His loud, casual tone had turned into sharp hostility.

Travis stepped into the narrow gap between the stairs and the open door.

He shoved Derek hard in the shoulder.

Derek didn’t back up.

He moved forward.

He grabbed Travis by his heavy winter coat and drove him back down the hall.

Derek pinned Travis flat to the drywall, holding him there with one thick forearm across his chest.

“Don’t move one muscle,” Derek said.