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

Genie’s face. If she thought he would
share her findings with her own boss, he'd prove he wasn’t a
back-stabbing jerk. “I’ve gotten in touch with my sources back in
San Diego. They have given me the names of a couple of Snake
members who haven’t been seen at their usual hangouts for the past
several days.”
    “Meaning?”
    “Meaning, it’s possible they have relocated
here, and what we’re witnessing is a couple of planned
assassinations.”
    “Do we know their names?”
    “We do, but I’m having my contacts verify
through their sources that Huera and Montenegro have left the
state.”
    Winters placed his fists on his hips and
nodded once. “Now that’s progress.” He shot Genie a narrowed look.
“Green, where would we be without Santiago? You still want to go it
alone?” Rafa watched her swallow what looked like a lump of
humiliation, but she remained silent, refusing to look at either
man. “Good work, you two. Find this Huera and his Montenegro buddy
and make some arrests.”
    “Yes, sir,” they responded in unison.
    Winters’ gaze spanned the room. “Franco,
Duggard! Where’s that final draft I asked for an hour ago!” Winters
barked.
    Rafa kept his eyes on his partner. She didn’t
strike him as one who took criticism well ... or at all, for that
matter. He recalled their first meeting in the lieutenant’s office
the other day. Not only did she not take orders well, but she also
had no qualms in telling her boss why. Yet, a moment ago, she
acquiesced without a peep. “Genie?”
    “Conference room, now,” she snapped. Without
meeting his gaze, she vaulted from her chair and stormed toward the
room.
    Rafa remained seated for a moment, mulling
the repercussions of not following her. Then he considered the
opportunity he had to peel away some of her layers, and he jumped
up. When he reached the door, he paused. Genie was pacing like a
caged animal. He entered the room and closed the door.
    “How could you do that?”
    His brows bushed. He took in her rigid
stance, hands on hips, and an accusatory stare. “What exactly did I
do?”
    “What I can’t seem to figure out is how
brownnosing my boss gets you ahead.”
    “Because I mentioned Huera and
Montenegro?”
    She smirked. “You made me look bad in front
of the lieutenant… on purpose!”
    Here he thought he did a good deed. He took a
few steps forward until he stood within arm’s distance of her.
Unblinking, she held his gaze, her nostrils flaring. “Who are you
really mad at?”
    She blinked. “What?”
    “Someone did something to you." He could see
it so clearly now — the need for absolute control, the lack of
trust, and the bulldogged desire to work independently.
Investigations were tough enough with multiple heads in the game
but to go it alone? What did she have to prove? His eyes searched
hers as if he'd find the answers to his questions in their dark
chocolate depths. "Who was it? What did he do?”
    She took a step back, her gaze wavering.
Before he could ask again, she moved around him and marched toward
the door. “Don’t show me up like that again.”
    He kept his back to her. “I was only trying
to save face in front of your boss. We hardly have any leads to go
on.” The door slammed. Bingo. She had been hurt in the past. Rafa
sighed. Whatever happened, she continued to take her frustration
out on everything and everyone. Until she resolved her issue, he’d
have to walk on eggshells around her. The silver lining? She
wouldn’t rest until the case was resolved. And he respected her for
it.
    “Santiago?”
    Rafa turned at the mention of his name. A
uniform stood at the doorway.
    “Yeah?”
    “There’s a phone call for you, at your desk.
Genie told me to come get you.”
    Rafa chuckled. “She couldn’t come get me
herself, huh?” He started for the door.
    The officer shrugged, a sheepish grin on his
face.
    “Rookie?” he asked when he approached the
officer. The young man nodded. “Yeah, being a message