With Caution

you still with me?” Rhys waved his hand back and forth.
    “Yeah, what’s up?”
    “I remembered where I had heard that name you mentioned last night.”
    “And?” Jake had called Rhys on his way home from Remi’s apartment and given him Remi’s dad’s name. He knew Rhys well enough to know if he had a name, he’d start investigating first thing in the morning. Rhys lived to solve crimes, chase bad guys and raise hell.
    Rhys nodded. “Lassiter is a fucking reservation cop. I came across him when I worked for the FBI. He’s a real ass.”
    Fuck. Jake sat back in his chair, stunned. Un-fucking-believable. Why hadn’t Remi told him his dad was a rez cop?

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    J.L. Langley
    “There was a murder out at the reservation about fifteen years ago. It was before I was in the agency but I’ve heard stories and I don’t doubt them from my own run-ins with the man.” Rhys took a drink, watching Jake over the brim of the cup.
    “Like what? What did you hear?”
    “Here’s your coffee.” Matt came in carrying Jake’s steaming cup. “I still don’t see why you won’t hire someone else to run the office and let me investigate. I’d be good at it.” He set Jake’s mug down, sloshing a little bit onto the desk. “Oops. Sorry.”
    Before Jake could roll his chair over and get the tissues off the bookcase to his right, Matt squeezed past Rhys and the desk and tripped over Rhys’ outstretched legs.
    “Watch it.” Rhys growled and his hand shot out, quick as lightning, catching the kid before he went down. Rhys didn’t even spill the contents of his mug.
    Damn, the man had amazing reflexes. Jake got up and grabbed the box of tissues.
    “Sorry, Rhys.” Matt darted a glance at Jake and back to Rhys. “Uh…”
    “It’s all right. Go—” Jake waved his hand around, “—do something.”
    Matt was a good kid, but the boy had two left feet. Especially in Rhys’ presence. The kid was terrified of Rhys. It amused Jake to no end. It shouldn’t, since lots of people were afraid of Rhys, but it seemed irrational. Rhys may be big, dark and intimidating, but the man did what he did very well because he honestly cared and wanted to help others.
    Jake blotted the mess up and tossed the tissue in the trash next to his desk.
    As soon as Matt left, closing the door behind him, Rhys grimaced and rubbed his bad thigh. His tanned face was a little pale.
    Jake raised a brow, asking without asking.
    “I’m fine.”
    Jake nodded. “You were telling me about Lassiter?”
    “That murder case went cold, but there were all sorts of things that didn’t add together. The asshole’s own kid got beaten badly. The kid was in ICU, internal bleeding, and a whole bunch of other shit. He was in critical condition. According to agents who worked the case, Lassiter was more pissed his son didn’t stand up for himself than he was worried. Didn’t even treat it like it was connected to the other boy’s death.”
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    With Caution
    What? Jake growled, feeling like someone had slapped him. The scars on Remi’s back and legs. Jake had wondered what they were from, but he’d never— He’d assumed it was some sort of accident, but knowing Remi had nearly died…
    His jaw clenched and a chill raced up Jake’s spine. Nothing like that would ever happen to Remi again. Anyone who laid a hand on him would answer to Jake.
    “Jake, you okay? What are you pissed off about all of a sudden?”
    “No, I’m not fine.” He wanted to hit something, preferably Dirk Lassiter. “See what else you can dig up. I want to know everything about this fucker.”
    Rhys nodded. “I’ve already got a call in to my ex boss. He’s still with the FBI and he worked that case. What are you not telling me?”
    “Dirk Lassiter is Remi’s dad.”
    Rhys shook his head, letting out a long whistle.
    “Exactly. And that kid who nearly died is my mate.”

    * * *

    Is that Jake? It’s blac—no it’s not a Tahoe.
    “Yo, Remi. Hello? Throw the ball.” Sterling waved his arms back and forth over his head.
    Huh? Oh, right. Sterling. Remi tossed the ball, being careful not to overthrow it because they were in the empty lot behind Remi’s apartment. If Sterling missed, the football would end up in the street.
    Remi glanced beyond Sterling at the road, looking for a certain black SUV and hating himself for the weakness. He told himself it was because Jake was helping him and that he needed to apologize