. He lived in a one-bedroom apartment practically walking distance to the Newport Beach Police Station, off Jamboree. She blinked rapidly when she saw the familiar face with the familiar voice.
    “John?” How did her brother know she was here?
    Alex handed her a cup of coffee. “I answered your phone. He was at your apartment.”
    “You were at my apartment?” She couldn’t be hearing right. Why was her brother at her apartment? She sipped the coffee.
    “I expected you to be there.” He shuffled uncomfortably. John Moreno was two years younger than her and what any sane women would call a hot cop. He lived and breathed his job, and Scarlet loved him for it ... even though they hadn't been on the same page when she quit three years ago.
    That was water under the bridge ... for now.
    “Well, I guess introductions are in order. John, meet Detective Alex Bishop. Alex, meet my brother, Detective John Moreno.” She drank more coffee. It was good. Very good.
    “We met five minutes ago,” Alex said.
    “I told Dad to tell you I was fine.”
    “He did. But you should have returned my calls.”
    “Yesterday was a real shitty day.”
    Alex said, “John, would you like some coffee?”
    “He’s not staying,” Scarlet said.
    “Thanks,” John nodded.
    She rolled her eyes and sat on the edge of the counter. Alex refreshed his own cup, and brought John one.
    “How deep are you in this mess?” John asked her.
    "I'm fine."
    "That's not what the word is."
    "And I don't need you adding to the word. I'm fine . I had a heart-to-heart with Kyle Richardson. He knows that Jason was set up. At least, I think he’s inclined to believe his statement. But right now it's just us who know that."
    "You have to stand down. This is a dangerous situation."
    "I know. I was shot at yesterday and nearly burned alive."
    John winced.
    "It wasn't the first time," she snapped. Why was she being so bitchy? John was worried, just like her dad. Just like Alex, but he hadn’t pushed her buttons yet. "John, I know what I'm doing." Sort of. "Tell me my faith in Kyle Richardson isn't unfounded."
    He sat down on one of the three barstools Alex had. He didn’t have a table yet. He’d told Scarlet the first time she came over that the apartment was temporary. He wanted to buy a small house, but the prices in Newport Beach were astronomical.
    "Richardson