Free Rafael (The Santiago Brothers Book One) by K. Victoria Chase Page A

her desk, and her eyes were focused on the computer
screen. Rafa crossed his arms over his chest. Even if she didn’t
appreciate his efforts to solve the case, the least she could do
was pretend to be interested. “You came in late this morning.”
    Genie rotated in her chair until she sat
straight across from him. Her eyes had darkened and narrowed.
    “Are you accusing me of slacking on the
job?”
    “I’m sure your conscience will guide you
concerning your work ethic.”
    Genie huffed. “I’ll have you know I’ve done a
bit of research myself.” She smiled at him again, and this time he
recognized the type. She hadn’t smiled at him this morning because
she was being friendly; she'd smiled because she had something to
tell. And he guessed he wouldn’t like what she had to say. “I’ve
spoken with the gang unit this morning and—”
    Yup, he didn’t like it.
    “Wait a minute.” Rafa leaned forward,
wondering whether he’d heard her correctly. He had asked to speak
to the gang unit detectives the day before, but Genie wanted to
postpone their meet-and-greet. She insisted on being with him for
the meeting, but gave him some lame excuse about having to leave
work early. Then she arrived at Bible study that night. “I thought
you were going to introduce me to a few of the detectives.”
    “I couldn’t find you.”
    The innocent look in her eyes made him grind
his teeth. She knew exactly where he was. “I’ve been here since six
a.m.”
    “ I was
here at five. Like I was saying, they have confirmed through their sources that these killings
were not committed by any members of the groups in this
area.”
    Rafa rolled his eyes. “Of course none of the
gangs here are involved. The MO is very specific.”
    Genie offered a stiff smile. “Look, Rafael, I
shouldn’t have to explain basic investigative techniques to
you.”
    Rafa reclined in his chair, anger suddenly
vanishing into amusement. He wanted to laugh out loud but rolled in
his lips to keep the sound in. If he had witnessed her behavior
from anyone else, he'd have concluded they were immature and quite
green in the profession. But Genie was a seasoned professional. Why
she felt the need to one-up him he couldn’t fathom. He had no
interest in obscuring her path to success. As soon as they wrapped
the case here, he'd continue on to Quantico and a job with the FBI.
“Believe me, Genie, you don’t.”
    “Yet, you seem to disregard the importance of
eliminating certain potential subjects, namely the local gang
members.”
    “I do not disregard—”
    “Furthermore, we can narrow our pool to those
more likely.”
    “I agree.”
    She opened her mouth to say more but stopped
at his concurrence. A single well-shaped brow lifted, as did the
tip of her nose. “Well, I’m glad you see things my way.”
    Rafa couldn’t help snorting in response.
“Eugenia, this isn’t a competition.”
    Her brows bushed in feigned miscomprehension.
“Who said I was competing?”
    “Genie.” Rafa leaned forward, his gaze
latching hold of hers. “Stop! I’m not your enemy.”
    Genie pressed her lips into a tight line. Her
eyes stormed with both irritation and confusion. He could see her
jaw flexing, her chest rising and falling with heavy breathing.
Rafa’s curiosity was baited. What did she struggle against? Why was
she being so stubborn?
    “Green, Santiago!”
    Both his and Genie’s head snapped in the
direction of the sound of their names. Lieutenant Winters barreled
toward their desks, the look of impatience in his eyes.
    “Sir, I was just coming to your office to
give you an update,” Genie began placating.
    “Well, you didn’t quite make it there, did
you, Green?”
    Genie shot Rafa a look of annoyance. Whether
her aggravation was for her boss or him, he wasn’t sure, but
Winters wasn’t a man to make excuses to. He wanted progress, and
Rafa was prepared to offer him just that.
    “Actually, sir,” Rafa began, ignoring the
growing look of anger on