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She snorted "That’s not hoorks"

Speculative, Dash asked, "So he doesn’t respect your wishes?"

There was a wealth of interest in the question, much of it unrelated to the current untenable situation She didn’t want to ad about her Instead she shrugged "Hopefully he has his own plans and won’t be able to stay long"

He withdrew his touch "You and West are close?"

How to answer that? In some ways they were extrealaxies apart "I’ve always coave hier andthan I could ever be"

Slowly, Dash approached the driveway "Inti to protect her when she didn’t need protection

She just needed him to live up to the sensual pro" She s deep inside her showed in some way "West always treated me like a typical little sister, and I probably drove hi to keep up with him What I meant is that he intimidates others when necessary He looks at people, and they fall into line"

"And you crack the whip to iven how hard she’d had to work to earn the respect she deserved in the depart like that West, well he’s one of those guys that even while he’s putting you in your place, you still like and respect him But whenever I had to reprimand men, they hated me for it"

"Sexist jerks hated it" He put the car in Park "Anyone with an ounce of sense would know you deserve your position, and they’d like and respect you for it"

"A position on your lap, naked, facing you?" As if that didn’t tease hih, she added innocently, "And if you’re still naked, too, well just think what o opened the door and got out After a few seconds, Dash rushed to join her, but she saw him adjust his jeans as he did so

Good Take that, you tor breathlessness in her voice Usually that’d be enough to level her She didn’t fear her father, but she always strove to make the best possible ih that she just didn’t care "I wasn’t expecting you"

West’s expression went fro the back of his neck, he gave a chagrined smile "I know Sorry"

Dash stepped forward and held out his hand "West"

Her brother accepted the shake, and Margo heard hilanced at her, but only smiled at West "No proble "You’re still here?" He folded his thick arms over his thicker chest

"Yes" Dash stepped away froo felt the anis "Dad, is everything okay?"

He looked at her ar the brace, huh?"

"I see the doctor to, he eyed her "You were at work"

"Yes" She assumed he would approve of that at least

"Dan said he put you on leave"

Yes, of course the two of theo stared him in the eyes "I haven’t spoken to Dan"

Gaze narrowed and nasty, her father took a step closer "You’re calling hio lifted a brow and asked ive her father a chance to adone since early e"

"Personally," West said, "I think he’d be better served letting you work as long as you’re up to it" And then, in a deliberate jab, he added, "Even if you weren’t theout so many dirty cops, it’s not like you have an overflow of available bodies to fill in for you"

Her father rounded on West "That’s bullshit and you know it!"

Dash stepped closer to her

"It’s a fact" West, unrinned at Dash "Margo swept the place clean All the trash has been kicked to the curb, and if you know my sister at all, she’sthe ranks"

That stateood men!"

Confused by the sudden contreteesture wasn’tfather

To sidetrack hio said, "Good men don’t accept bribes, Dad They don’t steal evidence, don’t coerce witnesses and don’t cover for so-called friends who do Good cops," she added, "put an end to that behavior"

West literally applauded her

Going florid, her dad started forward--and suddenly Dash was in front of her

Oh, no, Margo thought, her heart shooting into her throat Her dad could be unpredictable at the best of times She tried to face her father but Dash held her back

"Martin" Dash’s voice, cal in her ears "Obviously there’s soht," her father said "It’s personal--so none of your goddao is my business," Dash corrected him, still in that mild, unaffected tone "I’hter--"

West lare from her father Dash never wavered at all