Devil Hath Come (an FBI/Romance Thriller ~book 7) (45 page)

Chris began laughing.

He absolutely could get used to this.

It was an amazing trip. They talked, laughed and even found they had a great deal in common. It was the fastest two hours that he’d ever spent with anyone. When Cyra laughed, it was genuine and filled with such peace, that it made him feel at ease.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked
as she climbed into his car. They were leaving the van at FBI West to be emptied of evidence and bodies.

Chris buckled his seatbelt. “I was wondering what you wanted to do. It’s still
pretty early.”

Leaning back in the Mercedes, she thought about it. “Can we swing over to my house, so I
can swap out my clothes?”

He didn't mind at all. “You direct, and I’ll chauffer.”

The entire ride there, Chris held her hand with his thumb gently running across her pulse. It made her heart skip in her chest, and Cyra was sure that he knew it.

“Here we are,” she stated, sliding out of the slee
k black vehicle. “Are you coming?” she asked, waiting for him.

He excitedly jumped out and was
curious to see inside her house. It definitely fit her persona. It was sweet and looked like a home. It screamed ‘
family lives here’
, and he longed to just see what that felt like, even if it was only for a few minutes.

It wasn’t like he didn't have a
family. It was just never enough for him, because Chris wanted so much more.

Cyra opened the door and invited him
inside. “You can make yourself comfortable. There are drinks in the refrigerator and cookies in the canister. I know how you and Doctor Magnus like your junk food. I won’t be long,” she added, kissing him softly.

Chris finally released her and
watched her walk away. Once she was gone, he immediately wanted to explore. Going from wall to wall, he found family portraits where everyone was smiling. That too was very unfamiliar to him. He and his mother never bothered with anything like that. He ran his fingers over her diploma sitting on a shelf beside some books that he had in his collection too. It appeared that they did have a lot in common.

At the crunch of tires in the driveway, Chris paused. Maybe
, she had texted family that she was coming home. When the door opened, he stood very still, wondering who it could be.

“Cyra baby, are you here?” called the voice.

Chris didn't speak, but his stomach dropped at the man’s use of that word. It rubbed him the wrong way.

“We were driving by and saw your light on and
decided to stop by. I missed you!”

His
nausea was getting worse by the moment. Finally, he decided to step out and make his presence known. “She’s getting some clothes,” he said evenly.

Immediately, he was met with grow
ls and barks.

“Rex
, get!” the man said, releasing the leash.

Shit,
the large Shepherd slammed into him knocking him to the floor and overturning a coffee table and a lamp. Well, Chris was never bit by a large dog before, and this was certainly going to suck.

He stared at the large sharp teeth and couldn’t help but wonder how the day went so bad.

Cyra was in her bathroom when she heard Rex’s barks. They were followed by a crash, and a startled yelp. Racing out, she drew her gun.

Lying on the floor was Chris, with her dog pinning him to the ground.

“Rex, heel!”

Immediately, the dog backed away.

Cyra rushed to Chris and dropped to her knees beside him. Immediately, she began running her fingers over his face. “Oh Christopher, are you alright?” she asked, softly.

“Yeah, he didn't bite me.” Thank God for that one.

She left little kisses across cheek. “I’m so sorry!” Glancing over, she gave her brother a look. “Are you criminally insane? You sicked my dog on my boyfriend, and in my own damn house!”

H
er brother was laughing until the last part. “What? Since when are you seeing someone? You generally tell me things like that!”

Cyra and Chris got up off the floor.

“I’m sorry about the mess,” he offered.

Protectively, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Chris, don’t worry about it.
Since my brother is being an asshole, he can clean it up.”

“What?”

“You heard me Cannon. You sicked my dog on a guest in my house. Chris is carrying a gun. You’re lucky he didn't shoot Rex to protect himself. As usual, you never think first about your actions! This could have had a very different outcome.”

Cyra was absolutely right. Had the
dog bit him, he would have drawn his weapon and taken his life. Oh brother, that would have been awkward for the start of their relationship.

“I was driving by
and there was a strange car in your driveway. When I came in, he stepped out and startled me. I wasn’t aware he existed, and Rex was keeping me safe.

Yeah, Chris could tell the man was used to trying to talk himself out of situations.
He was definitely a lawyer and spinning it to fit the argument.

“Shut it, Cannon. Christ almighty!”

“Well, are you going to introduce us?” Cannon asked, checking the man out. He was over six feet and decently built. His chaotic sandy brown hair was disheveled from Rex jumping on him.

Chris stepped in and took care of it
for her. “I’m Doctor Christopher Leonard,” he stated, holding out his hand. “You must be Cannon Austin. I’ve heard a great deal about you.”

The man shook his hand. “Are you sleeping with
my baby sister?” he stated out of the blue.

If he was trying to intimidate him, it wasn’t working. 
“Yes, I am. In fact, Cyra is moving in with me.”

That caught the big man off guard.
“Like hell she is!” he roared and glared angrily at his sister. “She’s not shacking up with some man that she’s only known a matter of days!”

Chris didn't flinch. He’d dealt with two angry Blackhawks enough to know not to
show any fear.

“Zip it, Cannon. I am moving in with him as soon as this assignment is over. You’ll have to find someone else to cook your dinner. Oh, and get your own
damn dog! I’m taking back custody of mine.”

Rex whimpered
at all the yelling.

Cannon pointed. “See? He doesn’t think that’s a good idea either. Our sainted mother would be rolling over in her grave if she knew you were sleeping around and
moving in with some man.”

Chris stepped forward. “I really wish you wouldn’t cheapen it by assuming this was some tawdry sex romp. I happen to care a great deal about Cyra.”

He glared at the doctor and then focused his anger on Cyra. “If you’re doing this, I’m not dog sitting until you come to your senses.”

“Cannon! You know I have to travel again
for work!”

The man stood his ground.
“Then tell the crazy man that you’re not shacking up with him, and I’ll do it. I guess you need to choose.”

Her face flushed red.

There was no way he was letting his baby sister do this. Just the idea of her rolling around with some man made him want to retch. He promised his mother that he’d take care of his sisters and this wasn’t happening. If he had to blackmail or strong arm her, so be it.

She was just about to tell him where to go when Chris stepped in to come to her rescue.

“Cyra
sweetheart,” Chris reassured as he stroked her bright red cheek. “Rex is moving in anyway. We can just bring him to my place, and then take him to Circle Rock when we leave. While you’re in the field, he can stay in the morgue with me. I don’t mind the company.”

“In the morgue?” Cannon practically shouted. “What the hell kind of doctor are you?” he stated.

Cyra could feel Chris tense beneath her arms. She was well aware of how people always made his job seem less important and demean it.

“I’m a Forensic Medical Examiner,” he stated
trying to remain nonplussed by the man’s reaction.

“That’s not a rea
l doctor!” her brother objected.

“Get out!” Cyra demanded. “You’re pushing it, Cannon.
If you refuse to watch Rex, fine. I trust Chris with him now far more anyway, after seeing your behavior!”

Cannon Austin turned
and stormed away, leaving them all staring.

“I am so sorry,” she murmured. “He’s an asshole only half the
time, and we obviously got the bad part of the day.”

Chris laughed
and tried not to let it bother him. After all, Cyra had defended him and that had to mean something. “Go finish. I’ll clean up and hang out with Rex.”

She kissed him softly. “
I’ll be right back, Christopher.”

When Cyra left, he
picked everything up off the floor and fixed the table. Taking a seat, he stared at the dog. “Okay, you and I are roommates now. I have a huge back yard and I’ll get you plenty of things to destroy. All that I’m asking is that you don’t bite the old witch or eat the tarantula. He might make you sick.”

Rex stared at him.

Chris patted the couch beside him and the dog moved towards him hesitantly. Cyra trained him, so he must be friendly. When Rex jumped up on the couch, he waited to be scratched behind the ears. As Chris complied, he laid his head in his lap and let the man have at it.

This was one more victory.

“Rex, do you like beef jerky? I have some in my car, and I’ll give it to you if you don’t eat the seats or puke on the leather. Okay? I just got that car and I really love it.”

Cyra stood in the doorway
and silently watched Chris talk to her dog. It was endearing that he was genuinely trying to make friends with him. Her heart pounded as Chris treated him like he was a human being and not just a silly dog. This was one of her man tests, and he had passed.

Yeah, she was madly in love.

“I wouldn’t feed him right before he gets in your car. He’s been known to get sick if it’s too far of a drive,” she stated, entering with her bag.

Rex looked up and waited for a command.

“Here.”

The dog hopped of the couch
and raced to her side. “You better behave at Chris’s house. If you eat even one shoe or piece of furniture, I’m going to be upset with you.”

When Cyra
clicked her fingers, he dropped and covered his eyes with his paws.

Chris laughed at the trick.
“What else can he do?”

“Rex-y get a drink for Chris.”

They both watched as he trotted to the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator with the towel slung through the handle. Reaching in with his mouth, he retrieved a bottle of water and walked it over to the man.

“Does he do beer?” Chris
asked, laughing.

“Yes, but then he wants to drink it. He bites into the cans to
steal a sip. It’s really a huge mess, and a drunk dog is a puking dog.”

Well, that was g
ood to know. It was time to switch to only glass bottles. Chris took the water and stood up. “Shall we go?”

Cyra took his outstretched hand
and let him lead her to the door. Before they could leave, she went up on her toes and whispered in his ear.

“Rex, come,” Chris said
as he snapped his fingers twice. Obediently, the canine trotted after them. “I could get used to this dog thing,” he stated. Something about it made them feel like a family.

“Yeah, it took a year to get him to stop eating shoes. It was a
huge challenge. We’re working on playing hide and seek. I give him something to smell, and then I hide it. He finds it and gets a prize. He’s really good at it. He probably should have been a police dog.”

Chris opened the trunk
by hitting a button. “Hop in Rex,” he said.

Cyra looked appalled.

“I was kidding. The trunk is for your bag. You know, in case he starts to puke back there…”

Once she realized that he was wasn’t serious, she began
laughing. “Don’t tease me. I’m a nervous wreck that he’s going to destroy your house and car,” she warned.

“
Don’t be nervous. The dog and I are going to get along just fine,” Chris replied as he opened his door and pulled the seat forward for Rex to jump inside.

“
I have to admit, something else scares me, Christopher. Now is a really good time for you to tell me that there really isn’t a tarantula.”

Before he could reply he glanced up in the mirror at the big dog staring back at him.
It was probably a good thing that he had a few bigger vehicles. This one wasn’t Rex worthy.

Chris focused on Cyra.
“I have good news,” he said as he slipped the key in the ignition. “You can outrun a tarantula.”