Lover Beware

coming’? You can’t be that dumb. They’ll take this neighborhood apart to find you, not because they give a shit about me personally. Because no one is allowed to make war on cops.”
    That worried them, but it didn’t convince them. She sighed. “Rule, I think they need to see to believe. Maybe you could show them how fast you can move.”
    “If I move, I’m going to kill someone.” His voice was really rough now and hoarse, close to a beast’s growl. “I want to kill them.”
    “Jesus,” someone whispered. Then the Hispanic one said,
    “This is stupid. This is just stupid. No one said anything about killing or getting killed.”
    Biff sneered. “You chickening out, Bobby? Fine, you go on home, let the little woman tuck you up safe in bed.”
    Bobby muttered something under his breath and turned to walk away. Another man hesitated, then hurried after him.
    “Hey! The rest of you gonna turn chickenshit, too?” Biff Number Two cried out. “I came to kick some butt, clean this city of at least one were-slime. You with me, Pete? Baker? Let’s get with the program!” He smacked the tire iron against his palm again and started forward. Two others followed.
    Lily took aim. Her head was clear, but her heartbeat was going crazy.
    Across the street, a woman shrieked once. Twice. Lily didn’t take her attention away from the men for a second, but they looked.
    “She went back inside,” Rule growled. “She’ll call the cops. Some of your colleagues will be here soon, Lily.”
    Lily held her pistol out with both arms, one hand steadying the other. Aiming ostentatiously straight at Biff Two. “But we’ve still got a few minutes before they show up. You guys want me to fill out all those lousy forms, come on. Take another step.”
    “Hell.” The one with the beer bottle threw it into the street, where it smashed. “I’m out of here.”
    Two more of them left, tossing out insults to make themselves feel less as if they’d lost the battle. Only Biff One and Biff Two remained, but Biff Two was furious. His brother grabbed his arm, said something low and angry to him. Biff Two shrugged free and spat at them. The spittle landed well short of her feet.
    A siren sounded in the distance. That was all it took. The twins ran off.
    Lily needed to holster her gun, but her hands were shaking and her arms felt like noodles. It took her two tries. Then at last she was free to turn to Rule. His eyes held darkness, corner to corner. Tension drew grooves along his face. “You all right?” she asked.
    “No. Do you think that really is your colleagues on the way?”
    “We try for fast response time, but I doubt it. I’d just as soon not wait around and find out, though. I wasn’t entirely joking about the paperwork.”
    “Weren’t you?” A small smile ghosted across his face. “Let’s go.”
    They made it the last half-block to his Explorer without anything happening, and in complete silence. He unlocked both doors, locking them again as soon as they were in, and started the engine. Then he crossed his arms on the steering wheel, leaned his head on them, and shook.
    Lily didn’t mistake his reaction for fear. Whatever had been happening to him, he’d fought it and fought hard. There was a price to be paid for that. She unclicked her seat belt and slid over and put her arms around him.
    The shakes stopped. He went very still. Then, in one of those too-fast-to-see movements, he had his arms around her, pressing her up against him as if he needed to soak her up. He ran his hands over her sides, her back. His breath was harsh against her hair. “One heck of a meeting spot you picked for us.”
    “Sorry about that.” Sensation chased itself over her skin like thousands of tiny shivers. Everywhere he touched came alive, and there was a tugging down low in her stomach, a pulsing beneath. “God.” She clamped her hand on his arm as if gripping an anchor in a high wind. “I was so scared.”
    “You didn’t sound it. You sounded tough. And bored, as if you did that sort of thing twice a day.” He rubbed his face against her hair “But I could smell your fear. I wouldn’t have let them hurt you, Lily. They would never have touched you.”
    “I know. I was scared you were going to kill people. And that I’d have to.” Her voice hitched. She turned her face into the living cubbyhole formed by his neck and shoulder and breathed him in. Her insides seemed to be vibrating. She needed more. More touch, more