Chapter Fifty-Two

B RITTANY WAS PISSED .

She'd taken a power nap, had a power brunch, gotten ready for the day of investigating and breaking in a new partner. But when she knocked on the door, no Bo.

No Bo downstairs, either.

She had a feeling she knew where he'd be though. So she went across town, getting lost on the subways on the way, and waited outside the Noble Mystery building.

Bo and Travis looked rather sheepish when they came downstairs and opened the door. It didn't help Britt's mood.

"Just so you know," Bo said, "this wasn't locked when we got here."

"Well it is now," she said.

She pushed between the two musclebound hulks, looking very much like a child playing with adults, and went straight to the elevator. She stabbed the up button, and waited for the two men to catch up to her.

"Is there something wrong?" Bo asked.

"Yeah," Brittany said.

"Uh—"

"There are a lot of rules to this game, Bo," Brittany snapped, "and they're there to keep people like you alive. And me. And him," she flicked a thumb in the direction of Travis.

"I can keep myself alive," Travis countered, "thankyouverymuch."

"Can you?" Brittany asked, turning to look at him. "I wish I could test that theory of yours. See if you really have the chops you think you've got, because my guess is you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into." She turned back to the elevator and punched the up button a few more times for good measure. "Where the hell is the goddamn elevator?!"

She shoved Travis out of the way, pushed the door to the stairs open, and started climbing.

Bo shot Travis a quick look.

"You following?" Britt yelled from above.

"You want both of us?" Bo asked.

"Yes, dammit," Brittany shouted in return.

"After you," Bo said.

"Hell no," Travis replied. "You're her partner."

"Aren't you supposed to keep me safe?"

"Not from her."

Bo sighed, and started on the stairs.