"You're in danger, Logan, you've got to know that." Ramos was trying to be sincere but Logan's sulky attitude was making it difficult. "All I want to do is help you."

"If I'm in danger at all, it's because of you guys," Logan retorted as he dropped onto the bed beneath the window and glared back at Ramos. "What the hell was she thinking? Does she know she could've gotten me killed?"

Ah, he was still upset about Lacey's actions. Not that Ramos really blamed him. Having a near miss like that must've been nerve wracking. "She's aware now," said Ramos. "Did they suspect anything?"

"No, but that's not the point. You want me to give up information on Julio. How am I supposed to trust you," he pointed emphatically at Ramos, "to protect me when you've got people high up the food chain making stupid mistakes like that? I'm supposed to put my life in your hands?"

"Look, I get it. I do." Ramos rubbed the back of his head and exhaled forcefully before continuing. "I don't want to put you in any danger. You realize though that you helping us out protects you in the long run, right? If we can bring in the rest of Julio's organization then you're going to be safer than you are now."

"I'm perfectly fine right now," insisted Logan, flopping back onto the bed and staring up at the ceiling. "They all think I was let go because I was nothing more than Julio's plaything. None of them would suspect me of anything. I have no reason to work with you."

Ramos set his jaw. The stubborn, slender, mess of an omega was driving him to distraction. The way he cocked his head to the side when he was being impudent, or the way his neck curved up to meet his chin as he looked up at the ceiling, were all serving to make Ramos' mind wander. And wander it did.

If he could have, he would have pulled Logan to his feet and pressed him up against the wall right there. The thought of allowing himself to press his lips into the omega’s caused his heart to skip a beat. It took all of his will power to calm down. Denying himself any sort of sexual relationship for so long had left him hyper-sensitive.

At least, that's what he told himself. It had nothing to do with the fact that Logan was driving him crazy in all the right ways.

Ramos cleared his throat before speaking again. "Look, Logan, I want you to help us because you want to. That said, if you don't, I have orders to arrest you and drag you back in."

"You can't. You just let me go." Logan waved a hand towards him dismissively. His utter disregard for authority wasn't something he tried to hide. In fact, he seemed amused by the chance to flaunt it in Ramos' face.

"You're a person of interest in a high level investigation and you're refusing to cooperate," explained Ramos. He struggled to maintain his normal, calm, straight-backed, no-nonsense demeanor. Logan's defiance was making it difficult to stay calm. Not just emotionally, but physically as well. Parts of him were getting excited by the catty back-and-forth. "I can, and will, drag you back to the police station if you make me."

Logan dragged himself back into a sitting position and held his hands out in front of him with his wrists together. He smiled up at Ramos with a mocking grin. "Please, detective, don't lock me up. Whatever will I do?"

"This isn't a game, Logan," said Ramos.

"You think I don't know that?" retorted Logan as he rose from the bed and locked eyes with Ramos. "My life is on the line here. I don't care about you, I don't care about Julio, I don't care about the rest of those twats you've got locked up down there. My life is on the line. I'm not going to take any risks that I don't have to. That's it. End of discussion."

Logan broke eye contact and turned back towards the window.

"Then tell me what it is you want." Ramos' voice was soft as he stepped towards Logan. Every muscle in his body wanted to pull the hurting, broken, man into his arms and soothe him. Instead, he hovered a few inches behind him and stared down at the curve of his neck. His lips were scarce inches from his ear as he spoke. "What can I do to help you, Logan?"

If Logan was surprised by the sudden proximity, he didn't show it. He half turned after a moment and looked back at Ramos. There was a pressure in the air between them that Ramos couldn't quite read. Something was about to happen. Anticipation prickled across his skin and the hairs on his arms stood on end. He tried to regain control of himself. He was a grown man. A respected police detective. His partner was waiting for him downstairs. He wasn't in a position to be messing around like this, especially not with a suspect and former criminal. Even one as irritatingly attractive as Logan was proving to be.

Yet despite the logic being thrown out by his brain, his body refused to listen to him. He remained, standing perfectly still behind Logan.

"You ask me what I want," Logan's voice was quiet as he spoke, "but you're standing so close I'm beginning to wonder what it is that you want detective."

"I..." Ramos' voice cracked and he had to stop and swallow before attempting to speak again. "I just want to keep you alive and lock away Julio for good. That's it."

"Are you sure?" Logan's hand strayed backwards and pressed against the growing erection beneath Ramos' pants. "It doesn't sound like you're being honest with me."

"I...I am..." insisted Ramos. His brain felt foggy and determined to make a mistake and screw the consequences. "I'm a detective. I protect people. That's all I want."

Logan turned fully towards Ramos and pressed his palm against Ramos' chest. "Your heart is pounding," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I bet your mouth is dry and you can barely think about anything other than tossing me on the bed and having your way with me, right?"

"No..." Ramos lied. Why did Logan's lips have to be so perfect?

"Stop lying to me," said Logan with a pout. "Why can't your lips be as honest as your body?" He gave Ramos' erection a gentle squeeze as if to emphasize his point. "You want me, don't you?"

Ramos swallowed again. His mouth felt like it was full of sand and no matter what he did he couldn't combat the dryness. He wanted to respond honestly. He wanted to tell the omega what he really wanted. What he needed. His thoughts were running wild with the idea of pressing against Logan's naked body. He could feel his face flushing at the very thought.

Slowly, he leaned forward. His lips drifted closer to Logan's. The omega tilted his head up slightly to meet him and his eyes fluttered closed. Every fiber in Ramos' body pushed him onward. He needed this. He deserved this.

"No." The word came so suddenly that Ramos surprised himself. He staggered back from Logan and took several deep breaths to try and steady his heartbeat. His entire body felt like a raw, quivering nerve. Every inch of his skin was sensitive and eager to be touched. He blinked several times, shook his head, and clenched his fists. "No," he repeated after a moment. "I'm a detective. You're a suspect and potential informant. I'm not doing this."

The look of surprise on Logan's face told Ramos that he wasn't used to that sort of behavior. From anyone.

"I...I'm going back downstairs." He took a deep breath and steadied his heart rate. "Pescado and I are going to help Lupita serve dinner. I expect to hear your answer by the time we're done." Without another word, Ramos turned and left the room.

As soon as he was out in the hallway, the sexual pressure that had surrounded him lifted. He breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of soup and freshly baked bread wafting up from the kitchen. He had nearly lost control of himself in there. He was a professional and that sort of behavior couldn't be tolerated.

It had been years since his last sexual encounter. In fact, he hadn't slept with anyone since the last girl he dated. The experience had been less than satisfying for both of them. Despite doing his best to "take care" of himself, it was clear that his body needed something more. He needed to be intimate with another human being. Not just any human, a male. That male. Logan.

Ramos shook his head, clenched his jaw, and marched down the hall back towards the stairs. He just needed to calm down. Logan was nothing more than a sexually attractive omega with few inhibitions. There was nothing about him in particular that Ramos actually needed. It was fine. He could get through this.

By the time he reached the stairs, his erection had lessened to the point where he hoped it was no longer noticeable. The longing for release still plagued him, but his body had begun to calm down. If he could just make it through the rest of the evening he would be fine. All he needed to do was focus on the job at hand. Nothing else mattered.

"So?" Nacho was waiting for him at the foot of the stairs.

Ramos immediately shoved aside the feelings of shame that flooded him. His partner didn't need to know what almost took place up there.

"So, I gave him an ultimatum. He helps us willingly or we take him in. I told him to give me his answer by the time we're finished here," Ramos quickly explained.

"Mhm."

Ramos thought he detected a hint of mockery in Nacho's reply, but he forced himself to ignore it. He was probably just imagining things anyway. There was no way Nacho could have known about their near miss.

A few minutes later, Lupita and her team of volunteers had put Nacho and Ramos to work. They were busy washing dishes, cleaning up spills, and refilling the bread basket as a steady stream of homeless and disadvantaged made their way into the dining hall for dinner.

As a member of the police force, Ramos had always been aware of the size of the homeless population on the island. It was a sad fact that housing was at a premium and jobs were scarce. Despite the fact that the president continued to try and expand both the housing and job markets, the growth of the island's population outpaced him significantly. Many of the homeless did what they could to get by, peddling wares and doing odd jobs, but still more found themselves forced to turn to crime out of necessity.

On an island with a thriving tourism industry, pick pocketing and fraud were both simple ways for people to make a quick buck.

It was because he was aware of the circumstances that Ramos was able to approach most petty criminals with a calm air and sense of understanding. It was also because of this that he hated people like Julio. He took advantage of the fact that these people were desperate and turned their desperation to his own ends. Many of the muscle-headed thugs that he used for protection had been recruited as street kids and indoctrinated to serve him.

People like Lupita, on the other hand, were elevated to sainthood in his eyes. She got nothing out of running the soup kitchen. Her team of volunteers operated strictly on donations and, rumor had it, she really wasn't that much better off than the people she was serving. Yet she did it with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step.

Slowly, the dining hall began to empty out. Dishes were washed and stacked to dry. Ramos was wiping down one of the tables when he caught sight of Logan emerging from the foot of the stairs.

The expression on his face was almost unreadable as he approached.

"No one's ever done that before." Logan's voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke.

Ramos quickly glanced around. Nacho was in the kitchen and the rest of the volunteers were on the other side of the hall. No one was within earshot.

"Most people are more than willing to take advantage of what I have to offer." Logan looked up at Ramos. His blue eyes were shining with a sad light. "I've made up my mind," he continued. "I'll help you bring down Julio for good."

"Look, about what happened..." Ramos felt the need to apologize for his conduct. "I'm not...I've never..."

"Don't worry," Logan assured him. "I understand, I think. I mean, it's more than just me being some criminal scum and you being a cop. Right? It's just nice to know that there are guys out there who are thinking about more than just sex." He chuckled.

Ramos chuckled nervously and he felt his body twitch at the sound of Logan's soft laughter. It sent a warm feeling rippling through his body all the way down to his toes.

"How do we do this?" Logan asked.

"Hmm, what?" Ramos' thoughts were dragged back to reality in a panic.

"The information thing. Do I just tell you everything? I need to know I'm safe, so do I get like a bodyguard or a safe house or something?" Logan seemed amused by Ramos' reaction, but he seemed content to not comment on it.

"I'll arrange a safe house for you," said Ramos as he tried to recall the plan that Lacey had set into motion. "Then we'll arrange a meeting between you and Aguado."

"Easy peasy," said Logan, though the look on his face had a nervous tinge to it.

"Yeah," said Ramos, trying to exude confidence. "Easy peasy."