Blood Score Read Online Free

time his thoughts crossed the line. With Angel still wearing her wedding ring two years after Manny’s death, that said it all. She didn’t need a man in her life—or want one.
    In the five years he worked with Angel as his partner in homicide, there’d been times he fought the urge to put his arm around her, like the time she’d used lethal force to save a hostage from a gangbanger with the notorious MS-13 crew. The shooter had given her no choice, and the kill went down as justified—but the dead thug had been a twelve-year old kid.
    That was the only time he’d seen her cry on the job.
    “I got a call,” she said. “The chief wants us to handle a special case.”
    “ We’re not on call. What’s up?” He headed for the dressing room, and she followed.
    “ There’s been a murder in Oz Park. He’s asked us to take lead.”
    “ Oh, no.” He shook his head. “This smells ripe. Tell him the wicked witch did it.”
    “ Come on, Gabe. It’s not every day that the head honcho asks for us.”
    “ You act like that’s a bad thing.”
    “ He lives near Oz Park. Residents in the area are upset, and the media is out in force. He thinks this can turn high profile. You know how he hates that.”
    “ Does he want us to wash his vehicle while we’re there? ‘Cause that’s how it starts, Angel. You start kissing ass now, you’ll be jonesing for it. I’d have to do an intervention.” He grimaced. “Why the hell would he want us on a high profile gig? Come on. Us?”
    Cronan knew there’d be strings attached. He knew how high profile cases worked. Whoever took lead on a case like this would feel the pressure. If the Chief of Detectives ended up in the public eye through the media, that would put him on a short leash with the Superintendent of Police.
    Crap trickled downhill pronto.
    Cronan had no patience for TV’s talking heads or in-house politics. He had no talent for diplomacy, and Angel would never be mistaken for a delicate flower when it came to treading on touchy feelings. She spoke her mind and results turned her on, something they had in common—and another reason the chief would have picked them.
    Cronan and Angel knew how to bend the rules when it counted. With his back to the wall, the chief had sent a clear message to him through Angel. He wanted a payoff at all cost—even if it meant assigning his most contentious team. If things went south, he’d have an added bonus.
    They’d make the perfect scapegoats.
    “Look, Angel. You’re my partner. For better or worse, I’m with you. But are you ready for livin’ in a fishbowl with no place to hide? The chief hates public pressure. If we don’t nail this solid, he’ll make our lives a livin’ hell. Or worse, he’ll spank us in public with the media.” He let her digest that before he said, “Just think about it. I’m hittin’ the showers.”
    He expected her to stay in the hall, but Angel wasn’t done talking. She barged into the steamy shower room after him, doing her best to ignore the naked butts. Bellowing obscenities echoed off moldy tile and metal lockers, directed at her. She returned the favor in Spanish before she made her point with him.
    “I want this case, Gabe.” She crossed her arms. “A case like this might have risk, but it’s also got a good chance at rewards. I could use a good review and a decent pay boost this year. Bottom line, the chief asked for us. That means something to me. As far as I’m concerned, this investigation is ours to lose. I don’t want another detective unzipping his fly and pissing on our turf. If there’s gonna be piss, we should do it.”
    “ Interesting analogy. Basically you’re saying if anyone’s gonna screw this up, it may as well be us.” After she shrugged, he grinned and made every muscle in his face ache. “If you want this, Angel, I’m with you. Give me five to shower, but you might consider waitin’ outside the locker room.”
    She raised an eyebrow and gave him the once