Free Sin's Dark Caress by Tracey O'Hara Page B

her mouth.
    The agent’s malicious grin deepened and he couldn’t help another gloating glance at Oberon as he held out his hand to McManus.
    When he took it, Roberts’s knuckles turn white as he gripped hard and his gloating smile deepened. “Actually, it’s my case.”
    McManus frowned. His shoulders tensed as he tried to pull his hand back, but the agent held tight.
    â€œAh, fuck it.” McManus smashed his forehead against the bridge of Roberts’s nose.
    It happened so fast, she hadn’t seen it coming. Neither had Agent Roberts. Blood burst from his nostrils as he dropped to his knees, ripping his hand from McManus’s grip to cup his face, the dark crimson seeping through his fingers.
    All hell broke loose. Captain Phillips yelled, Roberts screamed, Oberon howled with a deep rumbling laughter. Palatine Grace just stood in stunned silence, though she suspected by the slight twinkle in his eyes that he was secretly pleased. He didn’t like Neil Roberts any more than the rest of them.
    â€œEnough!” Captain Phillips bellowed above the din, and the noise died.
    â€œI want this man charged with assault,” Roberts said, his head tilted back, a crimson spattered white handkerchief pressed to his nose.
    â€œI’ll take care of this, Agent Roberts,” the captain said. “Please don’t let me hold you gentlemen up any longer.”
    The agent’s eyes narrowed over the bloody piece of linen. Then he stormed out, leaving the office door wide-open.
    â€œI’ll try smoothing this over,” Palatine Grace said. “But unfortunately we’ll need you to get all the case files to VCU by tomorrow.” He turned and followed Agent Roberts out of the office.
    Captain Phillips sat back in his chair and put his hands behind his head.
    â€œOTA,” McManus murmured, not even caring whether the two men were out of hearing range.
    â€œDamn straight,” the captain agreed.
    â€œWhat’s ota?” Bianca asked.
    â€œO.T.A.,” the captain said. “Oxygen thieving asshole. And that Agent Roberts is one of the biggest I’ve ever met.”
    Oberon barked out a sharp laugh. “That’s the best description of Roberts I’ve ever heard.”
    â€œYes—but that’s beside the point.” The captain linked his fingers together and leaned forward. “McManus, you—”
    â€œI know.” He sighed. “Hand in my badge and gun, I’m on suspension.”
    â€œLet’s just hope I can talk him out of pressing criminal charges. Couldn’t you have just played nice for once?”
    McManus shook his head. “The only reason he wanted to keep me on this case was to get under DuPrie’s skin.”
    Oberon crossed his arms over his chest.
    â€œStill,” the captain said. “My hands are tied. Sorry, McManus.”
    â€œI know.” McManus slammed his gun and badge down on Captain Phillips’s desk and stormed from the office, slamming the door behind him.
    Phillips raised his head to look at Oberon. “So now Roberts has us bent over the table without even the courtesy of a reach-around.”
    â€œPretty much,” Oberon said. “What about McManus?”
    â€œIf I know McManus, he’s more pissed at himself for losing control. He’ll go off, get drunk, and calm down in a few days.” The captain leaned back in his chair. “And I’m sure he’s not the first to pop that a’hole one.”

11
    Draconis Familiaris
    B ianca stepped from the shower and slipped on a white fluffy bathrobe. With a swipe of her hand, she cleaned the steam from the mirror, then wrapped a towel around her wet hair and padded barefoot into the living room.
    The sun shone brightly outside the kitchen window. It was so nice to see daylight again after working so many nights. She poured a cup of coffee and took it out to the terrace. Vincent and Kedrax were also out playing