Convicted (Entangled Ignite) Read Free

Clive Barrows had done nothing to fill him in—the sheriff was useless as hell—but she’d thought his former teammate would have been more thorough. “Red Dog Killian has run Wheels of Pain for over twenty years. He owns the bar they use for their headquarters. He got pulled up on a parole violation last year and he’s finishing his last sentence. Frank’s just holding down the fort ‘til Red Dog comes back.” Which, if she had her way, would never happen.
    “Frank doesn’t seem like the second-in-command type.”
    She agreed cheerfully. “He’s not, but Red Dog will rip off his head and shit down his throat if he takes a step out of line, and Frank knows it. I heard Red Dog once snapped this guy’s legs like toothpicks and staked him to the ground in the desert for stealing from him. By the time they found the guy’s body there wasn’t anything left to ID but the gnaw marks on the bones.”
    “And he’s not up for murder?”
    She snorted. “People don’t testify against Red Dog. If the cops could get more on him, believe me, they’d lock his ass up for life. He’s too slippery for that.”
    “Sounds like real husband material.”
    She laughed at his sarcasm, bumping his leg with her elbow. “He’s my uncle. I’m just here to keep an eye on the bar so he doesn’t shit down my throat.”
    “ Uncle? ” His disbelief came through loud and clear.
    “You really think I’d admit he’s family if I didn’t have to?” Red Dog wasn’t exactly her favorite relative, and she sure as hell wasn’t his. Deputy Sheriff Anaconda Arms could believe her or not.
    “It’s probably not smart telling me all this.”
    “Everyone else in town already knows. Trelane should have told you first.” But this man’s worry was heart-warming. “Don’t worry about me, rookie. I know six different ways to make a shiv out of a toothbrush. I’m safe enough.”
    His jaw clamped shut and she saw all the relaxation she’d managed to get from him disappear. Damn shame, but probably for the best. Her curiosity about him was already getting the better of her.
    “You’ve been to jail?”
    She nodded, aiming for his solemn demeanor. “Not everyone grows up to be all they can be . I grew up boosting bikes and getting sent to juvie. Vicious circle, let me tell you. Do the circuit long enough, you start moving up to the big leagues. Does that mean you won’t be picking out any china patterns with me now?”
    His grim expression had her failing to stifle a laugh.
    “That’s okay, we can just have clandestine sex in shadowy corners instead.”
    His scowl now was simply priceless. “Are you always this aggressive?”
    “Only when it’s fun and trust me, Sergeant Sexy, hitting on you is just about the highlight of my life.”
    He didn’t seem to like that at all.
    “Don’t call me that.” For all that he hadn’t been effusive before, his voice was sharp as a blade now.
    She blinked, trying to remember what she’d said that could have been insulting. “You don’t like being called sexy?”
    The muscles in his jaw worked a few times, but he resolutely stared at the playground.
    Okay, that wasn’t it. She frowned. The rank?
    “You don’t like people knowing you were in the military?” Was that what had him twitching? She didn’t even bother to hold back her amusement. If so, he was just going to have to get over it. “Even if I hadn’t heard the new cop had served with Mr. High and Mighty, you’re an easy peg. You practically have Hard-Core Military tattooed on your forehead. Trust me, you’re gonna have to work a lot harder to shed that skin than just growing out your hair.”
    Thick black brows crashed together as he finally looked at her again. “Known a lot of us, then?”
    She snorted, deciding to ignore the implication in that question. “You guys have a posture, uniform or not. And you’re proud bastards. Doesn’t matter how long you’re out, it’s all over you.” She shrugged when he didn’t