Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 109086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
And that reaction scared the fuck out of me, but when my cousin went to her, sat down, and threw an arm around her shoulders, I thanked what God there was for this small assistance from him.
“Come on, Detective Brant. What’s this one here for?”
The subway woman’s gaze kept darting from Vivianna, to me, to Laila, to me, to Viv, to me, to Laila, to me. She had no idea what was happening right now.
“I don’t know. I can find out—”
I knew. This was the bench they put people when they just wanted to pull them away from a situation. There was nothing to hold them, but for some reason they didn’t feel like they could leave them where they were.
Laila was crossing the room. “Hey. Yo.” She rapped against the clear plaster between us and the other side. “What’s with this one? Who brought her in?”
I spoke. “I got her.”
At the same time, Vivianna exclaimed, “She’s my friend! I want her to come with me.” My cousin linked the subway woman’s arm through hers and she looked at me, all serious. “If I’m going to rehab, I’m going to need all the support that I can get. Right, cousin?”
I held her gaze.
I didn’t know what my cousin was doing, what game she was playing, but if I was drowning, the universe just threw me a rope. I wasn’t stupid. I took hold of that rope and I wasn’t going to let it go. “Course, we’ll take her.” I pivoted on my feet, repeating to Laila, “I got her.”
My ex frowned, a little flustered. “I—uh—sure.”
I crossed to Laila, lowering my head and voice. “Whoever brought her in is long gone. You know that bench. I know the bench. I’ll take her.”
Another officer approached us, holding his hands out. “Uh, yeah. Sorry. What he said. Brightman brought her in, but he said to let her know she could take off after a bit. He clocked out forty minutes ago.”
“What?”
I snapped to attention. “Right. I got her.” I motioned to Viv. “Let’s go.”
She beamed to me, standing up, her arm still linked with the subway woman’s. “Splendid!” She marched them to the door.
I started to follow, but a hand stopped me on my arm.
Laila was frowning at me. Her gaze went to where she was holding me back. She dropped it, but sidled closer to me. “Jake. I—”
My heart tugged.
I saw the look on her face. The way she was looking at me, speaking to me. This was a woman whose heart was involved. For this time, this one time, I needed to say the right words, no matter if they were going to hurt or not.
I ignored whether Vivianna and the other woman had stopped. I didn’t know if they were watching this or not, but I couldn’t think about them. I cupped the back of Laila’s elbow and lowered my voice, softening it. “I’m not the man you think I am.”
She stiffened, her gaze jerking up to mine.
My hand tightened on her, holding her firm. I kept my voice soft. “We kept company together for a bit, and it was a good time. I’ll admit that I think you got in further than anyone else, but my cousin—she’s just a mirror for what’s going on inside of me. I am a fucking mess, Laila. Don’t wait for me. Go on that family trip to Europe that you do this time of year, but go and let yourself meet some rich European millionaire. Don’t give me a second thought, because I promise you, I am not worth it. I have blood on my hands. I was a good cop, but I was dirty at times too. I should be a dead cop. You and me, there’s nothing there. There will never be anything there. You deserve a good man. Go and find him. It’s not me.” The last was said harshly, but for fuck’s sake, she needed to hear it. I meant every word. “Don’t waste your time on me. I’m not interested, Laila.”
The last was meant to hurt, and as I said it, the small bit of hope I saw in her eyes died away. The embers dwindled to nothing.
Good.
I left, walking past Vivianna and the subway woman, ignoring the knowing look on my cousin, and feeling pierced by the stricken look on the other. It didn’t matter. None of this mattered. Laila would stop wasting her time on me, and that was good all around.
But as I went past the others, Vivianna dropped to a whisper, taunting me. “Look at you. You know, if you were actually the piece of shit that you think you are, you wouldn’t have said a thing to her. You would’ve kept her on a string and when you decided you might want a taste, you’d reel her in, like you were fishing.”