“As long as you keep your hands where I can see them.”
A.J. straightened and let his hands fall loosely to his sides. His stance was completely deceptive and, to anyone else, he would look at ease and harmless, but Sienna had a keen eye. He looked like a man who could snap to attention in a second or take down an opponent even faster with deadly results.
“Can I get my ID out?”
“Two fingers,” she cautioned.
He retrieved it and sure enough, it said he was Lieutenant A.J. Camacho, but Sienna wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easily. Look what happened when she’d neglected to follow police procedure.
“I have every right to be here.”
“That so?” She rubbed at her neck, and he was instantly contrite.
“Sorry about that.” He approached her and wasn’t alarmed when she steadied the gun at him. He pushed it aside, lifting her fingers so he could see her flesh. With his thumbs, he caressed the skin he’d abraded.
“That’s going to bruise. I’m really sorry about that.”
Sienna stepped away from his disturbing touch. Admitting that he clearly wasn’t a dangerous criminal, she holstered her gun. The steadiness of his gaze unnerved her, but Sienna drew a deep, uneven breath and made herself respond, her tone deliberately chastising. “Maybe someday I can return the favor.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a cheeky off-center grin. “I had no idea you were a woman, but I can sure see now how sadly mistaken I was.”
Sienna looked up into his arresting eyes and took a deep breath. There was something about that smile that went straight to her heart. Damn, she’d always been a sucker for charmers. Her lot in life. “Sweet-talking me? Think that’ll get you off the hook?”
Giving her a bad-boy grin, he said, “I can only throw myself on the mercy of the law.”
“That would be the mercy of the court,” Sienna corrected him and then sobered, trying to regain some of her professionalism. “What are you doing here?”
His gaze turned serious and repentant at the same time. “I’m looking for David…ah, Corporal Buckner.”
“Is he AWOL?”
His brows lifted. “Unauthorized Leave—UL. The Navy doesn’t use the AWOL acronym.”
Sienna shrugged. Something about him sent warning bells to her brain.Danger, danger, danger. “Okay. Is he on Unauthorized Leave?”
“No.” The distinct sound of hot wheels on asphalt was loud in the night. He looked away, went to the window, and peeked out. “Looks like your backup is here.”
She studied him, waiting for his answer. Something didn’t jive here, but she wasn’t sure what it was. “Then why would the Navy be looking for him? Are you part of Naval Intelligence?”
“No.”
“JAG?”
“Not quite.”
“Then what right do you have to be here in this apartment, and how did you get in?”
“I’ve got a key. I’m his stepbrother.” He turned away from the window, careful to keep his hands in sight.
She’d been a detective long enough to know that people lied all the time about everything. She’d learned never to take anything at face value until she checked it out.
She pulled out a set of handcuffs. “Forgive me if I don’t take your word for it.”
“The cuffs aren’t necessary.”
“Yes, they are. I’m arresting you for assaulting a police officer. Everything else can be sorted out at the station.”
A.J. nodded. He was smart, Sienna thought. It was prudent to acquiesce and save himself further trouble. He held out his hands.