Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“What the heck is going on here?” Jane asked as she hurried into her living room.
Hal stood, leaning back against the front door and conveniently blocking Rapp’s exit.
Joe stood nose to nose with Rapp, both of them looking massive since Rapp had removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, showing off muscled forearms and broad shoulders.
To her surprise, he looked amused and not scared. Even Jane took a moment when Joe got angry. A teddy bear at heart, on the outside, he looked like a mix of angry giant and rabid killer.
“Jane, I had no idea you were a Team Ten fan,” Rapp said.
“Huh? You know who Team Ten is?”
“They have quite a reputation.”
“Fan? Please.” Hal smirked. “It’s the other way around. We worship the ground she walks on.” He didn’t seem at all bothered about the macho posturing in front of him.
Joe seemed one finger squeeze away from a kill. “We really do. Our girl never needs to worry about anything. Or anyone.” Joe gave him the smile. The one that said I can bust your head open like a grape from any distance.
Jane didn’t understand all the hostility. “Joe. You realize he’s not the one that shot at me.”
“I know who he is.”
She was missing the subtext, obviously. “You know Rapp?”
“I’m her boss.” Rapp announced.
She cleared her throat.
“Okay, not her boss since she keeps associating Gambol with that title. I’m the guy calling the shots on our assignment. I consider her one of mine. So you don’t need to threaten me, Randall. I’m invested in keeping her alive.”
Hal actually hooted. Joe’s first name was a closely guarded secret.
Joe’s brows gathered, his thunderous expression intensifying. “Don’t you threaten me, boy.”
“Boy? I’m not that much younger than you. Unless you’re seventy and don’t look it.” Rapp didn’t appear threatened.
Jane frowned. “How do you know Joe’s real name?”
Hal laughed. “That’s a big secret, Rapp. You going to explain?”
Jane got the feeling all the men in the room knew one another. Yet she remained in the dark.
“I know because it’s my job to know.”
“The kid ran into us on a few ops,” Joe explained to her. “Now he thinks he’s a big deal because he learned a few of our names.”
Rapp looked away from Joe and studied her. “Which one do you belong to?”
“All of us,” Joe said.
Jane sighed. “Chris North is my uncle. Officially,” she added when the guys looked hurt. “But all of Team Ten are my family.”
That soothed Joe’s ruffled feathers. “Exactly. So watch your step with our girl.”
“Step? Randall, I’m here because I’m watching out for her.” Rapp’s easy smile faded. “But someone is clearly after her. Mazzucas or our killer, I’m not sure which. This is more than someone trying to shut down a case. I’m not sure what yet, but I’ll find out.”
Jane felt beyond embarrassed that all the big, strong men in the room felt the need to watch over the little woman. “Hey,” she barked. “I can take care of myself. Rapp, I’ll be safe enough with these guys. But I’m not off the case.”
He looked right at her. “Never said you were.”
“Okay then.” She nodded. “I’ll be in later tomorrow.”
Rapp ignored the stern looks from Hal and Joe. “Make it Friday. And before you argue, I want you to do your best to think. What is it you know that you don’t know you know?”
“What?”
Hal nodded. “Valid question. She’s on it. I’ll help.”
Rapp considered him and nodded. “Ah, right. The Toy. Heck, yeah. We’d love your help on this.”
Hal preened. He’d be tough to live with for the next few days.
Joe opened his mouth, but Rapp cut him off. “My only goal is for my people to remain safe while we catch a killer. Do what you need to, not that you need me telling you that.”
Joe nodded, his expression odd as he glanced from Rapp to Jane. “So you’re not a couple?”
“What?” Rapp and Jane said at the same time, sounding horrified.
Wait. Why is he upset? I’m a treasure. He should be flattered Joe suggested we’re a thing. Not that Rapp’s ever going to be that lucky.
Joe seemed pleased at the reaction though. She just wished Hal would stop grinning like an idiot.
“Okay then,” Joe growled. “Jane’s protected. Shut this down fast, Rapp. Before I have to.”
“I’d like to. Trust me. If I had my way, I’d…
” Rapp glanced at Jane. “I’ll talk to Gambol.
See if he wants this done my way—your way—or by the book.
See you on Friday.” Rapp nodded to her. “Hal. Randall.” He snorted with amusement when Hal stepped between him and Joe.
“Talk to you soon.” He sauntered out the door, not looking back.
Joe kept rumbling beneath his breath, and none of it was complimentary. “I can’t believe you’re working with him.”
“What’s wrong with Rapp? Besides the obvious, I mean?”
Hal cocked his head. “What’s the obvious?”
Jane ticked off her fingers. “He’s arrogant, standoffish, way too mysterious, and obviously some special ops whiz kid now playing at being a Fed.”
“Well, that hits all the right marks,” Hal agreed.
“Joe’s upset because he thought, wrongly, that you two were dating.
” Joe made a noise, but Hal continued, “He doesn’t think Rapp will watch out for you, but he’s not a bad guy to have at your back.
” After a pause, he added, “Although he’s not someone you want with a knife at your neck. ”
Jane huffed. “Who is?”
“Good point.” Joe wrapped an arm around her shoulders, engulfing her. “You make sure he stays on your good side, sweetie. If he does anything you don’t like, you let me know.”
“Don’t like?” Then his meaning settled. “Oh geez, Joe. Seriously. We are not dating! He’s my not-boss.”
“Not-boss?”
“I work for Gambol. I work with Rapp. And with any luck, I’ll work for a new supervisor at the field office just as soon as OPR clears me.”
“Right.” Joe and Hal shared a look.
“What?”
“Never mind,” Hal said with emphasis that made no sense to her.
Joe shrugged. “Forget it. I’m just being paranoid and protective. But nobody shoots at our Jane and gets away with it.”
“Especially not twice,” Hal said. “Now let’s head home. That’s if the ferry is back on schedule yet. What morons shoot up the ferry and expect it not to be a huge mess?”
Joe agreed. “Messy.”
“Very messy.” She smiled, no longer adrenaline-fogged from earlier.
Because with family around, Jane was unstoppable.
And it was time the Mazzucas, and whoever else was out to get her, realized that.